The current GWM Haval H6 may have only recently been updated, but a new generation is waiting in the wings for our market.
GWM’s Haval brand in China offers a larger crossover SUV under the H6L (with petrol power) and Xiaolong Max (with plug-in hybrid power) nameplates, and it’s due in Australia early in 2027.
The new H6 was first launched in China in 2023, and CarExpert reported in 2024 it was bound for Australia as an H6 replacement. GWM Australia subsequently introduced a facelifted version of the existing H6 in 2025, which had been revealed for China in April 2024, after initially ruling the update out.
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The brand is now weighing whether it will continue to offer petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains in the new-generation model, given tightening emissions standards Down Under.
Until the recent fuel price spike, Haval H6 sales were evenly split between electrified and non-electrified powertrains.
The new-generation model is a larger vehicle than the current H6, measuring 4780mm long, 1895mm wide and 1730mm tall on a 2800mm wheelbase – up 77mm in length and 9mm in width, and 62mm in wheelbase.
For context, a Kia Sorento measures 4815mm long, 1900mm wide and 1700mm tall on a 2815mm wheelbase.
Despite the increase in footprint, boot space drops from 560 to 436 litres compared with the outgoing model, likely due to the more rakish tailgate.
There’s also still only seating for five, with GWM considering the introduction of the Haval H7 Plus – available with either five or seven seats – to help fill this gap in its lineup.
The brand has never offered a large, three-row crossover SUV, with buyers who need more than five seats having to step up to the Toyota LandCruiser-size Tank 500 (or, previously, the Haval H9).
GWM Australia will also squeeze the Haval Jolion Max into the gap between the Haval Jolion and the new Haval H6. It measures 4590mm long, 1877mm wide and 1675mm tall on a 2710mm wheelbase, putting it in the mid-size SUV segment unlike the small Jolion.
The existing Haval H6 GT is set to continue alongside the new Haval H6, as it’s running on a different model cycle. With the petrol-powered Ultra grade ending production next month, it’ll soon be PHEV-only.
The new-generation H6 is available with a 170kW/380Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated with a nine-speed automatic and either front- or all-wheel drive. A smaller 1.5-litre turbo four is also offered in China.
Front-wheel drive hybrid versions mate a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a one-speed direct hybrid transmission, a 1.53kWh battery, and total system outputs of 182kW and 535Nm
With all-wheel drive, total torque rises to 670Nm and there’s a three-speed hybrid transmission.
PHEV versions also use a 1.5-litre turbo four, mated with either 23.7kWh or 33.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
With front-wheel drive, outputs are 240kW and 535Nm, and WLTC electric-only range is 110km.
All-wheel drive variants produce 280kW and 670Nm, and offer a range of 95km with the smaller battery and 140km with the latter.
Regardless of powertrain, the new H6 rides on MacPherson strut front and multi-link independent rear suspension.
Inside, there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
GWM expects to continue to grow sales for the Haval H6 nameplate, particularly as it expands its dealership network.
Moving forward, it still expects the Haval H6 to be its strongest-selling mid-size SUV, even with the Jolion Max sliding in under it in the local lineup.
In the first quarter of 2026, GWM delivered 3844 examples of Haval H6, up 12 per cent on the same period last year and well above the niche Haval H7 (292 deliveries).
The Haval H6’s tally put it just two units ahead of the usually top-selling Toyota RAV4, as that vehicle goes through a generational changeover, and in sixth-place overall in the mainstream mid-size SUV segment. It beat fellow Chinese SUVs like the Chery Tiggo 7, Jaecoo J7 and MG HS by a considerable margin.