GWM has unveiled a new flagship Haval-badged seven-seat SUV in China, with upright, boxy styling and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.
Known only by its ‘HX’ internal codename — not to be confused with the 1976-77 Holden — Car News China reports GWM will reveal the model’s production name on April 10, 2026.
A rival for the Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, the HX shapes as a strong candidate for Australia – potentially becoming the first Haval-badged three-row SUV here since the previous Haval H9 was discontinued in 2021.
“The Haval HX is a model we are keen to introduce to the Australian market,” a spokesperson for GWM Australia told CarExpert.
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“It is currently under consideration; however, its availability remains some time away.”
The HX would be the largest Haval-badged SUV sold locally, measuring 4950mm in length – 94mm longer than the previous H9, though still 128mm shorter than the GWM Tank 500 and 240mm shorter than the Chinese-market Haval H5.
Its square-shouldered styling includes a Land Rover Defender-style stepped window line, flat roof and an externally mounted full-size spare wheel on a side-hinged tailgate.
Despite its rugged look, which bears similarities with GWM’s own Tank 300, the HX uses a more car-like monocoque structure and rides on GWM’s new ‘One’ platform, announced in January 2026 as the basis for up to 50 models across multiple body styles and powertrains.
The example shown features a Hi4-Z plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system, combining dual electric motors with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and an 800V electrical architecture.
In other GWM applications, this setup offers a claimed electric-only driving range of up to 200km.
The GWM One platform also supports fully electric powertrains, as well as hybrid and pure combustion power.
The HX’s interior has yet to be revealed, though GWM has confirmed it will feature advanced driver assist systems including a roof-mounted LiDAR unit as part of its ‘Vision, Language, Action’ (VLA) system.
The system is expected to support functions such as Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) and autonomous parking.
GWM Australia has also not ruled out introducing the second-generation H9 locally, which would provide a body-on-frame alternative to the Ford Everest and Toyota LandCruiser Prado.
The company already offers a pair of body-on-frame SUVs, the Tank 300 and Tank 500. In Australia, GWM’s range of brands – including Haval and Tank – are treated as sub-brands under a unified GWM banner.
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