2024 Haval H6 Hybrid Ultra review

The most popular car for Australian buyers is a medium SUV, with this segment dominated by Toyota RAV4, the all-electric Tesla Model Y and the new Mitsubishi Outlander. Each of these SUVs offers a way for drivers to save on fuel costs, too. The RAV4 has a petrol hybrid option, the Tesla Model Y is purely offered as a battery electric vehicle, while the Mitsubishi Outlander offers both petrol and electric driving modes with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant.

One of the more recent arrivals to the medium SUV segment is the Haval H6, a Chinese-built SUV from parent company GWM, a brand which you may know better as Great Wall Motors.

The GWM Haval H6 range includes a petrol hybrid variant, promising fuel economy of up to 5.2L/100km thanks to its combination of a 1.5-litre petrol engine, 130kW electric motor and 1.8kWh battery. In addition to a fuel economy saving, the Haval H6 also offers notable savings in drive-away price and ongoing maintenance.

How much does a Haval H6 cost?

The Ultra Hybrid tested here offers great value for money. Compared to key rivals in the medium SUV segment, the H6 is significantly more affordable. The Haval H6 range starts at just $33,990 drive-away and tops out at the Ultra Hybrid on test here at $45,990 drive-away.

That compares with the Toyota RAV4 that offers drive-away pricing between $44,382 and $61,540 and the Mitsubishi Outlander priced from $42,250 to $79,810. It’s worth noting that Haval H6 hybrid models are only available in front-wheel drive and both the top of the range RAV4 and Outlander variants are all-wheel drive.

Haval also offers a competitive aftersales program. It isn’t quite as extensive as Mitsubishi’s 10 year conditional warranty, but does offer a seven year unlimited kilometre warranty on the vehicle, eight-year warranty on the hybrid battery, five years roadside assistance and five years of capped price servicing, with costs ranging from $210 to $580 depending on the service required.

For its price, the Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid is comprehensively equipped with a long list of standard inclusions such as electric tailgate with hands-free opening, panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, head up display, 360-degree camera, auto parking assist and a full range of driver assistance technologies.

What is the Haval H6 like inside?

The Haval H6 is a comfortable five-seater mid-size SUV, designed for family life with two ISOFIX points in the rear seat and three top tethers. There’s plenty of room in the spacious second row, which can easily accommodate adult passengers with no concerns for head or legroom.

A tell-tale sign that a new vehicle is from an emerging Chinese brand is its increased level of attention on the interior quality. Think quilted seats, flashy interior finishes, a diverse range of materials, plastics and synthetic upholstery, and extra levels of detail.

While materials in the Haval H6 don’t extend to leather, the synthetic trim does a pretty good job of pretending and stops short of feeling cheap.

There are some nods to Euro prestige in the Haval H6 including the perforated audio speakers which are reminiscent of the Burmester speakers found in Mercedes-Benz SUVs, but the audio quality is not that of a prestige vehicle despite the eight speaker system.

The large colour touchscreen controls many of the vehicle functions, including the heating and cooling, causing some frustration in operation – it’s a classic exercise in form over function. It’s the same with the location of the front seat USB chargers – the one you need to connect for Apple CarPlay is located on the passenger side of the front console so anyone who doesn’t leave a second cable in the car is constantly required to reach around to plug it in. The socket on the driver’s side is located in such a spot that any cable plugged into it comes into contact with the driver’s left leg.

The tech usability is at odds with the overall practical feel of the Haval H6, which has plenty of storage throughout its cabin.

How much boot space does the Haval H6 have?

Boot space is decent at 600 litres with the rear seats in play, extended to 1485 litres with the second row folded almost flat. The Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid is the only vehicle in the range to come with a hands-free boot, and it works well.

As with a lot of hybrid vehicles, to accommodate the extra space required for the battery and to reduce weight, the spare wheel is replaced with a tyre inflator kit in the Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid.

Is the Haval H6 good to drive?

The Haval H6 is an accessible car to drive for those new to mid-size SUVs. It’s easy to get up and running quickly and the ride is largely comfortable, but it lacks finesse, so drivers looking for a dynamic experience will be underwhelmed by the Haval H6’s road handling.

The H6's hybrid system is relatively quiet in its operation, and the powertrain makes full use of the electric motor, resulting in swift acceleration and a quiet initial take off. It holds onto electric power for longer than Toyota’s hybrid system - accelerate quickly and the front axle can get twitchy as all the power is delivered to the front wheels.

The Haval H6 promises fuel economy of 5.2L/100km, which seems to be achievable while driving around town. However, we saw consumption closer to 7L/100km after a week of predominantly freeway driving.

The drive is also significantly hampered by Haval’s poorly calibrated driver assistance systems which fail to deliver a guiding hand to the driver, and instead confound with their sensitivity. The worst transgression is the system’s inability to sustain a decent driving speed around a gradual curve, instead opting to slow the car rapidly from 110km/h to 90km/h, forcing you to accelerate sharply to avoid sudden braking and potential hazards from following vehicles.

How much can you tow with the Haval H6?

The Haval H6 hybrid has a braked towing capacity of 1500kg, a reduction of 400kg over the non-hybrid variants. This is sufficient to tow a small caravan or camper trailer, and also comparable to the Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander.

How safe is the Haval H6?

The Haval H6 has all of the required safety components to earn a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and adds ISOFIX child seat mounting points in the second row.

The H6 comes with a full suite of driver assistance systems, although they do not function as well as in other vehicles, and cause more of a distraction than they should.

The driver assistance features that function at low speed are better. The 360-degree camera makes parking this sizeable SUV easy, while the Ultra Hybrid, like its petrol Ultra equivalents, also offers the convenience of auto parking assist and reverse assist.

Rear Cross Traffic Braking works well and is useful while reversing out of tight spots, or into traffic, applying the brake should a vehicle approach suddenly.

How does the Haval H6 compare?

The Haval H6 is larger than many rivals in its class, offering a spacious cabin and plenty of boot space - more than the Toyota RAV4 or Hyundai Tucson. It also undercuts competitors like the RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Kia Sportage, which typically start above $40,000. However, those models from better-known brands benefit from stronger reputations, wider service networks, and a more established track record for reliability and resale value.

Should I buy a Haval H6?

For its price, the Haval H6 Hybrid does have plenty to offer as a budget-friendly mid-size SUV that appeals to families. However, the sharp pricing is offset by technology concerns and a lack of driving polish, which make it hard to recommend if your budget can stretch a bit further.

With so many accomplished vehicles in the medium SUV segment, you might be better off test driving the Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage before the Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid.