A traditionally styled, diesel-powered SUV isn’t exactly what we’d call refreshing, but amid all the modern-looking machines with hybrid or fully-electric powertrains arriving on our shores these days, we have to say GWM Philippines’ latest offering is a welcome change.
This is the second generation of the GWM Haval H9, the brand’s entry to the midsize SUV segment. Now that it’s officially on sale in the local market, we have the full specs and pricing info—here’s everything you need to know.
Variants and prices
The only Haval H9 variant for our market is the seven-seat Lux 4x4, priced at P1,998,888. Until May 31, however, it will be available at an introductory price of P1,928,888. This is comparable to the prices of competitors from other Chinese carmakers, like the BYD Tang DM-i (P2,098,000) and the Jetour T1 Lightning i-DM (P1,798,000), though these come with plug-in hybrid powertrains.
It’s also roughly in the same price range as the lower or midlevel 4x2 midsize SUVs from legacy carmakers. These models include the Toyota Fortuner, the Mitsubishi Montero Sport, the Nissan Terra, and the Ford Everest.
Luxuriant Automotive Group, GWM’s local distributor, offers a seven-year/200,000km warranty on the Haval H9.
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Exterior
In terms of dimensions, the Haval H9 has the edge on most of its competitors: At 4,950mm long, 1,976mm wide, and 1,930mm tall, it’s 155mm longer, 121mm wider, and 95mm taller than the Fortuner, but the difference in length isn’t as big compared with the Terra and the Everest. The 2,850mm wheelbase is also longer than that of the Toyota SUV by around 100mm. Ground clearance and wading depth are listed at 225mm and 800mm, meeting the expectations most buyers have of this type of vehicle.
The boxy, classic SUV shape adds to the off-road-capable image the Haval H9 wants to convey. It takes cues from classic Land Cruisers and Patrols, combining blocky design cues and an overall rugged vibe. Even the color options are straightforward and austere: Stealth Gray, Iceberg White, and Midnight Black.
Amid the retro styling are more modern elements. The circular headlamps flanking the imposing horizontal bar grille have LEDs with auto on/off functionality and manual level adjustment. The fog- and taillights are LED units as well, and the side mirrors are power-folding. The 18-inch alloys have a simple design and are fitted with meaty 265/60 R18 tires.
Interior
The cabin that greets you upon opening the doors is surprisingly plush and somewhat removed from what GWM calls the ‘hardcore aesthetics’ of the exterior. This being the only Haval H9 variant in the lineup, the carmaker has chosen to spec it like a range-topper with good-quality leatherette, faux-wood accents, and aluminum trim. The driver’s seat gets six-way power adjustment as well as four-way power lumbar adjustment.
The 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen gets the all-important Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with wireless integration, as well as Bluetooth connectivity. Audio is played out through an eight-speaker system. In addition to USB-A and USB-C ports in the front and the rear of the cabin, there’s also a 50W wireless charging pad on the center console behind the chunky gearshift.
The instrument panel is a 10.25-inch display. Mounted on the steering wheel are paddle shifters and buttons for the multimedia and cruise-control systems. Completing the driver interface are the buttons flanking the gearshift—these are mostly for the drive modes and the 4x4 drivetrain.
Other notable cabin features are the sunroof and the triple-zone climate control system. There are roof-mounted A/C vents for the second and third rows to ensure all occupants are cool and comfy.
Engine and specs
Under the hood is a 2.4-liter turbodiesel engine—still the usual for this class, although more and more midsize trucks and SUVs are getting electrified in some way. The engine makes 183hp at 3,600rpm and 480Nm at 1,500-2,500rpm, delivered to the wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission.
The Haval H9 is equipped for a fair bit of off-roading. On top of a BorgWarner torque-on-demand four-wheel-drive system, it has seven drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, Snow, Mud, Sand, and 4L. At the press of a button, the vehicle also becomes capable of tighter turns on narrow trails by applying the brakes on the inner rear wheel, effectively using it as a pivot point to make the turning radius smaller.
There’s also off-road cruise control, which gets guidance from sensors and the 540-degree-view camera, controls the throttle and brakes, and uses the drive modes to navigate difficult terrain. Hill-descent and hill-start assistance also play a role in this setting.
As for the suspension system, the Haval H9 rides on double-wishbones up front and a multilink non-independent rear setup. Brakes are ventilated discs on all four corners. An electronic parking brake comes standard, as does auto brake hold.
Extra features
There are six airbags in total (a pair each of front, side, and side curtain). Apart from the hill-descent and hill-start assist, active driver aids include brake assist and brake override, traction control, and roll movement intervention.
Conspicuously absent are advanced driver-assist systems like forward-collision mitigation, lane-departure and lane-keep aids, and adaptive cruise control—GWM clearly prioritized off-road features instead, with the aforementioned off-road cruise control and 4x4 features. A tire-pressure monitoring system shows the state of the tires without having to use tools.
We’ll do a full review of the GWM Haval H9 at the earliest possible opportunity. For now, what do you think of this all-new midsize SUV? Let us know in the comments.
More photos of the GWM Haval H9 2026:
