Haval H6 PHEV review – Practical family hauler that just “Wows”
- Dylan Naidoo
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
By: Dylan Naidoo
Great Wall Motors (GWM) remains a firm player in the South African automotive market, especially with successful models such as the Haval Jolion. Currently placed in the 6th position for this year's bestselling manufacturers, GWM currently holds a 5% market share in the South African market, with the brand experiencing a 31.9% year-on-year increase, according to Caitlyn Hilliard-Lomas from BusinessTech. As such, GWM is performing well in the South African market, and it’s not hard to see why. Vehicles such as the Jolion offer advanced technology and luxury for a price point not seen before, completely redefining what truly makes a luxurious car. And to that point, is where we see GWM’s Haval H6 PHEV shine in that aspect in our review. Grant Adlam got the opportunity to test out the highest trim: The Haval H6 PHEV Ultra Luxury Hi-4, with me riding shotgun.
Engineering & Technology
This version of the Haval H6 is the plug-in electric vehicle, a type of hybrid with a large battery cell. The SUV features a 1.5l turbo charged petrol engine paired with dual electric motors that deliver 268kW and a truly outstanding 760nm or torque. The result? The H6 PHEV has an incredible amount of power, like glue your head on your headrest amount of power, and it should come as to no surprise why. We do have to remember this H6 also comes in the sporty GT variant, which can rival some dedicated sports cars. As for the H6 PHEV, it does 0-100km/h in just 4.8 seconds, again, rivalling dedicated sports cars. That instant power delivery is quick and truly impressed us. All variants of the H6 PHEV come in a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) only.
The H6 PHEV also contains a 19.1kW battery, and combined with the petrol engine, the car
is estimated to deliver an impressive 1000km range. In terms of safety, the H6 PHEV holds a 5-Star ANCAP (Australian Safety Board) rating, containing a slew of safety equipment such as lane assist and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . At the beating heart of the Haval is the rather large infotainment system which, like many other Chinese cars, controls most of the car’s options on board. You get a 360-degree vehicle camera, nine good speakers that is by far the best I’ve heard in a car like this, as well as wireless CarPlay and Android Auto.
Design
As prevalent in many Chinese cars, the Haval incorporates a large front grill with angular LED headlights. These angular lights can also be seen in the rear. Overall, the design makes the car feel like the older, more mature sibling to the Jolian. Whilst the Jolian catered to young professionals, this H6 PHEV is targeted towards families especially with its commanding stance.
Interior and Spacing
Being a big family crossover-SUV, the H6 PHEV offers a generous amount of both head and legroom. The interior is spacious, with comfortable seating that makes you forget you are in the passenger seat of this car. The seats are electronically adjustable, and paired with the soft suspension, the drive feels comfortable, like floating on air might I add. Yes, my fellow bookworms out there, I can confirm you can read a book in this car without feeling nauseous. The boot is 560L in capacity, according to official documentation from GWM, and in our testing we found the boot to be quite large.
Pricing and Overall Thoughts
Pricing for the Haval H6 PHEV starts at R699,900, with our Hi-4 trim starting at R749,900. That is quite a steep premium, but considering the package on offer, it is still quite competitively priced. Compared to its Japanese Toyota RAV-4 competitor, the H6 PHEV benefits from being a hybrid, a significant leg up that can be an attractive prospect for buyers.
Visit GWM's website for more information: https://www.gwm.co.za/
