2021 Haval H6 Hybrid revealed: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid fighter in line for Australia

The 2021 Haval H6 Hybrid mid-size SUV has been revealed in Thailand – and it could be on Australian showroom floors by the end of the year.

Based on the new-generation version of Haval's H6 mid-size SUV – which will go on sale in Australia in petrol-only form in the second quarter of 2021 – the H6 Hybrid aims to do battle with a growing selection of hybrid medium SUVs, led in Australia by the highly-popular Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Powering the H6 Hybrid is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, paired with a 130kW electric motor for combined power and torque outputs of 179kW and 530Nm.

Those figures make the electrified, front-wheel-drive Haval one of the more potent options in the mid-size SUV segment, outgunning the 160kW front-drive Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, but falling short on power of the 189kW/370Nm MG HS Plug-in Hybrid.

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Above and top: Haval H6 Hybrid. Photo credit: Car250.

Details of fuel economy, battery size and electric-only range capabilities have yet to be announced, however the lack of a second 'filler flap' for a charging port suggests the H6 Hybrid is a conventional 'self-charging' hybrid (much like the RAV4), rather than a plug-in hybrid.

The Hybrid variant is identical to its petrol-only range-mates in the styling department, while inside the cabin the similarities continue, with both hybrid and non-hybrid models sharing a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with over-the-air updates, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

Higher-grade variants of both models gain a head-up display, a panoramic sunroof, power-operated tailgate, 19-inch alloy wheels and automatic parking.

Haval touts the H6 Hybrid's driver assistance suite, comprising 22 active safety systems including adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assist, autonomous emergency braking, and a 360-degree camera – combining for Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities.

Above: Petrol-only Haval H6 interior.

There's also an Auto Reversing Assistance function – which records the car's route through tricky driveways and streets for up to 50 metres at speeds under 30km/h, and can autonomously reverse the car back along its path – and a 'Wisdom Dodge System' that detects large vehicles in adjacent lanes and shifts the H6 to the opposite side of its lane to minimise the risk of a collision.

Order books for the 2021 Haval H6 Hybrid will open in Thailand in the second quarter of 2021 (April to June inclusive).

While a GWM Australia spokesperson could only confirm the Haval H6 Hybrid is "under consideration" for Australia, CarAdvice understands the hybrid mid-sizer is a shoo-in for Australia.

It's understood a local launch is on track to occur by the end of 2021, with full confirmation of the H6 Hybrid's Australian arrival, along with pricing and specifications, to be announced in the months to come.

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