- At a Glance: Key Specifications
- Design: Conservative Refinement
- Cabin Experience: Comfort Meets Tech
- Driving and Performance Review
- Safety and Technology
- “The Traveler and the Twin Hearts”
- What Makes It Better Than Before
- Where It Still Needs Polish
- Verdict
Great Wall Motors (GWM) has come a long way from being the new kid on the block to becoming one of the top 10 best‑selling automakers in Australia. Much of this success belongs to its SUV division, Haval, which has carved out a major presence thanks to aggressive pricing, sleek designs, and tech‑savvy interiors.
The crown jewel of this success story is the Haval H6 Ultra HEV 2025, a hybrid that takes on established rivals like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Kia Sportage, and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. It promises efficiency, comfort, and modern technology — but does it truly deliver on refinement? After a full week behind the wheel, the answer is both encouraging and revealing.
At a Glance: Key Specifications
Design: Conservative Refinement
Visually, the 2025 H6 doesn’t shout for attention, but it carries itself with newfound maturity.
A massive hexagonal front grille dominates the front fascia, flanked by razor‑sharp LED daytime running lights.
The side profile remains sculpted yet conservative, with bold chrome lines adding presence.
At the rear, C‑shaped LED clusters and a subtle spoiler cap off a clean but polished design.
It’s not revolutionary, but the facelift makes the SUV look pricier than its actual tag — and that’s part of its appeal.
Cabin Experience: Comfort Meets Tech
This is where Haval’s transformation truly shines. The once‑dated cabin has been overhauled with:
A 14.7‑inch free‑standing touchscreen borrowed from the Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha, offering crisp graphics and faster responsiveness.
A 12.3‑inch digital cluster, complementing the main display smoothly.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
A single wireless charging pad and dual USB ports.
Premium touches like cream‑colored leather upholstery, metallic speaker grilles, and soft‑touch surfaces.
However, not all is perfect:
The steering wheel design remains dated and too bulky, making the 9‑and‑3‑o’clock positions uncomfortable.
Buttons feel cheap and illogically arranged. GWM’s new two‑spoke wheel (seen on the configurator) will hopefully fix this in upcoming batches.
Still, the overall atmosphere feels light, airy, and far more upmarket than the H6’s price suggests.
Driving and Performance Review
1. Hybrid Powertrain
The combination of a 1.5‑liter turbocharged engine and an electric motor offers sharp torque delivery (530 Nm in total). It hits 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds — respectable for a mid‑size SUV.
2. Efficiency
In urban driving: around 6.3–6.5 L/100 km.
On the highway: an impressive 4.7 L/100 km, matching Haval’s claims.
The hybrid powertrain also gives the car the ability to cruise on electric power alone for short distances, reducing fuel use dramatically.
3. Ride and Handling
The H6 Ultra HEV feels stable and controlled, absorbing bumps without being floaty.
Suspension setup leans more toward comfort than sportiness, making it ideal for daily commutes and family use.
Steering is light and precise at low speeds but lacks feedback at high speeds — common for electric power steering systems.
4. Quirks and Setbacks
Noticeable hesitation when accelerating from a standstill, especially when cold. The system takes a moment to decide between electric or petrol power.
Excessive wheel spin and torque steer — a result of too much torque being channeled through the front wheels. It’s manageable in the dry but annoying in wet conditions.
The upcoming AWD version should rectify these issues.
Safety and Technology
The H6 Ultra HEV includes Toyota‑RAV4‑rivaling safety features:
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection.
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go.
Lane Departure and Lane Centering Assist.
Traffic Sign Recognition.
360° Camera System and Parking Sensors.
Driver Fatigue Monitor.
Seven Airbags across the cabin.
While effective, the lane‑keep system isn’t as refined as that found in Hyundai or Kia rivals, tending to “bounce” slightly between lane edges rather than staying centered.
“The Traveler and the Twin Hearts”
Once upon a Sydney morning, Sarah set out on a five‑day road trip in her new Haval H6 Hybrid. She called it “the Traveler with Two Hearts” — one electric, one petrol.
The journey was smooth and quiet until she reached the curves of the Blue Mountains. There, the car hesitated — a small pause, like an athlete deciding which foot to lead with. Yet once its two hearts beat in sync, the path wound effortlessly ahead, gliding past mist and stone.
When Sarah returned, she smiled: “It’s not perfect,” she said, “but it’s learning.”
Moral: Every innovation needs a pause before perfection — and the H6 is halfway there.
What Makes It Better Than Before
Vastly improved interior design and materials.
More user‑friendly infotainment and control layout.
Excellent fuel efficiency matching benchmark competitors.
Ride quality and noise insulation comparable to premium rivals.
Outstanding feature‑to‑price ratio — top variants offer luxury features under $44k.
Where It Still Needs Polish
Hesitant low‑speed response and front traction issues.
Overly thick steering wheel and cheap‑feeling buttons.
Driver‑assistance systems that work but lack smooth execution.
Verdict
The 2025 GWM Haval H6 Ultra HEV 2WD is a strong statement of intent from the Chinese automaker. It delivers premium comfort, a refined hybrid drivetrain, and tech usually reserved for much more expensive models — proving why Haval is now one of the most trusted names among new SUV buyers.
It still needs some fine‑tuning to match the polish of Korean and Japanese leaders, but given its price and feature set, this H6 deserves shortlisting by any driver seeking value without compromise.
