GWM’s rival to the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has been confirmed for an early 2022 launch in Australia.

    The 2022 Haval H6 Hybrid will arrive in Australia and New Zealand in the early stages of next year, and will be sourced from China, rather than the brand’s new Rayong facility in Thailand which was purchased from General Motors (GM).

    UPDATE, 13/10/21 – We’ve added new image of the upcoming H6 Hybrid which shows a new front-end design that is indicative of the model bound for Australia.

    Full pricing and specifications will be announced closer to launch, though we do know the H6 Hybrid will feature a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine teamed with a two-speed 130kW electric motor and 1.8kWh battery pack.

    System outputs are quoted at a beefy 179kW and 530Nm – up 29kW and 210Nm on 2.0-litre turbo petrol models.

    The H6 Hybrid will be front-wheel drive, with torque channelled through a ‘Direct Hybrid Transmission’. GWM claims the electrified SUV will use 5.2L/100km of 91 RON unleaded on the combined cycle.

    “Paired with a two speed transmission, the Haval H6 Hybrid combines impressive acceleration and performance at low speeds with improved efficiency and power at higher speeds, resulting in a driving experience similar to a BEV,” GWM says in its media release.

    Like the wider GWM Haval range, the H6 Hybrid will be covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with give years of complementary roadside assistance.

    CarExpert expects the brand’s “most advanced SUV ever” to be a few thousand more than the equivalent petrol model.

    Pricing currently starts at $31,990 drive-away for the base H6 Premium and climbs to $39,990 drive-away for the flagship H6 Ultra AWD.

    Sales of the Haval H6 are up by over 270 per cent year-to-date following the introduction of the latest second-generation model earlier this year, with its 2217 deliveries to the end of September ahead of the likes of the Ford Escape, Renault Koleos and Skoda Karoq.

    Given the runaway success of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – which makes up the bulk of the sales leader’s tally – we’re expecting the H6 Hybrid to attract even more people to GWM showrooms.

    Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

    MORE: Everything Haval H6

    James Wong

    James is an automotive journalist based in Melbourne, Australia. Before joining CarExpert.com.au in 2020, James has worked at leading auto media outlets including Carsales and CarAdvice, as well as at Pulse agency for Ford Australia's communications team. In 2019 James made Mumbrella's 'Top 20 most prolific web authors in Australia' list after publishing 1,360 articles between March 1, 2018 and February 28, 2019 for CarAdvice. James is also an Ambassador for Drive Against Depression – an Australian charity whose mission is to support mental wellness through the freedom of driving and a shared love of cars.

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