BEIJING MOTOR SHOW: New 2024 GWM Haval H9 could come to Oz after all

The second-generation 2024 GWM Haval H9 has made its world debut at the Beijing motor show, where executives from the Chinese brand confirmed the big new Toyota Prado-sized off-road SUV is being seriously considered for Australian release.

The original Haval H9 was discontinued in Australia back in 2021 and its successor was previously believed to be put on the backburner for this market due to the arrival of GWM’s slightly larger new Tank 500, another big seven-seat off-road SUV.

But after a closer inspection at the Beijing show and at the brand’s Baoding proving ground, GWM Australia execs are now upbeat about its local application – and it would be cheaper than the Tank 500 if released here.

“Now that we’ve had the local Australia New Zealand team here in Baoding and Beijing this week to have a look at a number of different products, we’ve had some time to spend with H9 and it’s safe to say we’re pretty impressed with the quality of that product and it’s now something that we are looking at,” confirmed GWM Australia and New Zealand communications and marketing boss, Steve Maciver.

He hinted that the new H9 could arrive here in as little as 12 months if it gets the green light.

“It was certainly on the radar beforehand but is something that we are taking a good look at now, to see whether it might be viable that we can bring a second seven-seat SUV option to the model line-up.”

However, to make the vehicle work in Australia, the Haval H9 would need to be priced below the GWM Tank 500, which currently sells here for $66,490 and $73,990 drive-away for the Lux and Ultra models respectively.

“Obviously, pricing, technology and positioning is going to be key, because we’ve got to make sure that it works for the existing line-up and doesn’t cannibalise too much the likes of the Tank 500,” cautioned.

The first-generation GWM Haval H9 was last priced from $41,990 drive-away, but the 2024 Haval H9’s increased technology and blocky new design could see it open the bidding at around $50,000.

Measuring 4950mm long – 50mm longer than the new 2024 Prado that arrives mid-year, but shorter than the 5078mm GWM Tank 500 – the new Haval H9 is offered with an equipment list as long as your arm and both turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines – unlike the petrol-electric hybrid-only Tank 500.

The latest Haval H9 can be had in China with luxuries including heated, cooled and power-adjustable seats with leather trim, quad-zone automatic climate-control, a large 14.6-inch central touch-screen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, electrically retracting side steps and plenty of rock-hopping gear, such as triple locking diffs and a low-range gearset.

But as Maciver explained, the second-generation H9’s price point could be reduced with specification and equipment tweaks for the local market.

“There may be some savings in that kind of [off-road] technology and as such, so there may be a possibility we can bring it in at a lower price [than Tank 500].”

But anyone expecting the new H9 to be a cut-price large diesel 4x4 seven-seater could be disappointed.

Maciver said that ditching some equipment like diff locks and lavish seats could position the new H9 in the local GWM-Haval line-up “…whereby it is capable off road but it’s certainly not as capable off road as the professional Tank series, which is our premium off-road series.

“So it’s something we’re looking at and we’ll continue to do the business case and see what happens from there,” said the GWM Australia comms boss.

Maciver said only the petrol powertrain is being considered by GWM Australia at this stage – a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder unit (165kW/385Nm) that pumps through an eight-speed automatic transmission and drives all four wheels.

A 2.4-litre turbo-diesel (135kW/480Nm) with nine-speed auto is also offered in China, but GWM Australia says it’s unlikely to be sold Down Under due to the federal government’s 2025 New Vehicle Efficiency Standard.

“[It] would be a tough argument given everything that’s happening within the environment of NVES pollution standards,” explained Maciver.

“We’re not ruling out [diesel]… but as things stand we will weigh them up and we’ll do the business case, but petrol will probably appear to be the most viable.”

Stay tuned for more details on GWM Haval’s new flagship large SUV.

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