GWM Haval has revealed official images in China of its upcoming new-generation H5, which size-wise sits above the H6 currently sold in Australia.
The H5 is longer, taller, and wider than both the H6 and Tank 300 mid-sizers, but slots in below the LandCruiser-sized Tank 500 in the brand’s international line-up.
Despite being branded a Haval rather than a Tank – both of which fall under the wider GWM brand – the H5 adopts tough Tank-style headlights, big chrome grille piece, and a boxy off-road silhouette.
It measures in at over five metres long, in theory supporting a seven-seat layout for its more wagon-like body, although documents submitted to the Chinese Ministry of Information Technology declare the model as a five-seater for now.
Other notable features include full LED lights, a large sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels with the current Haval styling and new badge work appearing across the rear.
Inside, similar styling appears to the H6 and Jolion according to Chinese spy shots, with dual digital screens and a low-set cascading dash, although the model adopts a new steering wheel and gear shifter from the larger Tank and Cannon ute range.
Chinese media is reporting the H5 will be offered with the choice of either a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (likely the same unit in the Tank 300 – 162kW/380Nm), or a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine, with at least 120kW/400Nm of power. Interestingly, there’s no mention of a hybrid option like the 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit available in the H6, which produces a combined 179kW.
Little additional detail is offered on the model for now, with more information to come prior to its fourth-quarter arrival in the Chinese market. The H5 possibly offers GWM Haval a leg-up over its direct MG rival with an even larger SUV in Australia, but for now it’s not a priority according to the brand.
When queried about the H5’s chances for an Australian arrival, local GWM communications boss Steve Maciver said: “We’ll continue to look at any model which comes forward but the H5 isn’t something which is on our radar right now.
“An SUV in the larger space is something we’d have to question, especially with the Tank 300 and Tank 500 on the way as well, in that larger space,” he continued.
For now the Haval H6 starts from $33,990 drive-away for the base Premium, and stretches to $42,490 for the top-spec Lux Hybrid. The hybrid models are said to be a particular hit for the brand, roughly averaging 40 per cent of sales across H6 and Jolion.
Meanwhile, the Tank 500 looks to be a hero SUV for the brand, even larger than the H5 and sporting a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 producing 260kW/500Nm. It has been spotted in Australia under camouflage, although the brand has yet to announce a local launch window for the LandCruiser challenger.
Keyword: Will the 2024 Haval H5 come to Australia to take on the Toyota Kluger, Kia Sorento? New larger Chinese SUV adopts tough styling and turbocharged engines