GWM's Haval H6 medium SUV has certainly been a success for the brand in this country, if the sheer number of them you see on the roads is anything to go by (which it clearly is), and for good reason - it is a handsome and well-equipped SUV that doesn’t do anything particularly wrong, does most things generally right and is extremely well priced.
But now facelift time has come for the H6, which is a period in its lifecycle that can sink a lot of budget heroes as the company decides that success means that people really like the car , as opposed to merely liking it for the money asked.
Fortunately GWM hasn’t fallen into that trap with the Haval H6 and has merely made it better all round and still offering it for a compellingly low price tag.
The Haval H6 HEV you see here is the top-spec Ultra model and, as such, comes equipped with such luxuries as 19-inch alloy wheels, a heads up display, heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, an electric tailgate, artificial leather upholstery, a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless phone charging and a seven year warranty (eight years for the hybrid battery) and five years roadside assist.
Despite being the top spec model in the H6 hybrid range (there is the more expensive plug-in hybrid version, but it is the same spec), the Ultra lands here at a remarkably sharp $45,990. Which is roughly the same as an entry level Toyota Corolla Cross, which is a whole size down on the H6.
So, the H6 Ultra packs a serious amount of equipment into its undeniably handsome body for that money, but that is simply all window dressing if the underlying car isn’t any good. So, is it worth the money asked?
It does genuinely depend on what you expect from your mid-size SUV. If you expect it to be, well, a mid-size SUV and do things like potter around town, go to the dairy, pick up kids or just the daily commute, then yes, the Haval H6 HEV is absolutely perfect. Never mind any “for the price” caveats, it just does all of that very well indeed.
The H6 is powered by a 110kW/230Nm 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine and DHT (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission) that throws in a 130kW/300Nm electric motor for good measure, for a total combined peak output of 179kW and 530Nm.
It is genuinely hard to tell whether or not the engine is even running at times, with the HEV version of the H6 genuinely feeling like you are driving the PHEV version for the vast majority of the time.
The Dedicated Hybrid Transmission is something that has found its way into conventional hybrids from PHEVs and endows anything equipped with one with a remarkably EV-like power delivery, regardless of what is actually doing the powering.
However, with vehicles that have a larger combustion input there is another factor that strongly affects how you perceive them and that is how quiet and refined the ICE actually is, as nothing shatters the illusion of EV-like power delivery more than a wheezy old petrol engine trying to keep up.
Luckily, the H6’s engine and transmission are absolutely top-notch in this regard too, with both being super smooth and refined, and it is genuinely hard to tell whether or not the engine is even running at times, with the HEV version of the H6 genuinely feeling like you are driving the PHEV version for the vast majority of the time.
While this is all very clever, it isn’t quite as efficient as the PHEV versions - as you would expect - with Haval claiming a figure of 5.2l/100km. However, this is tested under the old NEDC system, so real world figures are a bit higher than that and we saw closer to 6.5l/100km during our time with it.
While it is all very good and convincing around town at urban speeds, the H6 HEV starts to falter out on the open road as its surprisingly firm suspension tune actually doesn’t particularly set the tall SUV up well for corners, with a lot of leaning on the outside front tyre and understeer going on if you get a bit excited through a series of corners. So best not to do that then.
If you drive it like a normal person who would buy a mid-size hybrid SUV, then the H6 HEV is a deeply convincing, impressively comfortable and remarkably well equipped option.
The tyres probably deserve a decent amount of the blame for this too, as they do start howling away fairly early on on proceedings.
The H6 is also dogged by a slightly inconsistent brake feel (the brakes are good, they just feel a tad spongy sometimes) and off-the-line performance can also be a tad sluggish when the clever and complex transmission needs to have a little think about what is going on if you nail it from a standing start.
Do you notice a running theme here? That's right, if you drive the Haval H6 HEV like a performance car, it's not really that good at it. Funny that. However, if you drive it like a normal person who would buy a mid-size hybrid SUV, then the H6 HEV is a deeply convincing, impressively comfortable and remarkably well equipped option.
And the cherry on the top? Well, that's the fact that it does all of that and is still remarkably affordable.
How much is the GWM Haval H6 Ultra HEV?
At $45,990 for the top-spec Ultra, the Haval H6 HEV is remarkably good value for money. You can get a cheaper one in the form of the $42,990 Lux model, or go for big power (240kW/540Nm) and electric range with the 2WD Ultra PHEV for $50,990 or add AWD and even more power (268kW/760Nm) for $53,990. Whichever way you go, the H6 gives you impressive bang for your bucks.
What are the key statistics for the GWM Haval H6 Ultra HEV?
The HEV is powered by the same 110kW/230Nm 1.5-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder engine as the rest of the range, but gets a 130kW/300Nm electric motor added into the mix for a combined peak output of 179kW and 530Nm.
Is the GWM Haval H6 Ultra HEV efficient?
For a mid-size SUV? Yes the H6 is quite efficient. For an advanced hybrid from China? Not so much.
GWM quotes the NEDC fuel consumption figure for the H6 HEV which, at 5.2l/100km sounds good on paper, but because the NEDC test is pretty much outdated now, isn't really achievable in the real world. Nevertheless, we saw mid-sixes, which isn't terrible. But it's not great either.
Is the GWM Haval H6 Ultra HEV good to drive?
As a daily driver, the H6 is excellent. While the ride is surprisingly firm, it is always comfortable and very capable as an urban runabout. That firm suspension doesn't translate into sharp dynamics, however, so keener drivers should probably look elsewhere. Although I'm not sure why a keen driver would be looking at a mid-size hybrid SUV in the first place...
Is the GWM Haval H6 Ultra HEV practical?
Yes, the H6 is a practical and sensible medium SUV, with plenty of handy storage spaces around the cabin, good rear leg room and a good-sized boot - 560 litres or 1445 litres with the seats down.
What do we like about the GWM Haval H6 Ultra HEV?
The build quality of the interior is particularly impressive for the money asked, as is the quality of the materials used. It is seriously packed with equipment for a $45k car, and the engine and transmission are brilliantly refined.
What don’t we like about the GWM Haval H6 Ultra HEV?
It would be nice if it were a little more fuel efficient, but for what it is (and the money asked for it) we can live with it. It is a tad unrefined when it comes to brake feel and handling, but again, it's a mid-size SUV...
What kind of person would the GWM Haval H6 Ultra HEV suit?
Someone who wants a handsome, capable and extremely well-equipped SUV that isn't particularly concerned with things like sharp dynamics or agile responses . Your typical medium SUV buyer then.
