2024 GWM Haval H6 GT review

Haval H6 Cons

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

In a world where price rises are the norm, GWM has taken the knife to the drive-away price of the 2024 Haval H6 GT Ultra – giving it a $1500 haircut to find more buyers, with a new price of $44,990 drive-away.

Officially, the price adjustment is only until June 30, but who knows if it could stick around longer than that.

A little less outlay makes it a bit more appealing, sure, and it now gets smarter looking badges front and rear. But there is still a fair bit of room for improvement when it comes to the driving experience.

The H6 GT Ultra AWD is the range-topping grade in a lineup of two.

2024 GWM Haval H6 GT pricing:

Prices are drive-away

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

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 Captiva or Outlander.

However, the usability of the media system isn't as simple as some other vehicles. In most other cars 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 done through the screen, including adjusting the fan speed for the air conditioning, or turning on/off the recirculation for the air.

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, 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 to the front seats, but there's no lumbar support, and I found the back of the seat to be a tad uncomfortable.

Back seat space is good, with enough space 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 SUV, but that's because the roof rakes down from the back of the rear doors, rather than from the B-pillar. Nice squishy seat, too.

There are dual ISOFIX points 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 smaller (or 53 per cent) than the H6 SUV.

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

Nice to see a space-saver spare wheel under the boot floor, too.

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

However, those outputs seem a little conservative, as the car weighs between 1570-1680kg, and it feels perkier than that – especially in Race mode. Yes, it has a Race mode.

Shifting gears is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive for the Lux and all-wheel drive for the Ultra. Towing capacity is 750kg unbraked and 2000kg braked.

The 2WD model has an official combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 7.5L/100km, while the AWD model claims 8.4L/100km.

Over a few days of normal driving in the AWD model, I saw a displayed return of 9.4L/100km across a mix of urban, highway and freeway driving. I must have used Race mode less this time because previously I'd done 10.0L/100km over similar testing.

It can swallow 91 RON regular unleaded, but as any mechanic will tell you, run it on premium unleaded (95 RON or higher) and you'll notice the difference. Fuel tank capacity is 61L for the FWD model and 60L for the AWD.

I didn't love it last time I drove it, and this time? Well… I still didn't love it.

That's unsurprising really, as nothing has changed with the drive experience compared to the last model I tested.

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

But I come at this with experience from having driven every single car in this segment, and the H6 GT is, honestly, not even in the top 10 for 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 seemingly decides 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 I mentioned in my 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 me smile once or twice during my 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 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 again, that system can interrupt your podcast or 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 leans 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.

The base Lux 2WD comes extensively equipped for the cash – on test here however is the flagship Ultra AWD.

H6 GT Lux 2WD highlights:

H6 GT Ultra AWD adds:

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

It scored 90 per cent for adult occupant protection, 88 per cent for child occupant protection 73 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 81 per cent for safety assist. Those are good results.

Standard safety equipment includes:

Ultra AWD adds:

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

Included roadside assistance coverage spans five years from purchase date as well, plus there's a five-year capped-price servicing program.

Service intervals are 12 months/10,000km for the first visit, then every 12 months/15,000km thereafter. For the GT AWD the costs over the first five years are $225, $280, $500, $550 and $225, for an average of $356.

Choose the 2WD Lux, and you save a little on servicing (average $310 per year).

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

If driving dynamics and nitpicking transmission foibles aren't things that keep you up at night, it could be a very good choice for you.

Suffice to say, I wouldn't buy one. But I can see why people do.

MORE: Buy a GWM Haval H6 GT MORE: Everything GWM Haval H6

Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au