2025 GWM Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid Review

It's no easy feat standing out in arguably the most competitive segment of the market, however, so what does GWM have up its sleeve for the latest H6 range?

Well, the company gave the H6 range a major overhaul earlier in the year, showcasing a flash new styling package, technology upgrades and the option of a plug-in hybrid at the top of the range.

The H6 Hybrid's powertrain internals have been carried over from the previous range, however.

Just how well does this H6 Ultra Hybrid stand out within the H6 family and how does it hold its own against the ever-plentiful number of hybrid-powered, medium-sized SUVs currently on sale here in Australia?

To find out, we got behind the wheel of the flashiest trim level of the more conventional hybrid, the H6 Ultra Hybrid.

GWM Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for the MY25 GWM Haval H6 range kick off from $35,990 drive-away for the entry-level, petrol-powered H6 Lux and stretch out to $50,990 drive-away for the flagship H6 Ultra PHEV.

The H6 Lux and the H6 Ultra Hybrid we're testing here are priced at $40,990 and $43,990 drive-away, respectively.

• GWM Haval H6 Lux Petrol - $35,990

• GWM Haval H6 Ultra Petrol - $38,990

• GWM Haval H6 Lux Hybrid - $40,990

• GWM Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid - $43,990 (tested)

• GWM Haval H6 Lux PHEV AWD - $47,990

• GWM Haval H6 Ultra PHEV AWD - $50,990

Prices listed above are subject to change but represent drive-away totals that include on-road costs.

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GWM Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid Specifications

What Features Does the GWM Haval H6 Ultra Have?

GWM takes a very generous approach to features with the H6 range, which is split into two trim levels - Lux and Ultra.

The entry-level H6 Lux Hybrid range comes riding on a set of black 19-inch alloys and picks up LED headlights, keyless entry & start, leatherette upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view monitor with rear parking sensors, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, dual-zone climate control, a 50-watt wireless smartphone charger and a powered boot lift.

Upgrading to this H6 Ultra Hybrid adds heated and ventilated front seats, four-way power adjustment for the passenger seat, a head-up display, a panoramic sunroof, driver seat memory with lumbar support, semi-autonomous parking assist, stainless steel scuff plates and rear parking sensors.

GWM Haval H6 Connectivity & Infotainment Features

For the price, the H6 gives buyers a particularly strong infotainment offering.

That's because all members of the H6 range come packaged with the same 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment display sitting neatly atop the central air vents.

It’s a new addition for the MY25 H6 range, which makes a great first impression over the previous range and is sure to appeal to younger buyers thanks to the sheer amount of screen real estate you're getting for the money, particularly in the base model.

GWM's display is bright and reasonably snappy when trawling through menus while remaining pretty easy to navigate thanks to some permanent shortcuts sitting at the right-hand side of the display.

You'll get very used to the layout, considering that virtually every control is made via the 14.6-inch display, from simple changes to the climate control through to changing the media volume.

This is a wider design trend and not specific to the H6 platform, though it's worth pointing out for those who prefer a more conventional approach to vehicle controls.

To help out, there's voice recognition for a pretty wide array of vehicle controls thrown in alongside DAB+ digital radio, USB video playback and an eight-speaker sound system thrown into the base model.

Upgrading to this H6 Ultra version adds a more powerful eight-speaker sound system.

Does the GWM Haval H6 Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

One of the biggest tech updates for the MY25 H6 range has been the addition of wireless smartphone connectivity across the range.

While previous versions of the H6 made do with a wired USB connection in order to access Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, buyers now pick up wireless smartphone mirroring for both major ecosystems.

This means that you can climb aboard with your phone in your pocket or placed on the centre console's 50-watt charging pad while accessing your contacts, preferred navigation apps and making calls via Android Auto and/or Apple CarPlay.

In our time behind the wheel, we experienced no drop-outs in the connection of wireless Apple CarPlay, while it was simple to pair and hand over the primary connection to our co-pilot.

Is the GWM Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid Comfortable to Drive?

Even with tonnes of power up its sleeve, this is not one for the drivers.

That said, the H6 platform has taken some noticeable steps in the right direction, though the competition is so fierce and competent that a clear gap exists in spite of the changes.

Under the bonnet, the H6 Hybrid range packs a pretty mean punch from its petrol-electric powertrain.

There's a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit paired with an electric motor that, together, produce a combined 179kW of power and mighty impressive 530Nm of torque.

This makes the H6 Hybrid amongst the torque-iest vehicles in the midsize SUV segment.

All this power is, however, all channelled to the front axle, which quickly completely overwhelms what the front wheels can handle and results in some lost traction and rogue moments if you're overzealous with the throttle.

In more mundane driving situations, however, the H6's hybrid system is pretty well behaved, with the electric motor taking care of a lot of the work off the line and while coasting at speed.

We did, however, notice that throttle inputs for the H6's hybrid system can be laggy.

While not always the case, there were times - at intersections and roundabouts, where quick responses really pay off - that the H6 just wouldn't put down power to the wheels when our right foot asked.

These instances were sporadic and unpredictable, though they left us with a bad taste for a package specifically designed to tackle the urban jungle.

Likewise, the H6 is far harder to drive at slow speeds and park smoothly than a midsize SUV really should be.

Perhaps we can put some of this down to the fact that this review vehicle had just clicked over 1,000 kilometres, and the brakes might be grabbier than you can expect, though we found ourselves lurching and jolting when navigating tight quarters.

We also found that some of our gear selection inputs were ignored completely by the stalk.

There's likely some user error on our part, but we also think the gear selector needs to be a bit more responsive.

Around town, the H6 is pretty inoffensive, dare we say well-mannered at times.

The steering rack receives three different levels of adjustment, though the turning circle is wider than we'd expect for a vehicle in this segment.

There's also the option of a one-pedal driving mode, which is neat and a bit of a unique feature for a more conventional hybrid package that provides more aggressive regenerative braking that make it feel like an EV on the road.

The H6's suspension package is a bit of a mixed bag, too, which shows that the platform needs some refinement, specifically for Australian road conditions.

It’s capable of eating up larger bumps and undulations around town, often bouncing if you hit them with quite a bit of momentum, though things get stiff and crashy if you're over-eager on a sharper bump.

It just doesn't feel confidence-inspiring if you upset the balance on a country road and find yourself bouncing all over the shop.

In the corners, there's a pretty large heaping of body roll that contributes to understeer, too if you enter a curve with too much speed, likewise if you give it the beans on exit, where you can quite easily spin the front wheels or get bogged down by the traction control.

At higher speeds, there's also quite a lot of tyre roar entering the cabin, which is something its competitors pay a heck of a lot of attention to.

All up, we think GWM still has some refining to do with the H6 Hybrid platform, particularly if it wants to be a midsize SUV package for a wide array of very testing Australian road conditions.

The company says that it will continue to refine the suspension package to handle a better mix of Australian roads, but, for now at least, this one just doesn't cut the mustard in a number of key areas.

Is the GWM Haval H6 Hybrid Fuel Efficient?

The H6 Ultra Hybrid offers some tangible fuel savings over the regular H6, though it's not the most fuel-efficient in the midsize SUV segment.

On paper, the company says the H6 Hybrid consumes 5.2L per 100km on a combined cycle.

That's down from 7.4L per 100km in the petrol-powered H6.

Compared to some of the biggest names in the segment, the H6 Hybrid is, on paper at least, more fuel efficient than the X-Trail e-Power but far less so than the current efficiency king of the hill, the Toyota RAV.

In our time behind the wheel, we covered around 800 kilometres of town, country and highway driving and averaged 6.5L per 100km.

There’s a reasonably large fuel tank measuring 61L, which gives you a long theoretical range between fill-ups with the H6's petrol engine happy to drink 91 RON fuel.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

The H6 Ultra is an undeniably strong performer on the practicality front, with GWM giving it a more premium nature in some key areas to bolster its appeal, though some ergonomic oddities remain.

Climb aboard and there's more than enough headroom for tall front occupants and a decent view over the relatively tall dash and bonnet.

The driving position has improved, no doubt, thanks to the addition of reach adjustment for the steering wheel, though we can't escape the fact that the steering wheel looks to be angled slightly away from the driver.

We did, however, find ourselves struggling to get comfortable in the front seats.

There's no under-thigh support for taller drivers, while the seatbacks and side bolsters are actually quite narrow, leaving us with a very fine margin to sit without being jabbed in the ribs.

Turning our attention to the layout, while not radical, GWM has made some notable changes to the front of the H6's cockpit to make it more attractive and practical than the previous range.

The entirety of the centre console, for example, has been given a leatherette finish, with the gear selector now sitting on the right-hand side of the steering wheel.

This has freed up some real estate on the centre console, which has been replaced by a pair of cupholders and the 50-watt wireless charging pad.

It's nice to see that GWM has actually listened to feedback and made some key changes, especially when it comes to giving the dash, side panels and armrests a more premium soft-touch finish.

Build quality and assembly feel pretty tight in the front of the cabin, with no squeaks or rattles emanating from the cabin of our review vehicle, marking a nice step forward from the previous H6.

In terms of storage, the H6's top level of the floating centre console features the usual mix of cupholders, a wireless charging pad and a small tray for keys and loose items flanked by a very sizable folding centre console bin with tonnes of space inside.

You also benefit from a hidden layer of rubber-lined storage underneath the centre console, which makes light work of a handbag or a bulky water bottle.

Move to the second row and the H6 platform proves itself as a particularly family-friendly affair.

The latest H6 range is actually 50mm longer than its predecessor, which means that, while seated behind a tall driving position, our knees weren't brushing up against the first row seats.

Likewise, there’s a healthy amount of headroom in the second row, even with the H6 Ultra's sunroof in play, which adds some much-needed light into the largely greyed-out cabin.

Cabin width isn’t amazing, though three-abreast seating for kids won't be much of an issue, especially with the minimal tunnel in the centre of the cabin.

The seats themselves are pretty comfortable, with those in the second row picking up air vents, a USB-A and USB-C port, map pockets, a folding armrest with cupholders and extremely narrow door bins.

For the parents out there, the H6 offers ISOFIX anchors at the base of each of the outboard seats as well as three top tether mounts hidden on the seatback.

Installing a kid’s seat in the back is relatively simple thanks to the wide-aperture doors and ample space between the first and second row from the H6's reasonably long wheelbase package that gives it strong marks for rearward real estate.

All up, the H6 is a very practical midsize SUV package that holds its own with the best in the segment on outright accommodation.

How Big is the GWM Haval H6's Boot?

Pop open the Ultra’s powered tailgate and there's a pretty handy amount of real estate in the boot of the H6.

With the rear seats standing, there's 560L worth of space, putting the H6 in a very competitive part of the midsize SUV segment when it comes to boot space capacities.

Fold down the rear seats and you’ll unlock 1,445L worth of acreage when you're lugging around bulky cargo.

While space isn’t much of an issue, the H6’s boot lacks a number of those small, curated touches that can make a huge difference when you're fully loaded.

There are some cut-outs in the boot floor at the rear haunches, for example, though you won't find any under-floor storage, nor tie-down points or hooks to fix bags.

There's also no spare tyre hiding underneath, either, with GWM giving you a tyre repair kit, instead.

• Boot Space Minimum: 560L

• Boot Space Maximum: 1,445L

Is it Safe?

We’re pleased to report that GWM's active safety tech has actually come quite a long way when it comes to over-zealous inputs and an overall paranoia that previously spoiled many moments behind the wheel.

While not perfect, the H6’s lane-keep assistance is much more attuned to a wide range of Aussie road conditions and markings of various qualities and doesn't grab the wheel as viciously when correcting you.

Likewise, the adaptive cruise control system has come leaps and bounds and can now be trusted in more situations overall.

In short, there are far fewer beeps, bongs and chimes that make it a far more relaxing package to drive over its predecessor and we didn't rush straight to the safety menu to turn everything off.

On that note, the list of safety tech included in the H6 range includes AEB with junction assist, pedestrian and cyclist detection, intelligent turning and smart dodge system, alongside adaptive curise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts.

You also pick up lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, tyre pressure monitoring, seven airbags inside the cabin, driver fatigue monitoring and a surround-view monitor with rear parking sensors, while the H6 Ultra range picks up front-mounted parking sensors, too.

Does the GWM Haval H6 Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The H6 platform has been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating after scoring the following marks in its 2022 testing.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 90%

• Child Occupant Protection: 88%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 73%

• Safety Assist: 81%

What Warranty Does the GWM Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid Come With?

Warranty coverage is another area the H6 posts some strong results.

GWM offers the Haval H6 with a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty as well as a separate eight-year/unlimited kilometre warranty for the hybrid battery and high-voltage components.

The company gives buyers the choice of three and five-year prepaid servicing packages which are priced at $1,055 and $2,020, respectively.

This means that servicing costs for the H6 are very competitive, with service intervals sitting at 12 months or 15,000 kilometres after the first 10,000km service.

Our Verdict: Is the GWM Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid Worth it?

The latest H6 range has come a long way, though we think there's still work to be done if it wants to be the best all-rounder in the segment.

It races out of the gate with an incredibly strong value proposition, though it's ultimately let down by a lack of refinement that detracts from its everyday user-friendliness behind the wheel.

In short, GWM has closed the gap with the latest H6 range… but the gap remains quite noticeable when it comes to the driving experience.

In the same vein, however, if you’re not too fussed about how a car drives, the H6's appeal as a value-heavy offering gives it some prominence in an overcrowded segment of the market.

When compared to similarly priced rivals, it's impossible to deny the allure of the H6 Ultra thanks to its lengthy equipment lists and generous, family-friendly interior layout.

That said, we think giving GWM some time to refine the overall driving experience to make the H6 Ultra Hybrid more capable, indeed comfortable on country roads and more user-friendly around town would prove a wiser investment than jumping in right now.

For those who can’t wait, we'd be looking closely at this highly specified and more fuel-efficient Ultra Hybrid version, which is sharply priced and ready for the family test.

Don’t forget that if you're looking to upgrade, our team of car-buying experts can help find you the best price on your next car.

Five GMW Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty

2. Eight-year hybrid battery warranty

3. 5.2L per 100 fuel economy figures

4. 560 - 1,445L boot space

5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating (tested 2022)