GWM has lastly launched its first plug-in hybrid automobile (PHEV) in Australia, although it gained’t be alone for lengthy because the Chinese language model has a bevy of different PHEVs arriving this yr.
Based mostly on the purely petrol-powered GWM Haval H6 GT that first launched domestically in 2022, the H6 GT PHEV is a brand new variant within the swoopy mid-sized SUV ‘coupe’ vary.
It’s solely being supplied in Extremely trim at launch, identical to the petrol-powered equal.
Whereas the outside and inside designs are just about equivalent, avoid wasting PHEV badging and a charger flap, the principle distinction with the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV is what’s beneath the bonnet.
There’s a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that’s augmented by two electrical motors – one on every axle. Whole system outputs are 321kW of energy and 762Nm of torque, which is astounding for a mainstream mid-sized SUV. The 0-100km/h dash can be claimed to take simply 4.9 seconds.
Feeding these electrical motors is a humongous 35.4kWh battery pack that permits this automobile to journey as much as 180km on electrical energy alone, in keeping with lenient NEDC testing.
With a full battery cost and a full tank of petrol, GWM claims this automobile is able to travelling over 1000km.
Buyer deliveries of the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV are commencing now and, coinciding with this, we had our first drive as a part of the media launch from Sydney to Kiama.
How does the Haval H6 examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Haval H6 towards equally sized automobiles.
Haval
H6
How a lot does the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV price?
GWM is working an introductory pricing provide (ends March 31) on the Haval H6 GT PHEV, which sees the drive-away asking value minimize by $2000. House owners additionally get a GWM dwelling charger at no additional price.
| Mannequin | Drive-away value |
|---|---|
| 2025 GWM Haval H6 GT Extremely | $45,990 |
| 2025 GWM Haval H6 GT Extremely PHEV | $53,990 |
To see how the GWM Haval H6 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What’s the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV like on the within?
If you happen to’re anticipating there to be huge adjustments inside, suppose once more. It’s just about equivalent to the purely petrol-powered H6 GT.
Like many crossover SUVs with an elevated trip peak, this automobile is straightforward to get out and in of. You may inform why this kind of automobile is so common with folks with poor mobility, as you don’t have to climb up or down into the automobile, and might fairly step out and in.
When you’re in, there are funky seats which can be upholstered in what GWM calls Consolation-Tek. In actuality, it’s black leatherette with suede-like accents on the higher portion of the backrest. There’s additionally a outstanding orange ‘GT’ badge that’s embroidered onto the seats to make them look extra particular.
The entrance seats have a reasonably good seating place that permits you to get comfy. The driving force’s seat specifically provides eight methods of electrical adjustment, plus lumbar help, although it notably lacks any thigh help. This implies the seat base feels just a little flat, which is a standard trait of many Chinese language automobiles, although it’s nowhere close to as unhealthy as some others.
The entrance seats additionally provide each heating and air flow. The latter got here in helpful in the course of the surprisingly steamy Sydney climate.
From the motive force’s seat perspective, there’s usually sufficient frontward visibility, although the A-pillars are giant and chunky. Issues get trickier when looking the again, because the sloping roofline limits how giant the rear window may be. It is a frequent drawback with coupe-style SUVs, as they sacrifice aesthetics for outright practicality.
Forward of the motive force, the steering wheel provides loads of guide tilt and attain adjustment. Which means that folks of many alternative sizes and statures ought to have the ability to discover a comfy place.
Regardless of this, the steering wheel itself isn’t my favorite ever. Certain, the outer rim is refreshingly skinny and good to carry, however the spokes are too thick and positioned too excessive. This meant I wanted to have my fingers positioned greater on the wheel than I’d preferred. It was extra the traditional 10-and-2 hand positioning, fairly than 9-and-3.
Though the spokes are huge, this implies there’s loads of house for the steering wheel buttons. All of them are simple to know as properly, which is turning into more and more onerous to come back by as extra new automobile manufacturers enter the market.
Behind the steering wheel, there’s a ten.25-inch digital instrument cluster, which has no cowl and, in consequence, can get reflections and exhibits mud. It doesn’t assist that the interface on this display is darkish and minimalist, however having mentioned that, it’s nonetheless clear and simple to know.
There are a number of infographic pages you’ll be able to cycle via on the digital instrument cluster. Just a few titles and acronyms for mentioned infographic pages made me chuckle because of the direct translation from Chinese language to English. They’re NSFW, so I gained’t write them right here, but when you understand, you understand.
There’s a brilliant head-up show on the dashboard, which is nice to have as you don’t have to stray your eyes too removed from the highway to control your present pace. There are just a few totally different layouts to select from.
Shifting throughout, there’s a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is perched excessive on the dashboard like a pill. On the floor degree, the person interface is pretty simple to navigate, and in the event you do get misplaced there are touch-sensitive shortcut buttons on the right-hand aspect of the touchscreen.
You do have to make use of the touchscreen quite a bit, nevertheless, to make use of/alter many automobile features. This implies diving into quite a few sub-menus, which might get convoluted and complicated in a short time.
It’s most irritating if you need to modify the automobile’s PHEV-related features as they’re buried within the ‘New Vitality’ sub-menu within the ‘Automobile Settings’ menu. Until you’re proven the place that is, it might probably really feel like a wild goose chase.
Fortunately, there’s additionally a swipe-down management centre-like menu on the touchscreen that has just a few shortcut widgets. This makes adjusting issues which can be sometimes hidden in sub-menus quite a bit simpler. It’s price noting, nevertheless, that it might probably solely be accessed within the native person interface and never whereas utilizing smartphone mirroring.
Talking of smartphone mirroring, the Haval H6 GT PHEV, like its common petrol-powered counterpart, nonetheless solely provides wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The USB-A port to entry that is additionally nonetheless on the passenger’s aspect of the automobile, which is complicated as there may be one other USB-A port on the motive force’s aspect, nevertheless it’s for energy solely. I want GWM would rectify this.
Throughout our admittedly temporary launch program, we used wired Apple CarPlay for the navigation, and it labored with no issues by any means.
One other function that you must use the touchscreen for is adjusting the local weather controls, which is turning into more and more frequent as carmakers ditch bodily switchgear. Certain, there are some bodily buttons on the centre console to show the entire system on and off, in addition to the air-conditioning and window defoggers, however extra bodily buttons or switches for altering the temperature and fan pace wouldn’t go astray.
Wanting across the cabin, it seems trendy sufficient. I respect the shortage of shiny piano black, however the faux carbon-fibre finishes cheapen the general look. There are additionally loads of black finishes, which might make the cabin really feel smaller than it’s, however fortunately there’s additionally a panoramic glass sunroof, which provides an ethereal really feel.
There’s a beneficiant quantity of space for storing up entrance, together with two cupholders, key storage across the rotary gear selector, and a big open storage space beneath the centre console, in addition to a typical centre console field and glovebox.
Hopping into the second row, you’d anticipate house could be at a premium, given ‘coupe’ SUVs sometimes sacrifice room for aesthetics. Nonetheless, the H6 GT PHEV defies this as there’s oodles of house for adults behind adults.
At a leggy 182cm, there was a beneficiant quantity of legroom and headroom for me. The latter is especially shocking as a sloping roofline sometimes eats into headroom, particularly if there’s additionally a sunroof.
Like many Chinese language SUVs, the second-row bench is comfy and laidback. You may simply have two folks sitting in consolation, and in the event you wished you would even push it to a few abreast because the transmission hump isn’t big.
Second-row facilities embody air vents and USB-A ports, in addition to a fold-down armrest with cupholders. It’s pretty normal again there for a mid-sized SUV.
Across the again, there’s an influence tailgate that has a hands-free perform, which is useful in the event you’ve obtained your fingers full and have to open the boot.
As soon as the tailgate is open, the boot house on provide is surprisingly respectable. Many coupe SUVs compromise boot capability, however the house itself is sq. and usable. There are additionally helpful storage nooks off the aspect to securely stow issues like bottles.
It’s price noting that the H6 GT PHEV has the identical boot capability because the common H6 GT (392L), although that is down on what the H6 wagon provides (600L).
Below the boot ground, there’s an area to fit a charging cable, however sadly, there’s no spare tyre. The latter is frequent in electrified automobiles as a result of their high-voltage componentry eats into the house the place a spare wheel would sometimes go.
| Dimensions | GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV |
|---|---|
| Size | 4727mm |
| Width | 1940mm |
| Peak | 1729mm |
| Wheelbase | 2738mm |
| Cargo capability | 392L (5 seats) 1390L (2 seats) |
To see how the GWM Haval H6 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What’s beneath the bonnet?
A small turbo-petrol engine, two electrical motors, and a stonking high-voltage battery pack.
| Specs | GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5-litre 4cyl turbo-petrol 2 electrical motors |
| Engine outputs | 110kW @ 5500-6000rpm 230Nm @ 1500-4000rpm |
| Electrical motor outputs | 130kW/300Nm (entrance) 135kW/232Nm (rear) |
| System outputs | 321kW 762Nm |
| Battery | 35.43kWh ternary li-ion battery |
| Transmission | 2-speed ‘Devoted Hybrid Transmission’ |
| Drive sort | AWD |
| Weight (kerb) | 2075kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 4.9 seconds |
| Gas financial system (claimed) | 0.8L/100km 5.4L/100km (low battery SoC) |
| Electrical driving vary | 180km (NEDC) |
| Max AC cost charge | 6.6kW |
| Max DC cost charge | 48kW |
| Gas tank capability | 55L |
| Gas requirement | 91-octane common unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 19g/km |
| Emissions normal | Euro 5 |
| Braked tow capability | 1500kg |
To see how the GWM Haval H6 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
How does the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV drive?
It’s price noting straight up that there are numerous methods to drive this automobile, and with the driving circumstances we skilled in the course of the launch program, we barely scratched the floor.
Due to the humongous 35.43kWh battery pack, this automobile is claimed to have the ability to journey as much as 180km on electrical energy alone, in keeping with lenient NEDC testing.
Though we didn’t get to check the complete depths of what this automobile is able to, we did a 125km freeway/motorway drive completely in EV mode and nonetheless had 1 / 4 of the battery’s cost left as soon as we reached our vacation spot. So a real-world EV vary of 150km sounds doable, which is completely bananas. It’s by far probably the most electrical vary of any PHEV I’ve skilled to this point.
There are two totally different EV modes to select from, however they largely do the identical factor. Each prioritise electrical energy as a lot as attainable, they usually’ll solely name on the petrol engine in the event you’re accelerating onerous or the battery cost is low.
The 2 electrical motors produce a variety of energy, so acceleration in EV mode is punchy. You’ll simply be maintaining with different automobiles in the event you partake within the visitors gentle grand prix.
Not like some PHEVs, this automobile is able to accelerating as much as and sustaining freeway speeds on electrical energy alone. Once you’re doing this, the automobile is just about silent, and there’s barely any wind or tyre noise. This will generally develop into extra obvious in some of these automobiles because the absence of engine noise generally makes different sounds extra noticeable.
Talking of noise, although, if you’re travelling round city at decrease speeds, this automobile makes an annoying droning sound with its acoustic pedestrian warning system. It’s at its loudest at round 20-25km/h earlier than switching off as soon as the pace will get greater.
As soon as the battery cost runs out, otherwise you manually choose the ‘Clever Hybrid’ mode, the automobile acts like a daily hybrid automobile and makes use of the petrol engine extra typically.
You’d be hard-pressed to know when the engine switches on, although, as a result of it’s so quiet and refined. The one possible way you’ll be able to inform past wanting on the instrument cluster is by a delicate vibration via the accelerator pedal.
The ‘Clever Hybrid’ mode can be helpful because it prioritises what energy supply is most effective. Round city, it’ll lean closely on the 2 electrical motors for almost all of progress, whereas at speeds over 70km/h it’ll use the petrol engine extra because it’s extra environment friendly than utilizing the electrical motors.
On the freeway in ‘Clever Hybrid’ mode, the automobile averaged round 5.0L/100km, which is fairly common for a hybrid automobile.
If you happen to’re not about effectivity, although, this automobile is able to driving very rapidly. All up, it produces 321kW of energy and 762Nm of torque, which is a bucket-tonne for a mainstream mid-sized SUV.
This automobile comes with a launch management mode, which is claimed to permit this automobile to hit 100km/h in simply 4.9 seconds. It’s essential to choose the ‘Sport’ drive mode, then disengage traction management, which left me feeling just a little anxious.
I shouldn’t have nervous although as a result of, avoid wasting minor tyre squeal, this automobile rockets to 100km/h confidently and rapidly, with no issues in any respect. It’s an exhilarating expertise that’ll possible be one thing cool to indicate off to passengers, however finally it doesn’t serve a variety of use for what is actually an on a regular basis commuter automobile.
There are three totally different regenerative braking modes to select from within the H6 GT PHEV, in addition to a one-pedal driving mode. For almost all of our launch drive program, I caught with the ‘Regular’ regen braking mode because it felt probably the most pure.
Regardless of this, the brake pedal has an awkwardly lengthy journey and has a stiff, picket really feel. That is typically the case with hybrid automobiles as they mix regenerative braking and friction braking when slowing down. The transition from the 2 can generally be just a little disjointed, too.
There are three steering modes to select from: Consolation, Sport and Mild. Though I flirted with Sport for temporary events, I primarily caught with Consolation mode because it wasn’t too agency or gentle. Goldilocks would approve.
Provided that we drove on the freeway predominantly, we didn’t get a superb learn on trip high quality. At greater speeds, it’s unremarkable, however you’ll be able to really feel the added weight over the pure petrol-powered H6 GT within the bends. It’s essential to do not forget that the high-voltage battery pack on this automobile weighs round 450kg.
Regardless of this, the H6 GT PHEV continues to be a snug freeway tourer that’s claimed to be able to travelling as much as 1000km on a full battery cost and tank of petrol.
On the security entrance, the adaptive cruise management system isn’t the very best on the market. Like many Chinese language automobiles, it tends to brake early when it detects a automobile forward and can depart a giant hole that different automobiles will minimize into, inflicting the H6 GT PHEV to decelerate additional.
If there aren’t any automobiles in entrance of you, nevertheless, the automobile will fortunately cruise alongside. Due to the regenerative braking, the automobile will even keep on the set pace restrict very comfortably.
This automobile additionally slows down fairly closely within the bends, which is one thing I’ve skilled in each GWM automobile to this point. It’s just a little unsettling from behind the wheel, although fortunately you’ll be able to override it by urgent on the accelerator.
One other awkward safety-related function is the lane-keep help, which may be intrusive with the steering inputs if you drift near a lane marking. It was annoying sufficient at some factors for me to modify it off. This must be completed via the touchscreen.
There’s additionally lane centring, which works together with the adaptive cruise management system. It may be hands-on with the steering inputs, however on clearly marked highways and freeways it’s helpful at decreasing driver fatigue.
Apart from these gripes, I appreciated the actual fact this automobile barely has any safety-related bings and bongs. It’s a refreshing change, as Chinese language carmakers have been the worst offenders on this entrance recently.
To see how the GWM Haval H6 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What do you get?
The GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV is simply supplied in a single Extremely trim degree equivalent to its pure-petrol sibling.
2025 GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV Extremely gear highlights:
- All-wheel drive
- Michelin Sport tyres
- 19-inch black-finish alloy wheels
- Tyre strain monitoring
- LED headlights, daytime working lights and entrance fog lights
- Roof rails
- Hill descent management
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- 8-speaker sound system
- Clever voice command
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Head-up show
- Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Consolation-Tek leatherette upholstery
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats
- 8-way energy driver’s seat
- Wi-fi cellphone charging
- Ambient lighting
- Palms-free energy tailgate
- Heated door mirrors
- Semi-automatic parking help
- Matte black GWM badging
To see how the GWM Haval H6 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
Is the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV secure?
All petrol and hybrid variations of the GWM Haval H6 and Haval H6 GT have a five-star ANCAP security score based mostly on testing carried out in 2022.
This score hasn’t carried over to the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV but, nevertheless. GWM Australia says it has despatched engineering paperwork for this new PHEV variant to ANCAP, although it’s unclear when it is going to obtain an impartial security score.
Commonplace security gear contains:
- Seven airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection
- Bicycle owner detection
- Crossroad/junction detection
- Manoeuvre braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane departure warning
- Lane-keep help
- Emergency lane-keep help
- Site visitors signal recognition
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Clever Cruise Help
- Site visitors Jam Help
- Reversing digital camera
- Encompass-view digital camera
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- “Full Auto Parking” tech
- Tyre strain monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Reverse AEB
To see how the GWM Haval H6 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
How a lot does the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV price to run?
The GWM Haval H6 GT is roofed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, whereas its high-voltage battery pack is backed by an eight-year, 160,000km guarantee.
| Servicing and Guarantee | GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 7 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 5 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years or 70,000 kilometres |
| Whole capped-price service price | $TBD |
To see how the GWM Haval H6 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
CarExpert’s Tackle the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV
PHEVs are a scorching subject proper now, and though GWM is just a little late to the occasion with the introduction of its first PHEV domestically, the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV actually makes a compelling case for itself.
In reality, I’d go so far as to say this automobile is the closest you will get to Hannah Montana in automobile type, since you actually do get the very best of each worlds.
It has a benchmark EV vary declare of as much as 180km, in keeping with lenient NEDC testing, which is properly past what any equally priced competitor at present provides.
This beneficiant quantity of EV vary signifies that individuals who journey 30km or much less throughout their on a regular basis commute for work in the course of the week will possible solely have to cost the automobile as soon as every week. Plus, there’s a petroleum engine beneath the bonnet so that you don’t want to fret about charging the battery all the time. So there’s no vary nervousness.
The actual fact this automobile may do the 0-100km/h dash in about 5 seconds makes it one of many final avenue sleepers going. A minimum of 321kW of energy and 762Nm of torque could also be a bit an excessive amount of in your on a regular basis mid-sized SUV commuter, nevertheless it’s satisfying to know you’ve obtained a lot oomph obtainable on faucet.
Higher but, all this may be yours for the engaging asking value of $53,990 drive-away, which is simply $8000 greater than the pure petrol-powered mannequin. Some PHEVs are upwards of $15,000 costlier than their petrol counterparts. Sure, I’m taking a look at you, Mitsubishi Outlander.
There are such a lot of methods to drive a PHEV, and at this media launch drive it felt like we solely scratched the floor of what this automobile is able to. We sit up for spending extra time behind the wheel, particularly so we will see what the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV is wish to dwell with on a regular basis.
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