2025 GWM Haval H6 GT review

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The GWM Haval H6 GT is eye-catching, and now the value equation is better than ever.

WATCH: Paul’s video review of the 2023 GWM Haval H6 GT Ultra AWD

Note: This article is based on our most recent review of the H6 GT, as there have been no major specification changes since its publication – though the entry-level Lux is no longer available.

We have updated key details such as pricing and specifications with the most up to date information available, and added imagery of the latest model where applicable.

Read our most recent price and specs article here.

As we get deeper into the second half of 2024, we’ve noticed GWM has made some adjustments to the H6 GT range.

Gone is the entry-level Lux price leader, with the flagship Ultra grade now the sole offering. While it normally wears a $46,990 drive-away price tag, GWM Australia is offering a $4500 discount to $41,990 drive-away until December 31, 2024.

That’s only $1000 more than the old Lux – and 2025 should see the introduction of a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, ‘plugging’ an electrification gap in the Chinese brand’s mid-sized SUV ‘coupe’ model range.

If you haven’t already, should you give it a look?

How does the Haval H6 compare?

View a detailed breakdown of the Haval H6 against similarly sized vehicles.

Haval

How much does the GWM Haval H6 GT cost?

Just one variant remains available in Australia, and it’s currently being advertised with a substantial discount.

Model	Drive-away pricing	Promotional pricing (D/A)*
GWM Haval H6 GT Ultra AWD	$46,490	$41,990

* Promotional pricing ends December 31, 2024

To see how the H6 GT compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool.

What is the GWM Haval H6 GT like on the inside?

A special and sporty place to sit? Yes, the GT ticks those boxes, and it also has a decently high-tech vibe to it.

The Ultra grade has a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen media system than in the base grade, plus a fully digital 10.25-inch instrument cluster. So it’s going to feel like a big improvement from your old Holden Captiva or Mitsubishi Outlander.

However, the usability of the media system isn’t as simple as in some other vehicles. In most other cars, for example, to turn the seat heaters on there’s a button, but GWM requires you to dig through several menus, which is tedious.

Indeed, plenty of the controls you’ll want to use are operated via the screen, including adjusting the fan speed for the air-conditioning, or turning on/off the cabin air recirculation.

There is an array of buttons below the screen for some climate controls, but it just isn’t as user-friendly as it could be.

Storage up front is user-friendly, with a pair of cupholders between the seats, door pockets with bottle holders, a smallish glovebox, wireless phone charging tray, covered centre console bin, and a large storage tray under the centre console – which is where you find two USB ports for charging/media.

That means you still don’t get wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The front seat space and comfort is mostly good, with decent electric adjustment for the front seats, but there’s no lumbar support adjustment, and we found the back of the seat to be a tad uncomfortable.

Back seat space is good, with enough room for adults to fit in behind big units. At 182cm/6’0”, I had no issues fitting in behind my own driving position, with very good knee room, foot space, shoulder room and head space.

This is surprising for a coupe-style SUV, but that’s because the roof is raked downwards from the back of the rear doors, rather than from the B-pillar.

There are dual ISOFIX child seat anchors and three top-tethers in the second row.

Rear riders also have directional air vents, a pair of USB ports, bottle holders in the doors, a fold-down armrest with cupholders, and map pockets on the seat backs.

The interior is roomy, but the boot is a little tight. The GT model has 392 litres of cargo capacity, some 208 litres (or 53 per cent) less than the H6 SUV.

But unless you’ve got triplets, a mega pram or you’re planning a fortnight on the road, you should still fit the stuff you need to.

And it’s nice to see a space-saver spare wheel under the boot floor, too.

Dimensions	GWM Haval H6 GT
Length	4727mm
Width	1940mm
Height	1729mm
Wheelbase	2738mm
Cargo capacity	392-1390 litres

To see how the H6 GT compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool.

What’s under the bonnet?

The H6 GT comes with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 150kW of power (over 6000-6300rpm) and 320Nm of torque (1500-4000rpm).

Specifications	GWM Haval H6 GT
Engine	2.0L 4cyl turbo-petrol
Power	150kW (6000-6300rpm)
Torque	320Nm (1500-4000rpm)
Transmission	7-speed DCT
Driven wheels	All-wheel drive
Weight	1680kg
Fuel economy (claimed)	8.4L/100km
Fuel economy (as tested)	9.4L/100km
Fuel tank capacity	60 litres
Fuel requirement	91 RON
Braked tow capacity	2000kg – braked

To see how the H6 GT compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool.

How does the GWM Haval H6 GT drive?

We didn’t love it the last time we drove it, and this time? Well… we still didn’t love it.

That’s unsurprising really, as nothing has changed with the H6 GT drive experience compared to the last example we tested.

If you’re upgrading from a 10- or 15-year-old vehicle, you may not find much to complain about.

But compared to other mid-sized SUVs, we don’t rate the H6 GT as a top-10 model in its segment when it comes to driving enjoyment or day-to-day driver-friendliness.

It isn’t underpowered. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine has enough urge for daily driving duties, and in the normal driving mode, it’s adequate in terms of mid-range torque delivery.

However, the dual-clutch auto can feel laggy in stop-start traffic, and that’s often when it’s at its most frustrating – because as well as lag, there’s a shift lag from the rotary dial selector, which at times seems to decide that it doesn’t want to go to ‘Drive’ or ‘Reverse’. When parking, for example, that can be really annoying!

Beyond that, the transmission can be inconsistent in its responsiveness and logic, making it feel a bit too much like guesswork when it really shouldn’t.

As we mentioned in our previous review, there is a Race drive mode if you want to get more out of it. It notably sharpens up the engine and transmission response, and gives you a pop and crackle exhaust soundtrack at times too.

While that did make us smile once or twice during our drive, the other elements of this SUV can’t induce the same emotional reaction.

The steering, for instance, doesn’t have the same sort of consistency or joyfulness as some rivals. It’s not as direct as in a Honda CR-V, and not as natural as in a Volkswagen Tiguan. It can feel oddly weighted at times, which you can get used to, but the turning circle is big too – 12.0 metres.

The parking camera system is excellent though, making it easier to steer in and out of tight spots thanks to its crisp display imagery with rear, front, side and top-down views, as well as an augmented reality view so you can position it in its environment.

But that system can interrupt your podcast, phone call or navigation instructions, because it auto-activates at low speeds.

On the plus side, the H6 GT’s ride comfort is decent considering it’s sitting atop 19-inch wheels, with commendable grip from its Michelin tyres, but it does lean a bit in corners.

It also doesn’t feel quite as tied down as many rivals when you link up corners on an enjoyable road.

To see how the H6 GT compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool.

What do you get?

On test here is the GWM Haval H6 GT Ultra AWD.

H6 GT Ultra highlights:

All-wheel drive
Michelin Sport tyres
19-inch black-finish alloy wheels
Tyre pressure monitoring
LED headlights, daytime running lights and front fog lights
Roof rails
Hill descent control
Power tailgate
10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
8-speaker sound system
Dual-zone climate control
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Comfort-Tek leatherette upholstery
Heated front seats
8-way power driver’s seat
Head-up display
Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
Ventilated (cooled) front seats
Wireless phone charging
Ambient lighting
Hands-free power tailgate
Heated door mirrors
Semi-automatic parking assist
Rear cross-traffic alert
Reverse AEB

Is the GWM Haval H6 GT safe?

The GWM Haval H6 model line-up – including the sportier-looking GT versions – come with a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2022 testing.

Category	GWM Haval H6/H6 GT
Adult occupant protection	90 per cent
Child occupant protection	88 per cent
Vulnerable road user protection	73 per cent
Safety assist	81 per cent

Standard safety equipment includes:

Seven airbags
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection
- Cyclist detection
- Crossroad/junction detection
Manoeuvre braking
Blind-spot monitoring
Lane departure warning
Lane keep assist
Emergency Lane Keep assist
Traffic sign recognition
Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
Intelligent Cruise Assist
Traffic Jam Assist
Reversing camera
Surround-view camera
Front and rear parking sensors
“Full Auto Parking” tech
Tyre pressure monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
Reverse AEB

How much does the GWM Haval H6 GT cost to run?

You get a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty from GWM Haval Australia.

Running costs	GWM Haval H6 GT
Warranty	7 years, unlimited kilometres
Roadside assistance	5 years
Service intervals	12 months or 15,000 kilometres
Capped-price servicing	5 years or 70,000 kilometres
Total capped-price service cost	$1780 – 5 years

To see how the H6 GT compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool.

CarExpert’s Take on the GWM Haval H6 GT

The GWM Haval H6 GT still feels like it needs a proper overhaul for it to be considered among the best SUVs in its class, but you can’t deny that it’s a lot of SUV for the money.