Haval H6 GT 1.5T Hybrid Ultra Luxury DHT AWD PHEV (2026) Review

Introduction

If you live in Joburg or Cape Town, have a driveway, and actually bother to plug in every night, the Haval H6 GT 1.5T Hybrid Ultra Luxury DHT AWD PHEV is just about the only family SUV offering 321 kW and 762 Nm without making you fork out RAV4 PHEV money. This is the one I tested in 2026, and honestly, it’s the Haval that edges Chinese PHEVs from “maybe” to “obvious pick” for families who want that big, premium feel. The petrol-only 2.0T GT? Gone. Haval’s gone all-in on electrification in South Africa, and that raises the real question: will South Africans bet on a PHEV when Eskom still controls the night?

Key takeaway: Big power, actual EV range, sharp price. The H6 GT PHEV only makes sense if you’re serious about charging at home. If you’re not, buy the petrol H6 and save the cash.

Design & Exterior

Coupe silhouette, polarising details

The GT's styling still splits opinions. Viewed from the rear three-quarters, the fastback roof and grown-up LED lighting lend it real presence - miles better than the old pre-facelift’s try-hard angles. Then the squiggly rear wing and fussy diffuser catch your eye, and you realise Haval’s still figuring out its design language. I once parked next to a BMW X4, and from across the road, the Haval could pass for double the price, but get up close, and you’ll spot the difference in restraint immediately.

Where it fits the segment

Here’s a car that’s now in its third generation on the B01 platform, with a coupe roof and a 2024 facelift that’s almost unrecognisable from the 2019 Haval H6 you’ll remember from early reviews. This GT sits wider and lower, giving it a real stance. Some details still try too hard, but at least you won’t lose it in a mall parking lot.

• 19-inch alloys with aero trims as standard
• Full-width LED tail light bar, sequential indicators
• Flush-style door mirrors, mostly flush handles
• GT-only gloss black front bumper and intakes

Cabin & Practicality

Material quality has finally arrived

Haval has spent proper money here, and it shows. The dash is wrapped in soft synthetic leather with contrast stitching, and there are suede inserts along the centre console that feel upmarket. The 14.6-inch central screen finally runs Coffee OS at a pace that won’t drive you mad in traffic. The round shifter means you get space for a wireless charging pad and two cupholders that’ll actually swallow a 750ml bottle - rare - plus a cubby that fits a small handbag or a school tablet.

The boot problem

Here’s your catch: that coupe roof. Standard H6 gives about 578 litres. The GT drops to roughly 392 litres, because of the sloping tailgate and the PHEV battery. Golf bag? Yes. Mountain bike? Not a hope. If you pack smart, you could manage a trip with two adults and two kids, but three teens and a dog? Stick to the regular H6.

Physical controls - mostly gone

Touch controls are the Chinese obsession, and the GT PHEV follows suit. Climate, drive modes - all on the screen. Steering wheel? Capacitive. You do get a row of real shortcut keys below the main display, but honestly, I’d swap the multi-colour ambient lighting for three old-school rotary knobs, any day.

On the Road

The Hi4 system, as it works here

The Hi4 system means you’ve got two e-motors and a 1.5-litre turbo petrol. The front motor and engine run through a four-speed hybrid transmission, and there’s a second e-motor on the rear axle. No mechanical link between axles - all torque vectoring is done electronically. That’s why it’s not true AWD, but PHEV-style AWD. Combined? 321 kW, which will get the WhatsApp groups buzzing, or anywhere people shop for family SUVs.

What it feels like

Pull away in EV mode - quick, quiet, up to 80km/h. Then the engine joins with a split-second pause as the system does its thing. Once both power sources are working, it really shifts. You feel the mass (over two tonnes), but at a red light, you’ll out-drag plenty of German-badged rivals costing much more.

SA road reality

I drove a pre-production example, potholes, tar patches, all of it. Damping is firmer than the ordinary H6, which fits the GT badge, but never gets harsh. Steering is light and accurate, though it’s not chatty. On a gravel stretch, the rear motor kept the back in line up a loose hill, which matters for weekends away. 

• 0–100 km/h claim: under 5 seconds with launch control
• Real-world EV range: 80–110 km, depending on aircon (claimed 180 km NEDC is a stretch)
• Battery-depleted fuel use: mid-5 to mid-6 L/100km, mixed conditions
• Combined touring range: 1,000 km+ if you start fully charged and fuelled

Data & Comparison

Pricing and the rivals

Haval H6 GT 1.5T Hybrid Ultra Luxury DHT AWD PHEV price in South Africa sits at around R800k. That undercuts the Toyota RAV4 PHEV (nearly R1m), beats the Omoda C9 PHEV, and lines up directly against BYD’s Sealion 6 DM-i and Jaecoo’s J7 SHS. Power-wise, it’s leading the pack on paper at least.

Ownership maths

Haval’s warranty is a proper standout: 7 years/200,000 km on the car, 8 years/150,000 km on the battery, and a 7-year/75,000 km service plan. Say you drive 20,000 km a year and mostly charge at home - your five-year total cost of ownership is about R230,000. The outgoing petrol 2.0T GT? More like R270,000 in fuel alone at current Engen prices. That gap matters.

Segment trend

SUVs still dominate South African buyer searches as 2026 rolls around, and hybrids are now leading the charts - streets ahead of sedans, hatchbacks, or bakkies. The H6 GT PHEV lands at just the right moment for the market’s mood.

Standard kit highlights

1. 14.6-inch central touchscreen (Coffee OS 3)
2. 360-degree camera with chassis transparency
3. Ventilated, heated front seats; driver’s 8-way power adjust
4. Head-up display
5. Full ADAS suite - adaptive cruise, lane keep, blind spot, AEB
6. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
7. Panoramic sunroof
8. V2L (vehicle-to-load) - useful when load-shedding bites

Verdict

Who should not

If you’re not going to charge every night, skip it. Need every litre of boot space? Or a steering rack that actually talks to you? Look elsewhere. And if you want decade-long, bulletproof reliability, the H6 PHEV is still new to SA roads.