LandBruiser: Meet the rugged, family-friendly GWM Haval HX PHEV that’s gunning for the Toyota LandCruiser and Land Rover Defender
GWM has previewed its flagship Haval HX plug-in hybrid SUV ahead of its official unveiling at this month’s Beijing motor show.
It’s built to rival both the Land Rover Defender 130 and Toyota LandCruiser Prado, but being a monocoque chassis, the HX would also challenge more on-road focused three-row SUVs such as the Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.
The new Haval HX – which will be renamed ahead of its launch – will replace the old Haval H9 that was last on sale in 2021.
Reportedly already under consideration by GWM Australia, despite being billed as a flagship model, the new HX measures in at 4950mm long, meaning it’s 128mm shorter than GWM’s current Tank 500.
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Taking aim at the latest LandCruiser and Defender, the HX mimics both rivals’ slab-sided looks, squared-off arches and features a side-hinged tailgate with full-size spare mounted on it.
Even though it features similar blocky styling to the Tank 500, the all-new HX is completely unrelated and sits on the car-maker’s all-new One monocoque platform instead of a ladder-frame chassis.
GWM only unwrapped the One underpinnings in January 2026 and has already announced it will be used on up to 50 different models and accommodate hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and even hydrogen fuel-cell powertrains, as well as traditional petrol and diesels.
Powering the HX is GWM’s Hi4 plug-in hybrid tech that combines dual-motors, a lithium-ion battery, 800-volt electrics and 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol.
Full power and torque figures have not been announced but GWM says its SUV should have a big enough battery to see it drive up to 200km on EV power alone. Sounds optimistic.
Pictures of the HX’s cabin will come later, but GWM has confirmed it will bag the Chinese brand’s most advanced driver assist tech, which is evidenced by the small roof-mounted LiDAR sensor.
As well as hands-off driving capability, it offers a fully autonomous remote parking feature for those who’d rather not fuss around with such a task.
If confirmed for Australia the HX would be positioned above both the Tank 300 (from $46,190 plus on-roads) and the Tank 500 (from $64,490) and is expected to be priced from around $70,000.
Curiously, while the local GWM has already publicly expressed an interest in the new advanced HX SUV it also hasn’t ruled out the less sophisticated second-generation Haval H9 that will also offer three-rows, but rides and on a more rugged ladder-frame.
