Haval launches new 1,000km hybrid SUV in South Africa – Pricing and features

Haval has officially launched the new H6 GT Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) in South Africa, adding a sporty yet economical entry to its list of SUVs.

The new GT has a starting price of R799,900, meaning it is one of only a handful of PHEVs in the country that can be bought for less than R1 million.

Each purchase comes with a 7-year/200,000km warranty, an 8-year/150,000km hybrid battery warranty, a 7-year/75,000km service plan, and a 7-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance plan.

Powertrain

While this is not the first H6 in South Africa to bear the GT title, it is certainly the most powerful one we’ve seen thus far.

As a reminder, the H6 is already available as both a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and a GT, but the new model is the first to feature a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

This version pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, resulting in an impressive combined output of 321kW and 762Nm.

This lets the Haval sprint to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds, putting it on par with hot hatchbacks like the VW Golf R.

The other benefit of the hybrid system is that it allows for full-electric driving, courtesy of a 35.4kWh battery.

The power cell allows the H6 to travel for 180km without touching the fuel tank, which contributes towards a total driving range of just over 1,000km.

The battery supports both 6.6kW AC and 38kW DC charging speeds, the latter of which can replenish the cells from 30 to 80% in less than 30 minutes.

Other important mechanical details to highlight include the SUV’s Intelligent four-wheel-drive system with multi-link rear suspension, which helps to improve traction and comfort depending on the road conditions.

Features

The new GT has a unique appearance that sets it apart from the rest of the H6 roster.

This includes an intricately patterned black grille, which is flanked by a pair of LED headlights, daytime running lights, and lower fog lamps with a black surround.

The SUV has a coupe-style curved roof that accentuates the side profile, along with a set of sculpted wheel arches and bespoke alloy rims.

It also has unique PHEV and GT badges at the back, and a pair of rectangular exhaust ports.

Looking inside, you’ll find a pair of front Sport seats with heating and ventilation functions, which are covered in black leatherette with red GT lettering.

The dashboard features a pair of large screens, including a digital driver display and a floating 12.3-inch infotainment system.

The central touchscreen supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and can be interacted with via the Voice Command System, which is activated by saying “Hello GWM.”

Other fittings include keyless start, automatic dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a wireless phone charger, a panoramic sunroof, and a hands-free tailgate.

Additionally, the Haval offers a driver assistance suite that includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic jam assist, intelligent cornering control, automatic emergency braking, pre-collision warning, parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera.

Owners can also select one of several driving and terrain modes for Standard, Eco, Sport, Snow, Mud, Sand, and 4WD to improve handling in various settings.

Haval H6 GT PHEV