GWM Haval H6 Ultra PHEV AWD 2025 Review

The fresh 2025 GWM Haval H6 PHEV is available as a front-wheel drive Lux, which costs $42,990 drive away or the Ultra 2WD for $45,990, but the one we’re focusing on here is the $48,990 Ultra PHEV AWD as it incorporates the company’s Hi4 all-wheel drive system with the highest level of equipment.

It couples a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder engine to a dual-motor electric drivetrain with a 19.1kWh battery for more than 100km of pure electric range and a serious output of 268kW and 760Nm. Plus, Haval claims a fuel economy of just 1.1L/100km or 5.3L/100km with a depleted battery charge.

Speaking of, the 19.1kWh lithium iron phosphate battery can be charged from 30-80 per cent in 28 minutes at a maximum DC rate of 34kW, or less than three hours (15-100 per cent) using a 6.6kW AC connection.

It also gets the recent exterior facelift as well as a thicker steering wheel and more power for the wireless charging pad on the inside, as well as the locally developed chassis codenamed AT-1 (Australian Tune 1 or At-one, if you were wondering).

As part of the Coffee operating system upgrade to version three, the H6 gets a larger 14.6-inch central touchscreen with ‘AI Smartspace’ a CPU that’s twice as fast as version 2 and wireless smartphone mirroring for both Android and Apple.

The Haval H6 was awarded ANCAP’s highest five-star safety rating in 2021 when the pre-update version was assessed. However, it does not cover the new PHEV nor is it known if Haval intends to submit the new version for testing.

Headline safety equipment includes seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control, 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring, rear cross traffic alert as well as lane departure warning and keeping assistant.

GWM Haval sold nearly 9000 H6s in Australia in 2024 which tells you the model is getting something right with an Australian audience and thankfully, much of what makes this model resonate locally isn’t changing. It’s still a good example of right-sizing, it has plenty of technology and is priced to do battle with longer-standing brands.

Now though, it has a plug-in powertrain to worry those who don’t. A short blast on the very same roads where the H6’s Australian suspension and steering tune was developed, demonstrates that Haval very much sees its mid-size SUV as a model to take no prisoners in the sales battle.

Before we’d even left the iconic Lang Lang proving ground, the local tuning team’s work was patently obvious. Smaller imperfections bother the chassis less and the secondary ride is smooth and unflustered by typical repairs and damage in the surface.

Larger bumps are equally well handled with improved body control, less tendency to roll in corners and all of the above instilling greater confidence. Impressively, the H6 rewards polar opposite driving strategies, with the enthusiastic driver getting more enjoyment thanks to the deft suspension tuning and a steering calibration that’s light when you want it but gains weight when you need.

But a more relaxing pace is also uncompromising. There’s the same low levels of noise vibration and harshness (NVH), but the ride is now all the more stoic. The value of local development has long been demonstrated by brands such as Hyundai and Kia, but headhunting one of the best engineers who spent 30 years at the same proving ground has got to be of the best automotive wins in years.

The excellent chassis and steering doesn’t completely upstage the new plug-in powertrain thanks to some serious performance figures. 268kW and 760Nm is the stuff of performance models and while the H6 doesn’t quite achieve that status (nor is it trying to), it does still offer an unmatched experience for the same cash.

It’s certainly fast and the electric influence is dominant, but holes in the consistency of power and torque delivery prevent it from being one of the standout powertrains of the year.

That said, if it can deliver the 100km-plus pure EV driving range GWM Haval claims (and we have no reason to doubt that), its circa $50,000 price makes this an amazingly versatile vehicle. We didn’t get a chance to test its Hi4 4WD capability off-road, but it’s at the softer end of the company’s hierarchy behind the Hi4-T and Hi4-Z versions. Watch this space.

Finally, the latest version of the company’s Coffee operating system is impressive even for the tech-leaning carmaker GWM. The 14.6-inch screen looks dominating but not overpowering and its new processor allows the beautiful graphics to scroll and refresh smoothly. There’s a few apparently superfluous features but we enjoyed them all the same. Likely you will, too.

While the suspension has dramatically enhanced the H6’s driving characteristics, there are still some strange power delivery anomalies that detract from the driving experience.

When you can coax the 1.5-litre turbo petrol and brace of electric motors (80kW front, 150kW rear) to deliver their full might all at once, the H6 has serious acceleration, but doing so seems to be a bit of a dark art.

With a solid prod of the throttle, the electric power delivers what feels like its full force, but it takes a while for the engine to join in, delaying performance. Other times, it seems almost too eager to contribute. So, while we’re sure the claimed 0-100km/h figure of 4.8 seconds is possible, it certainly isn’t consistently.

Also, the ESC or traction control calibration seems underdone. It’s quite easy to get a wheel to start slipping thanks to the abundant torque (when it feels like playing along) but once a wheel spin is detected, the system shuts off a vast chunk of the power, the likes of which hasn’t been experienced since the early traction control system of the 1990s.

The interior, while offering a lot for the price – including the option to have a lovely cream colour upholstery – has one or two aspects that hold it back from realising a more premium status.

Electric front seat adjustment is a great feature, but it doesn’t allow the seat base angle to be moved from the rather flat setting, while the two-axis steering wheel adjustment is limited. All of which meant the driving position is a bit of a get-what-you’re-given feel.

The 2025 GWM Haval H6 was already a popular car for good reason, representing excellent value and a comprehensive package that improved significantly with each update. That, in itself, enabled many to look past a less well-known badge.

And the same applies with the new PHEV AWD. It still represents good value but has now shaken off its vanilla styling, adopted a surprisingly muscular but practical powertrain and thanks to the work of Trubiani, has never felt better suited to Australia.

2025 GWM Haval H6 Ultra PHEV AWD at a glance:
Price: $48,990 drive away
Available: Now
Powertrain: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol-electric
Output: 110kW/240Nm (electric motors: 80kW/170Nm front, 150kW/350Nm rear)
Combined output: 268kW/760Nm
Transmission: dedicated hybrid transmission
Battery: 19.1kWh Lithium iron phosphate
Range: 100km (NEDC)
Energy consumption: NA
Fuel: 1.1L/100km
CO2: NA
Safety rating: Not tested

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