First Impressions: GWM Wey G9 Hi4 HEV

The GWM Wey G9 Hi4 HEV brings a self-charging option with a lower price tag, smaller LFP battery and no fridge.

GWM’s luxury MPV has taken Malaysia by storm. Within less than a year of introduction, the locally assembled Wey G9 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has over 2,000 deliveries, becoming the nation’s best-selling luxury MPV . Building directly on that momentum, GWM Malaysia has expanded the lineup with a self-charging alternative: the GWM Wey G9 Hi4 HEV, priced at RM 249,800—representing a clean RM 20,000 saving over its PHEV sibling.

What Changes on the Outside and Inside?

Visually, the HEV is practically indistinguishable from the PHEV. The imposing front waterfall grille, bamboo-inspired LED taillights, chrome accents, and alloy wheels carry over untouched; the only telltale exterior differentiator is the bootlid badge reading “HEV” rather than “PHEV”.

Step inside, however, and a few deliberate omissions reveal where the price difference lies:

• Cabin Colour Scheme: While the PHEV features an upscale brownish-orange leather option, the HEV is offered strictly with an all-black interior.

• No Onboard Refrigerator: The 12.5-litre dual hot/cold fridge between the front seats (capable of cooling down to 0°C on the PHEV) is deleted on the HEV in favor of standard console storage.

Apart from those omissions, the luxury appointments remain intact.

The second row retains its Nappa leather Zero-Gravity captain chairs complete with power ottomans, flat-fold reclining, ventilation, and 10-point massage programs.

The third-row bench remains properly scaled for real-world family hauling, and the 14.6-inch infotainment system with smartphone connectivity and 21-speaker premium sound system carry over unchanged.

Key Specifications: HEV vs. PHEV

Unlike the 1.5-litre turbo unit in the PHEV, the G9 Hi4 HEV pairs a 2.0-litre dedicated hybrid engine with front and rear electric motors through a 4-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) to form an intelligent electric all-wheel-drive system.

On the Road: Ride, Agility, and Mountain Climbing

Behind the wheel, the G9 HEV demonstrates immediate dynamic advantages stemming directly from what it leaves behind. Shedding the hefty 40+ kWh high-voltage battery pack drastically cuts curb weight.

As a result, the HEV rides exceptionally well over road imperfections, demonstrating superior body control without feeling floaty. When tackling the tight bends up to Genting Highlands, it actually handles noticeably better than the PHEV.

GWM’s Intelligent Torque Vectoring Control does a remarkable job distributing drive across the axles to actively tuck the front end in, helping this 5-meter MPV rotate through tight uphill switchbacks with surprising agility. It’s amazing that all of this is done without active suspension.

The powertrain trade-off, however, becomes apparent on steep, sustained ascents. While initial acceleration away from a standstill feels punchy thanks to the headline 782 Nm peak torque rating, sustained uphill demand quickly drains the compact 1.67 kWh buffer. Once the battery reaches its lower operating reserve, you no longer get that full surge of electric torque. While the vehicle still maintains adequate pep to keep moving up the mountain briskly, the sustained pull feels noticeably blunted compared to when you first set off with a full charge.

We also found the lack of control over engine braking to be a little unnerving and tiring. You can increase energy recuperation (through a touch interface menu item).

Even at its strongest setting, the GWM Wey G9 Hi4 HEV will continue to pick up speed while driving down hill. We didn’t encounter this on the PHEV model, but only because we weren’t driving it down Genting Highlands and we’ll have to revisit it in future to see if suffers the same flaw.

Our suspicion is that the small hybrid battery gets filled up rather quickly and energy recuperation halts early on. A little hazardous to be completely reliant on brake pads to keep a 2,500kg vehicle in check down a mountain, wouldn’t you say?

The DHT has ‘4-speeds’, but no way to manually select a lower ratio. Perhaps a software update can make it so that a ‘Low’ range for the gearbox can be selected to overcome this.

Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

At RM 249,800, the G9 HEV presents a clean, zero-fuss proposition for buyers without home-charging access. You never have to plug in, refueling every 800-odd km just like a traditional car while retaining the plush, whisper-quiet cabin environment expected of an executive hauler. Furthermore, from a long-term maintenance perspective, a sub-2 kWh LFP battery is theoretically cheaper to replace after warranty (should need arise), more thermally stable, and carries fewer lingering resale-value question marks a decade down the line compared to a massive 40 kWh NMC pack.

That said, if you have home charging, the PHEV remains the more complete and flexible luxury vehicle. For an extra RM 20,000, the plug-in variant allows you to handle the daily work commute purely on electricity, provides consistent full-power mountain climbs, and retains lifestyle conveniences like the onboard refrigerator and 3.3 kW V2L capabilities,. But for owners seeking first-class passenger comfort and lower running anxiety without ever plugging into a wall, the lighter, sweeter-handling G9 HEV fills the role convincingly.