The GWM Haval H9 is here to fight the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest; priced at Php 1.998M
The midsize SUV segment is one of the most mainstream and sought-after vehicle segments in the Philippine market, thanks to their high ground clearance, off-road capability, and seven-passenger capacities.
GWM Philippines wants to try to steal some buyers from popular models and they plan to do it with their latest model—the Haval H9—which was first previewed to local motoring media in April last year, then to the general public at the 2025 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS).
Despite setting its sights on popular midsize SUVs, this is actually much larger, measuring at 5,070mm long, 1,976mm wide, 1,930mm tall, and rides on a 2,850mm wheelbase. In fact, it’s actually larger than the 250-series Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. GWM also mentions a 224mm ground clearance, and water wading depth of 800mm.
In the looks department, the GWM Haval H9 brings with it a lot of road presence with its large and boxy retro-inspired appearance. Large square headlights with a circular lighting signature give a bold stance, along with a large grille with horizontal slats and H-A-V-A-L spelled out. The side profile is muscular, and its rear features a pair of two-piece taillights, and a tailgate-mounted storage.
The interior is also very much squared-out just like the exterior with its heavy use of horizontal and vertical lines. Dominating its center stack is a large touchscreen infotainment system, and it comes in a seven-seater cabin layout.
Standard exterior equipment are full LED lighting, a set of 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, and roof rails. Meanwhile, the interior gets leather upholstery, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, eight-speaker premium audio system, and a 50W wireless phone charger, among others.
Available exterior colors are Iceberg White, Midnight Black, and Stealth Gray; while the interior can be had in a mix of black and brown. A full black interior will also be available in the future.
Traditional SUV buyers will be happy with what powers the GWM Haval H9. Under its hood is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 186 horsepower and 480Nm of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels.
As for safety, standard are six airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), traction control, stability control, automatic crash unlock function, hill descent control, hill start assist, tire pressure monitoring system, and a 540-degree camera system.
The GWM Haval H9 is now available at all GWM dealerships in the country, with an introductory price of Php 1,928,888 (SRP: Php 1,998,888). Buyers will also be able to take advantage of a seven-year or 200,000km full vehicle warranty, whichever comes first.
With all that in mind, do you think the GWM Haval H9 has what it takes to steal sales from more established and mainstream models in the midsize SUV segment?
Photos by Sam Surla
