GWM HAVAL H6 PHEV

Model Overview

The HAVAL H6 New Energy (officially known as the "3rd Generation HAVAL H6 DHT-PHEV") is the first plug-in hybrid compact SUV under Great Wall Motor's (GWM) HAVAL brand. Serving as the trailblazer in HAVAL’s comprehensive strategic shift towards new energy vehicles (NEVs), it was officially launched on 28 September 2022, with a retail price range of RM159,800 to RM173,800, acting as a crucial electrified addition alongside the pure petrol and HEV hybrid variants in the HAVAL H6 stable. Concurrently, HAVAL has previewed that the next-generation HAVAL H6 will be offered with both 1.5T hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

In overseas markets, the 2026 HAVAL H6 PHEV Ultra Luxury 2WD variant has gone on sale in markets like South Africa, priced at around RM344,000. Meanwhile, the 2026 Hi4 AWD PHEV model in selected overseas markets starts from approximately RM328,000.

Design Language

In terms of styling, the HAVAL H6 PHEV retains the bold, muscular profile of the third-generation H6 while infusing PHEV-exclusive design cues. Up front, it features a borderless starlight grille seamlessly integrated with the headlights. Finished in the model-exclusive Qingfan Green NEV exterior paint (alongside various shades like Nebula Grey), it clearly distinguishes its electrified identity. Down the sides, crisp character lines run from the headlamps through to the tail lamps, creating a well-defined silhouette; the lower door sections are highlighted with chrome garnishes, complemented by black wheel arches, side sills, and multi-spoke dual-tone alloy wheels. At the rear, it gets the on-trend full-width light bar with wing-styled inner graphics, delivering high visual recognition when lit.

Dimensions & Specifications:

Notably, some records list the length at 4653mm, an inconsistency likely stemming from differing model years or spec levels. Overall, its dimensions sit squarely within mainstream C-segment SUV territory. In its standard 5-seater layout, boot space is rated at 560L, expanding to 1485L with the rear seats folded down, offering a practical balance between everyday passenger comfort and cargo utility.

Inside, the range is available in three interior colourways, including a black-and-grey two-tone finish. The 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen comes standard with Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features; however, screen glare under bright sunlight is noticeable, and the system boot-up time suffers from a roughly 12-second black-screen lag.

Powertrain & Performance

The HAVAL H6 PHEV is powered by a plug-in hybrid setup pairing a 1.5T turbocharged engine with a front-mounted single electric motor, linked to a 2-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT). It is configured in a front-engine, front-wheel drive (FWD) layout, with no all-wheel-drive (AWD) variant available.

Supplying power is a 19kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack. Under NEDC testing, the pure electric range is rated at either 55km or 110km depending on the variant, while the WLTC-rated pure electric range reaches 115km. For charging, it supports DC fast charging at up to 33kW, taking just 28 minutes to juice up from 30% to 80%. AC slow charging is capped at 3.3kW.

On the fuel efficiency front, WLTC depleted-battery consumption stands at around 5.6-5.88L/100km. Total combined range on a full tank and full charge tops 1100km. Owner road tests reveal that at highway cruising speeds above 110km/h, engine revs hover around 2,400 rpm, causing fuel consumption to rise noticeably. It runs comfortably on standard RON 92 petrol.

Chassis & Handling

Underneath, the HAVAL H6 PHEV uses a monocoque chassis with a FWD setup across the board. The front suspension adopts a MacPherson strut independent setup, while the rear features a multi-link independent layout, striking a balance between paved-road compliance and stability on unpaved surfaces. Braking is handled by ventilated discs up front and solid discs at the rear, with an electronic parking brake (EPB) standard across the range. Tyre dimensions are 235/55 R19.

In terms of driving dynamics, the PHEV's chassis is tuned primarily for comfort, effectively ironing out body pitch and roll to keep motion sickness at bay. Acceleration is smooth and progressive; off-the-line pickup and urban stop-and-go driving rely on the electric motor, delivering commendable NVH levels rather than razor-sharp sportiness. High-speed cruising stability is commendable, though several owners noted average suppression of road and wind noise, often necessitating turning up the audio volume.

Cabin & Equipment

Inside the cabin, the HAVAL H6 PHEV features a multi-display setup combining a large floating centre infotainment display with a digital instrument cluster, while select trims add an AR-HUD head-up display for a three-screen interconnected experience.

The infotainment system supports 4G telematics, over-the-air (OTA) software updates, and smart voice commands with multi-zone voice recognition for front occupants. While general responsiveness is smooth, the 12-second boot-up delay and screen reflections under direct sunlight remain notable gripes among owners.

Comfort and convenience amenities include a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, faux leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat (6-way/8-way adjustable options), heated front seats (optional on select variants), dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air vents, a built-in air purifier, a 50W wireless phone charging pad, and a powered tailgate with memory and remote open functions. Audio is delivered via a 6-speaker sound system. Charging provisions include USB/Type-C ports in both front and rear rows.

Cargo capacity stands at 560L in standard configuration, which expands to a flat 1485L load bay when the rear backrests are folded down, accommodating bulky luggage for family road trips.

Safety & ADAS

On the passive safety front, the HAVAL H6 PHEV features a high-tensile steel cage body structure. It comes standard with dual front airbags, front side airbags, and full-length curtain airbags (6 airbags in total), with top-spec trims adding a driver's knee airbag (7 airbags total). Active safety includes an array of electronic aids such as Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control System (TCS), and Brake Assist (BA).

For Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), the entire range comes equipped with Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features driven by millimetre-wave radar, a monocular camera, and ultrasonic sensors. Key safety systems include: Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC, 0-150km/h), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), and Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR). Drivers also benefit from a 360-degree surround-view camera with a transparent chassis view, significantly reducing blind spots when parking.

Nonetheless, some owners on community forums have highlighted that lane-centering assist tends to waver around sharp highway bends, with sensor false-alarm rates rising in heavy downpours. Overall, though, it delivers dependable performance on highways and urban expressways.

Market Performance & Reception

As HAVAL's pioneer NEV model, the HAVAL H6 PHEV garnered strong initial interest, but its sales momentum gradually tapered off amid intense competition in China's NEV landscape.

In 2025, total annual sales stood at 19,016 units, with December contributing 2,457 units (a year-on-year increase of roughly 18.5%). Entering 2026, sales plummeted, recording 0 units sold in March 2026, languishing near the bottom of the new energy compact SUV segment. Primary competitors like the BYD Song PLUS DM-i and HAVAL Raptor PHEV command significantly higher market shares in the segment.

Owner sentiment on the HAVAL H6 New Energy has been heavily polarised. Key criticisms include: heavy dependency on charging infrastructure, with many users noting that fuel consumption spikes significantly when the battery is drained alongside relatively fast EV range degradation; persistent reliability issues, with consumer complaint platforms like 12365auto logging numerous grievances regarding sudden high-speed power loss, laggy reversing cameras, braking glitches, phantom AEB activations, intermittent Bluetooth digital key failures, and noisy wipers; steep depreciation, where owners noted two-and-a-half-year-old units fetched barely RM70,000 on the used car market; and frequent workshop visits, with one two-year owner claiming the car spent an inordinate amount of cumulative time undergoing repairs.

On the flip side, positive feedback focuses on low fuel consumption and its generous cabin space. Early owners reported problem-free motoring during initial months with reasonable running costs, praised the plush, long-distance-friendly ride quality, and found the Level 2 ADAS suite dependable under standard driving conditions.

Major Technical Evolution: Hi4 AWD Variant

As of June 2026, HAVAL has revealed the Hi4 plug-in hybrid AWD variant via China's MIIT regulatory filings. Major upgrades on the Hi4 version include: a GW4B15H 1.5L naturally aspirated engine (producing 85kW), shared with the HAVAL Xiaolong MAX; a front and rear dual-motor electric AWD system (front motor ~70kW, rear motor ~150kW); a 19.09kWh LFP battery pack (sourced from SVOLT) providing around 85km of pure electric range; and a depleted-battery fuel consumption as low as 5.3L/100km.

In overseas markets, the 2026 HAVAL H6 Hi4 AWD PHEV has landed in South Africa with an entry price of around RM328,000 (inclusive of on-the-road costs), available in both AWD and more affordable 2WD trims. Armed with the heavily upgraded Hi4 intelligent hybrid AWD system, it fills the AWD void in the PHEV lineup. The next-generation Hi4 variant is expected to sit above the existing DHT-PHEV, carrying a cost premium of approximately RM35,000 over the petrol version.

In summary, as HAVAL's trailblazer into electrification, the HAVAL H6 PHEV offers well-rounded fundamentals, but is held back by quality control hiccups, user experience quirks in tech, and poor resale value. While the introduction of the Hi4 AWD setup promises meaningful gains in dynamics and drivability, whether it can truly reverse the model's fortunes against fierce rivals like the BYD Song PLUS DM-i remains to be tested by the market.