In today's Malaysian automotive landscape, RM17,000 is a rather delicate figure. While not quite enough to bridge two entirely different vehicle segments, it is certainly sufficient to land two fundamentally contrasting machines on the very same shortlist.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are becoming an increasingly popular option in Malaysia's C-Segment SUV market, offering a balance of fuel efficiency and everyday performance.

Place both price tags side by side, and you would think the two brands had planned it together. The Jaecoo J7 1.6T 2WD retails at RM138,800, while the GWM Haval H6 HEV comes in at RM139,800—a marginal RM1,000 difference.

In the 2026 Malaysian family SUV segment, Chinese automakers have established distinctly different technical approaches.

GWM’s presence at KLIMS 2026 tells a different story than it did two years ago. The brand has moved beyond being an ORA electric hatchback importer and is now pitching itself as a full-spectrum new-energy player. The Haval H6 HEV sits at the centre of this transformation. It is not a battery-electric vehicle, nor is it a plug-in hybrid. It is a self-charging hybrid SUV aimed squarely at Malaysian

GWM (Great Wall Motor) was already in the Malaysian market over 10 years ago but back then, its business was managed by a local partner and at ‘arm’s length’. At the end of 2022, it joined other automakers from China to come into the market on its own and started up GWM Malaysia as a marketing and sales subsidiary. Seeing Malaysia as a market not only with much potential but also as a regional hub