Rewind to the early 2010s, and the idea of a Chinese SUV making a serious impression in South Africa’s crossover segment seemed far-fetched. But Great Wall Motors had a longer game in mind. At the 2012 Durban Motor Show, GWM gave local audiences a first look at the original Haval H6. Official sales began in December 2013, and South African buyers were about to meet the blueprint for what would become one of China’s most successful SUVs.
The first H6 didn’t arrive with big claims or flashy marketing. Instead, it offered something refreshingly straightforward: honest value and a practical, comfortable package at a price that left competitors looking bloated. At the time, GWM’s reputation here was primarily built on bakkies, but the H6 changed that. It was a soft-roader that didn’t feel rough around the edges, and it showed buyers that “budget” didn’t have to mean compromise.
Globally, the numbers told the real story. Launched in 2011, the H6 quickly climbed to become China’s best-selling SUV. And while it didn’t outshine more established brands in outright performance or tech, it held its own where it counted: ride comfort, interior space, and day-to-day usability. It was the kind of SUV that made sense – the kind you recommended to friends without crossing fingers.
SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
That first-gen model gave Haval a foothold. It helped change the perception of Chinese vehicles from disposable transport to serious alternatives. More than that, it gave GWM the confidence and customer feedback to improve with each iteration. The brand listened, refined, and iterated on its approach.
Today, the latest H6 range – particularly in GT plug-in hybrid form – is unrecognisable from the original, in the best possible way. The quality is up. The drivetrain is leagues ahead. And the interiors wouldn’t feel out of place in a German showroom. But none of it would’ve happened without the quiet, competent success of the original.
What began in a Durban display hall over a decade ago now stands as a foundation. The latest H6 might wear a sharper suit and punch harder, but it still carries the same spirit – the belief that progress starts with a good idea, and the commitment to make it better every time.
Report by BERNIE HELLBERG JR | Images © GWM SOUTH AFRICA
