First Drive: GWM Haval H6 HEV – The New C-SUV Fighter

Great, yet another China-badged SUV…

Well yes, but that does not necessarily mean a bad thing. Entering our market soon, the Great Wall Motor (GWM) Haval H6 HEV is one of China’s best-selling SUVs, and it features several powertrain flavours including series-parallel (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) types.

As its name suggests, the Malaysian-bound GWM Haval H6 HEV harnesses the former, and it rolls off GWM’s new Thailand plant that’s  charged with producing right-hand-drive (RHD) GWM models for the region. Understandably, the H6 for Malaysia will bear close resemblance to the Thai-spec version – again, not a bad thing.

Ahead of its Q4 2023 launch, we’ve been given a rare opportunity to test-drive this new C-segment SUV. Whatever negative opinions perceptions of China-branded vehicles you might hold, we’re certain the GWM Haval H6 HEV will change some, especially on the performance and quality front. 

Allow us to digress further on this new entry into the growing C-SUV market space then… 

First things first…

We’ve talked about the design cues and styling bits of the H6 HEV in our previous report, but indulge us a little while more so you’ll get a better understanding of this SUV.

Striking front-end of the Haval H6 HEV with prominent front grille design

Visually, the H6 sports the typical SUV silhouette, making do without any extreme aero parts or slanting roofline to grab everyone’s attention. However, we must say that the front end of the SUV does command plenty of  attention, thanks to its striking grille design that blends well with the horizontal stripes located below the headlights.

Things are a little subdued in both the side and the rear profiles, but there are sporty 19-inch wheels with dual five-spoke design jazzing this former up. At the rear, you’ll find the LED taillights covering the entire width of the tailgate plus chromed Haval lettering below which.

We’ve iterated many times about how looks can be a very subjective matter. Nevertheless, we reckon the Haval H6 will garner strong universal appeal with its stylish yet ‘safe’ looks.

Ok, what about on-board kit?

Keeping the H6 on-par with segment rivals, GWM laced a slew of premium equipment inside and out. Those stylish headlights we’ve mentioned earlier are matrix-type LEDs, while the wheels mentioned are shodded in Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 UHP rubber too for good measure.

12.3-inch infotainment display (left) & 10.25-inch driver's digital instrument cluster (right)

Things get better on board as the H6 comes with all the bells and whistles expected in this segment. Highlights include the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, 10.25-inch digital instrumentation, ambient lighting system, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera view with self-parking assist, and more.

The leather-draped cabin is not only well-equipped, but also both comfortable and practical

The cabin is also draped in leather throughout, including the dash, door cards, as well as the seats, with the front ones offering both ventilation and heating functions on top of multi-way powered adjustment – six for drivers, four for front passengers.

Mechanically, the H6 comes with an electric power steering (EPS) suite plus a multi-link suspension assembly for the rear axle. Both promises agility and driving refinement, in fact. Speaking of the latter…

How does it drive, then?

One word: smooth. The series parallel hybrid setup, consisting of a 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo mill and single electric motor, work tandemly not just to deliver segment-leading outputs of 240 HP and 530 NM, but also a smooth driving experience.

Although heavy and bulky in appearance, the H6 HEV accelerates rather smoothly

The abundance of torque means propelling this sub-2,000 KG SUV isn't laborious. At slower cruising speeds, the H6 HEV’s EV driving mode even exudes low NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) levels, while transitions from the electric to combustion felt very smooth and nearly unnoticeable.

In spite of its bulky facade, the presence of said EPS and multi-link damper setup makes turning and manoeuvring the H6 a rather easy feat. GWM’s proprietary LEMON platform, which the H6 underpins, also further bolster its handling and stability performance.

All the ADAS and additional driving features are easily accessible by the driver

The presence of several safety features, especially the novel Wisdom Dodge System, Blind-Spot Monitor (BSM) and 360-degree camera view, all help to instil confidence to those uninitiated with tall-riding SUVs. Other safety features like six airbags and a plethora of ADAS features ensures the H6 HEV is beyond adequate in protecting and preventing mishaps to both the car and more importantly, its occupants.

Throughout our very short stint with the H6 HEV, we learnt that this car not only drives smoothly, but boasts ample equipment and amenities to make it enjoyable, comfortable, and more importantly, safe.

So, should I seriously consider this SUV then?

Sporty styling without sacrificing much on space and practicality, as well as the inclusion of a bevy of modern equipment and comfort amenities, not forgetting segment-leading powertrain output, sees the GWM Haval H6 HEV ticking all the right boxes as a serious C-segment SUV contender.

There’s also the ample safety features that not only keep the occupants safe, but also assist the drivers in manoeuvring this SUV better, sweetening things here.

However, there’s one consideration with the Haval H6 HEV – price. At the time of writing, the GWM Haval H6 HEV has yet to make its official debut, meaning we don’t yet know how much this C-SUV will cost you.

This, as we were promised, comes much later as folks at GWM Malaysia plan to bring the H6 into our local market by Q4 this year.

For reference, the Haval H6 HEV retails at THB 1.349 million (RM177,551) in Thailand for the range-topping Ultra form. Should the Malaysian-spec H6 match its Thai counterpart’s asking price, this will put it right in the dead amongst its local segment rivals, which ranges from RM150,000 to north of RM200,000.

The GWM Haval H6 HEV, by itself, is already a well-equipped car with great driving performance. Now, it’s down to GWM Malaysia to not only price this SUV competitively, but also deliver solid after-sales and warranties to match. If they do, then this might just be worth a serious look indeed…

SPECIFICATIONS

GWM Haval H6 HEV 1.5 Turbo Hybrid