Should Toyota be worried about the Haval H6 Hybrid?
Haval has announced it'll bring the H6 Hybrid SUV to Australia early next year. Should Toyota be concerned?
Watch out Toyota, a new (and likely cheaper) kid is coming to the block in 2022. Details are light, but here's what we know for sure.
Haval H6 Hybrid: Highlights
- Small, potent engine. The Haval H6 Hybrid possesses a modest 1.5-litre, turbocharged petrol engine. However, supplementing the engine is a 130kW electric motor. Haval claims that the combined output is best-in-class at 179kW and 530Nm. The Haval H6 Hybrid should have a bit of poke then.
- How frugal is it? The Haval H6 Hybrid is reportedly good for 5.2L/100km using ordinary petrol.
- Long warranty and roadside assist. Helping make the Haval H6 Hybrid even more tempting to buyers is a 7-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, along with 5-year roadside assistance cover.
- Electric car-like transmission. Haval calls the H6 Hybrid's FWD transmission a "Direct Hybrid Transmission (DHT)". Haval says the H6 Hybrid feels more like a fully electric car to drive. Other benefits are "impressive acceleration" at the low-end and better economy at the top-end.
- Haval's first hybrid. The H6 will mark the Chinese automaker's debut in the hybrid segment.
- Already selling well elsewhere. According to Haval, the H6 Hybrid is already selling in the top 3 models in Thailand, where production started back in June 2021 at a recently acquired facility. Australia-bound H6 Hybrids will be assembled in China.
Haval sales are up, so how worried should rivals be?
Sales for the non-hybrid Haval H6 have been climbing enough that it was able to claim a 4.6% market share in July. No doubt the Hybrid model will add to the appeal of what is already a sensibly-priced, long-warrantied vehicle.
First off, those power figures can't be ignored. The Toyota RAV 4 has 16 fewer kilowatts, at 163kW, and the Haval has heaps more torque, with 530Nm compared to the RAV4's 221Nm. Combined fuel economy on the Haval Hybrid is a little higher, compared to the 4.7L/100km claimed by the 2WD RAV4 Hybrid.
Styling-wise, Haval's H6 is legitimately a mature and good-looking car – there's nothing there that's displeasing.
However, considering reports that the hugely popular RAV4 Hybrid had a 6-month waiting list, as of July 2021, Haval might have an opportunity. If they can undercut the entry price point of models like the RAV4 (currently with a drive-away cost of $44,253 for the base model GX Hybrid), then they could attract buyers in droves.
With an attractive offering, ample specs and the new hybrid option, Haval might well grab a larger slice of the highly lucrative SUV market – just like MG has managed to do. I guess we'll find out early in 2022.
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Picture: Supplied
