Do you know that feeling when an SUV surprises you? Not just with a decent spec sheet, but with genuine, neck-snapping acceleration that makes you double-check the badge? That is the Haval H6 GT PHEV in a nutshell.
I spent a week with GWM’s new flagship plug-in hybrid, driving it on the kind of roads that separate the competent from the truly compelling. The short version? This Chinese coupé-SUV delivers supercar-rivalling power figures at a price that undercuts most mainstream rivals. But as with any ambitious newcomer, there are a few compromises to weigh up.
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Let us get the headline numbers out of the way. Under the bonnet, a 1,5-litre turbo-petrol engine works in concert with two electric motors – one on each axle – to produce a combined 321 kW and 762 Nm of torque. That is more twist than a Ferrari 488, and it translates to a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint of 4,9 seconds. In plain language, this all-wheel drive two-tonne family hauler is as quick off the mark as a Volkswagen Golf R.
From a standstill, the GT PHEV feels properly rapid. The instant shove from the electric motors eliminates any hesitation, and you are at highway speeds before the petrol engine even has time to clear its throat. Overtaking slow trucks on the N1 becomes a non-event – a prod of the throttle and you are past almost before you have had time to check your blind spot.
The 2-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission does a commendable job of managing the handover between power sources. There is none of the pronounced thud I have experienced in some other hybrids; the integration feels polished and seamless.
Sport mode sharpens everything up, unleashing the full system output and making the GT genuinely entertaining on a twisty pass. It is not a sports car, but for an SUV with coupé aspirations, it carries its mass with surprising composure.
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Now for the trade-off. The GT PHEV wears its sporty suspension tuning like a badge of honour, and on South African roads that is a double-edged sword. Around town, it is fine – the suspension absorbs most minor imperfections without fuss. But hit a proper pothole – and let us be honest, we all know what our roads look like after summer rains – and you will feel it transmit through the cabin more sharply than you would in a softer-riding RAV4 or Tucson.
The electric power steering is light and precise, making parking and navigating tight shopping centre ramps effortless. Out on the open road, though, the steering lacks the feel that might inspire confidence when pushing on. It is set up for daily driving rather than carving mountain passes, and that is probably where most owners will spend their time anyway.
Braking, on the other hand, is a strong point. The ventilated discs haul this heavy SUV down with authority, and the all-wheel-drive system – augmented by those dual electric motors – gives you confident traction even on wet or loose gravel surfaces.
If you are considering a plug?in hybrid, you are wondering about range. The H6 GT PHEV packs a 35,4 kW/h battery that delivers a claimed 180 km of electric-only driving on the NEDC cycle. Real-world conditions will see something closer to 100 km-120 km, which is still enough to cover most daily commutes without touching the fuel tank.
Combine that with a 55-litre fuel tank, and the claimed total range exceeds 1 000 km. During my week of mixed driving without recharging, I saw consumption figures around 5,4 l/100 km – a vast improvement over the combustion-only GT, which struggles to stay under 12 l/100 km in urban use.
Charging supports DC fast charging up to 48 kW, with a 30%-80% top?up taking around 26 minutes on a suitable charger. Using the standard 6,6 kW AC home charger, you are looking at about six hours for a full charge.
Inside, the cabin feels genuinely premium for the price point. The GT-branded sports seats are heated and ventilated up front, and the panoramic sunroof adds to the airy feel. Rear passengers get good legroom, though the sloping roofline might leave taller adults wishing for a few extra centimetres of headroom.
The boot measures 392 litres – slightly smaller than the standard H6 due to that coupé roofline – but it is still practical for a family’s weekend luggage, and the hands-free electric tailgate is a welcome convenience.
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The cabin is dominated by a 14,6-inch touchscreen and a 10,25-inch digital instrument cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the 540-degree camera system – which includes a transparent chassis view – is genuinely useful for parking in tight spots.
But here is the gripe: the climate controls are buried in the touchscreen. You cannot just reach for a dial to adjust the temperature while keeping your eyes on the road; you must navigate through menus. It is a frustration that multiple South African reviewers have noted, and it is the kind of ergonomic decision that makes you wonder if anyone in the design team spends time in traffic.
Then there is the missing rear wiper. In a country where summer thunderstorms are a weekly occurrence, this is a puzzling omission. The thick C-pillars and small rear screen already compromise visibility; without a wiper, things get even trickier in the rain.
The ADAS suite is comprehensive – adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking are all present. Some systems can be a bit over-eager on South African roads and muting the alerts requires digging through those infotainment menus.
At R799 900, the H6 GT PHEV undercuts key rivals like the Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid and Omoda C9 by a significant margin, while offering substantially more power than the BYD Sealion 6 and Jaecoo J7.
The combustion-only GT, by comparison, costs R665 950 but drinks fuel at nearly 12 l/100 km. Run the numbers over five years, and the PHEV’s lower running costs – combined with its 7-year/200 000 km warranty and 8-year/150 000 km battery cover – start to make the higher initial price look like a sensible long?term investment .
If you want hot-hatch acceleration in an SUV body with genuine plug-in practicality, the H6 GT PHEV is a compelling choice for South African buyers. It delivers outrageous power, impressive efficiency, and a spec sheet that shames competitors costing significantly more.
But you will need to make peace with a firmer ride than the class average, an infotainment system that buries essential controls, and rear visibility that makes the camera system a necessity rather than a luxury.
Take one for a proper test drive – not just around the block, but on the roads you actually use. See if the ride works for you, spend time with the touchscreen and decide whether the compromises are worth the considerable performance and efficiency gains.
For many buyers, they will be.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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