You can Haval it all

31 May 2025 | By Paul Gover

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The Haval H6 package is a good one, with plenty of cabin space and built-in enjoyment. With a theoretical range of more than 900 km, it’s also designed to handle the family road trip. Photos: Supplied.

In the overcrowded world of mid-sized family SUVs, it’s getting harder and harder to make an impact.

There is a vast and growing number of affordable but boring ‘’battery boxes’’ – bland lookalike Chinese electric SUVs – without any personality or input from Australia.

Then there is the Haval H6 GT PHEV – translated as a plug-in hybrid with a bit of GT-style driving enjoyment.

Haval is one of the growing number of Chinese brands but there are some important differences, for the GWM – yes, Great Wall Motors – sub-brand.

Like the successful import brands of the past, including Toyota to Hyundai, GWM is using Australia as a test market and translating the tough conditions Down Under to make all of its cars better.

Chinese engineers make regular visits, cars are tested in tough local conditions from the tropics to the outback, and the final model line-up is tailored to local needs. That’s why the H6 GT is now available as a plug-in hybrid, which can take power from the grid – or solar panels at home – for around 100 kilometres of pure electric driving.

The bottom line increases by around $8000, to a base price of $55,990, but the H6 package is a good one with plenty of cabin space and built-in enjoyment. With a 1.5-litre petrol engine for longer runs, it has a theoretical range of more than 900 km and that’s more than enough for any trip in Australia.

It is also surprisingly – really surprisingly – quick. With an impressive 762 Newton-metres of torque and all-wheel drive, helped by an electric motor at each end, the thrust from a stoplight or a slow corner can be truly surprising. So it lives up to both the GT and PHEV badges, but what is it like as a family SUV?

The H6 is reasonably roomy, has all the latest ‘’bells and whistles’’ and is quiet and smooth running. But … there is no spare tyre, which is sacrificed for the plug-in battery.

The ride quality is OK, but not as compliant as something from Kia in the same class, and the cornering grip is ordinary. But GWM promises improvements over time and is also working to tame the intrusive and abusive ‘’driver safety’’ aids, including steering ‘’assistance’’, which jerks and grabs the wheel when it thinks it knows better. When it clearly does not.

Where it really scores is against its plug-in hybrid rivals, including the Mitsubishi Outlander. It feels bigger inside, the quality looks better and it is a nicer drive. It also has a sporty sprint the Mitsubishi cannot match.

As a plug-in hybrid it’s very good. As a family SUV it’s nice too.