We like
Head-turning looks, build quality, progressive and plentiful performance, cabin comfort, lengthy feature lists, sorted handling and all-wheel drive system, long warranty

Room for improvement
Uptight driver assistants, fiddly touchscreen dependant HMI and complicated menus, some wind rustle at freeway speeds, slow idle-stop system, no digital radio reception

Overview

GWM HAVAL Australia has bolstered its local line-up with the H6 GT – a striking new coupe-style medium SUV with which the importer hopes to increase its monthly sales total by 400 units.

 

Available in two variants priced from $40,990 drive away, the H6 GT is based on its wagon sibling, but looks much more distinctive thanks to sportier bumpers, black cladding, a fastback roofline, bespoke taillight clusters, and an integrated rear spoiler.

 

Its sleek and sporty exterior lines follow a growing trend that favours this shape in sporty SUVs – and which augers well for the model’s popularity...

 

GWM HAVAL Australia said it “expected the H6 GT could add as many as 400 units a month to its sales tally, which would help propel (the importer) to an annual sales record by year-end.”

 

Year-to-date sales of Chinese manufacturer cars now stand at 56,540 units placing the country as our fourth largest supplier of new vehicles behind Japan (198,152), Thailand (144,520), and South Korea (95,287).

 

Great Wall Motors (GWM) sold 10,684 of those vehicles, less than half of that sold by MG (27,525) but well ahead of commercial vehicle focussed LDV (8391). It has sold 3176 examples of the Haval H6 in Australia so far this year, a number that places the model in ninth place in its segment (SUV Medium under $60K).

 

The GWM Haval H6 GT is available in entry-grade Lux ($40,990 drive-away) and high-spec’ Ultra AWD ($46,990 d/a), a $4000 premium over regular H6 SUV derivatives.

 

As well as offering a distinctive body-style, the H6 GT is also well equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, twin 10.25-inch display screens with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, an eight-speaker sound system, dual-zone climate control, artificial leather seats, 360-degree camera system, power tailgate and roof rails – all in base form.

 

The Ultra AWD variant (tested here) adds a 12.3-inch media screen, auto-parking, panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, head-up display, power front seats, gesture tailgate, Michelin rubber, heated and cooled electrically adjustable eco-leather front seats, heated leather steering wheel, and fully automatic parking.

 

Built on the same global modular platform that also underpins the H6 wagon and the Jolion, the new GT is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine with 150kW of power and 320Nm of torque mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and an active exhaust booster for a sportier engine note.

 

Fuel economy is rated at 7.5 litres per 100km for the H6 GT Lux and 8.4L/100km for the H6 GT Ultra AWD using 91 octane unleaded petrol.

 

The H6 GT further comes equipped with an impressive array of safety equipment that enabled the model to score a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

 

Advanced driver-assist and safety features include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist recognition, intersection detection, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitor, and traffic-sign recognition.

 

All GWM vehicles are covered by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty which includes five years’ roadside assistance and capped-price servicing.

 

Drive Impressions

Modern traffic is a dynamic, living, and ever-changing thing, and trying to drive a car that operates only within a very strict set of predetermined parameters makes life very difficult; and that is far and away the biggest shortcoming of GWM’s Haval H6 GT.

 

Its driver assistance technologies are extremely narrow in their latitude, and simply do not properly cater for the organic nature of Australian roads.

 

Simply, they fail to take into account the ‘human factor’ of other drivers, the often-irregular lane markings found in construction zones or on country back roads, which results in an at times nerve-wracking and frustrating experience at the ‘wheel.

 

Having buzzers and on-screen warnings display almost constantly on such roads makes you second-guess your judgement, even though your visual cues may tell you otherwise. “Have I missed something?” is a frequent feeling.

 

If a car squeezes into the lane ahead, you get an alarm. If you’re not perfectly in the centre of your lane, you get an alarm. If you change lanes without enough room to comfortably slot a B-double, you get an alarm.

 

It’s something we’ve reported time and again from Chinese marques (and a few others) and something that simply hasn’t improved. Which is a massive shame, because the country’s vehicles – and particularly the Haval H6 GT – have come a very long way in a very short space of time.

 

It’s a good-looking car. It rides on a great set of wheels, shod with sticky Michelin rubber, and features subtly detailed aerodynamic mouldings that hint at the model’s sporty nature. The body shape is reminiscent of the BMW X4, and in many ways shows a level of build quality that is just as well executed.

 

For the price, the Haval H6 GT is exceptionally well finished. There’s uniformity to the panel gaps and in the junction between plastic and metal surfaces, the paint is lustrous and almost entirely without ‘orange peel’ (an effect often found in paint applied too thickly in robotic spray booths), quality material finishes and no obvious short cuts.

 

The cabin too provides a mix of quality materials and textures that, although monotone in colour, are of exemplary quality considering the price, and entirely free from squeaks and rattles.

 

OK, there’s a little wind rustle off the wing mirrors, and the tyres can hum a little over coarse chip surfaces. But we’ve experienced far worse from cars three times the price of this one, which speaks to the level of engineering invested in the H6 GT, and a positive sign of where GWM is headed as a brand.

 

For some, the twin-cockpit feel of the front row of seat may feel a little restrictive, and to be perfectly honest, it does somewhat limit what is otherwise a generously proportioned cabin. The high ‘floating’ console and bluff bonnet may feel claustrophobic for some, the non-adjustable seatbelt another bother for the ‘vertically challenged’ among us.

 

But those points aside, the H6 GT provides very good outward visibility – far better than some ‘swoopy’ SUV rivals we could name. Terrific mirror optics and an excellent camera system – coupled with self-parking technology – mean the H6 GT is easier to manoeuvre than it may at first seem, especially considering it’s bigger-than-it-looks proportions. GWM lists the turning circle at 12.0m.

 

Inside, there’s plenty of storage space, a generous cargo compartment (392-1390 litres), fold flat rear seats and decent oddment cubbies, all of which give the model proper SUV versatility. The second row of seats is equally well proportioned, the headroom offered better than you may assume, in part owing to the fact that the roofline doesn’t start to taper until after the natural head position of back seat occupants.

 

Seating is comfortable and supportive throughout without being overly bolstered. The suede-like material of the Ultra variant provides a decent level of grip too, the heating and ventilation system likewise very welcomed for the price.

 

Other things the average driver might find quite acceptable and very easy to live with include the quality of the sound system, the calibration of the automatic wipers and headlights, and the performance of the LED headlights, which is very welcomed on dark rural roads.

 

Conversely, the human-machine interface (HMI) with the infotainment array and its innumerable menus can be rather daunting, especially when attempting to make small adjustments (say, to temperature) on the go. The system lacks the logic of more familiar brands and would, in my view, be better served in many instances (HVAC, common audio and navigation prompts, etc.) by the inclusion of hard buttons.

 

The H6 GT is powered by the familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit offered elsewhere in the H6 range. With an output of 150kW and 320Nm it is hardly the powerhouse that GT moniker may have you believe but is nonetheless a solid performer with progressive acceleration available from just above 1500rpm.

 

Excusing a little slurring off the line, and a laggy idle-stop interface (which can be readily switched off), the GWM engine provides plentiful get up and go for acceleration from the line, and when overtaking. From 100km/h, the ability to dash to 130km/h is remarkably quick, meaning overtaking is a non-event.

 

The Haval’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission may feel a little dated at stop-start speeds – at least compared to the likes of units offered by Volkswagen and the likes – but is remarkably responsive once underway. Shifts are crisp and the transmission’s logic decisive meaning that in spite offering shift paddles and multiple drive modes, the default Normal setting is adequate for almost all driving situations.

 

And the same goes for the handling performance of the H6 GT. The body control is predictable and the all-wheel drive system hard to fault – even over loose unsealed roads. Yes, the sticky Michelin tyres help, but there’s a natural competence here that delivers dynamic abilities almost worthy of that GT badge.

 

We found the steering fluid and well assisted, even in its lighter modes. The feedback offered shows a maturity of engineering that even the pickiest of drivers are bound to appreciate. The brake pedal stroke is likewise well modulated and responsive, the rakish SUV’s braking package capable, but not what you’d call GT like.

 

At the pump, we found an average in the mid nine-litre range to be about accurate (against the manufacturer’s 8.4L/100km claim). Around town, fuel economy easily creeps up into the high 11-litre-per-100km range, while on the open road low sevens and high sixes are possible. To be fair, the model on test had fewer than 1000km on the odometer, so we expect this figure to soften once the engine is run in.

 

The primary ride is a little firm, but deceptively so, as the H6 GT soon reveals a more comfortable side to its ride over larger lumps and bumps – even coping well with shopping centre speed humps. While the ride is comfortable here, it doesn’t take away from this five-seat SUV’s ability to carry itself over even the most challenging surfaces, again showing how far this manufacturer has progressed in the short time it has been on the market here.

 

And I guess that's the biggest takeaway from this car… As someone who grew up in an era where Japanese cars were considered ‘Jap Crap’ and where Korean cars – rightly at the time – were known for being ‘cheap and nasty’, I am impressed at just how quickly Chinese-made marques like Haval have moved to overcome their ‘teething problems’ and become worthy rivals to stalwart brands.

 

With a little more polish – and perhaps a more extensive Aussie tuning program a la Kia and Hyundai – the Haval marque could well become as good as anything else out there. And I for one really look forward to seeing what’s to come.