Haval wants a slice of the SUV market in the ASEAN region and they’re serious about it. The model spearheading their plans is the new Haval H6 Hybrid.

Our colleagues over at Autofun Thailand recently got up close and personal with the new SUV from Haval.

As the name suggests, the Haval H6 Hybrid gets a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain. The main propulsion source is a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, mated to a 130-kW electric motor. Combined system output is 243 PS and an eye-watering 530 Nm.

In fact, having a hybrid is crucial for Haval's success in Thailand, as the model can benefit from lower excise tax. A number of of SUVs currently sold in Thailand, including the Toyota Corolla Cross, Toyota C-HR, and Nissan Kicks are available as a hybrid.

Also Read: Haval H6 Hybrid makes world debut in Bangkok Motor Show, ahead of Proton X70's Thai launch

Visually, the Haval H6 Hybrid gets a massive chrome grille flanked by a pair of slim LED headlights, while the bumper gets angular creases throughout. Subtle it is not.

Also Read: The Haval H6 sells 54k units more than Geely Bo Yue (Proton X70) in China, why?

Towards the rear-end, the Haval H6 gets an LED light strip that connects both tail lights. Below that is a rather large recess where the number plate goes. 19-inch alloy wheels complete the exterior of the Haval H6.

Interestingly enough, the Thai-spec Haval H6 gets a different colour scheme compared to the one we spotted earlier, as it gets a dash of orange and beige, giving the otherwise full-black interior a much-needed contrast. Autofun reported that the H6 gets features such as a head-up display (HUD), power-adjustable front seats, and a Qi wireless phone charging pad.

It also gets Level 2 Autonomous Driving features like Integrated Auto Parking (IAP), Auto Reversing Assistance (ARA), and a curiously-named Wisdom Dodge System (WDS). According to Haval, which is able to steer the car to a different lane to overtake other vehicles and steer back to the original lane.

Prices of the Thai-spec Haval H6 Hybrid will be announced in June.

What about Malaysia?

In the near-term, the Haval H6 won’t offer much resistance to Proton. There has been no announcement by current Haval distributor regarding the newer-generation models, though curiously, the Haval H6 (as well as other Haval and GWM models) were kept at a Borgward facility.  

Also Read: Spied: Exclusive look at the Haval H6 on Malaysian soil - Be very afraid, X70