Haval confirms second-gen H6 for Q2 launch

CHINESE manufacturer Haval has confirmed its all-new H6 mid-sized SUV will be in local showrooms within the next three months as the first examples touch down on Aussie soil to undergo their final testing.

Riding on an all-new platform, the new H6 brandishes a chunkier and more aggressive look than its predecessor with a higher bonnet line and far bigger, almost gaping front grille flanked on either side by a frowning set of headlights.

Measuring in at 4653mm long and 1886mm wide, Haval says the H6 will be one of the biggest mid-sized SUVs on the Australian market.

Local pricing and specification details of the new model will reportedly be revealed closer to launch however Haval’s local parent company GWM Australia has revealed a few key pieces of information.

Under the bonnet will reside an updated version of the familiar turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine developing 150kW/320Nm which will be paired exclusively to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

In keeping with the segment standards, the choice of front or all-wheel drive will be offered.

Four drive modes will be on offer for all-wheel-drive variants – Standard, Economy, Sports and All-Terrain – presumably altering the parameters of the all-paw system as well as the traction control, throttle response and transmission as in other SUVs.

Wireless phone charging, LED instrument cluster, surround-view camera, heated steering wheel and automatic parking will all reportedly be available in the range – likely on the upper-tier variants – while standard safety features will include autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition and driver fatigue monitoring.

According to GWM Australia head of marketing and communications Steve Maciver, the new model is a “world-class SUV” which will be sure to “elevate the status of the GWM Haval brand” in Australia.

“We are delighted to welcome the all-new H6 to the Haval SUV line-up,” he said.

“With sophisticated design and a feature-packed specification list, the new H6 is the definition of affordable luxury.”

The current generation has had a conservative start to 2021 with 189 units sold across January and February, accounting for a slim 0.8 per cent of the sub-$60,000 mid-sized SUV segment.