Review of Haval H6 2021
Content
- Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
- How practical is the interior space? 8/10
- Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10
- What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10
- How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
- What is it like to drive? 8/10
- What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
- How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10
- Verdict
There are good surprises and bad surprises. For example, when I was driving my poop, and my steering wheel came off. Bad surprise. Or the time the chicken store accidentally gave me large chips when I paid for a medium one. Good surprise. Haval H6 surprised me too. And it was there with big surprise chips.
You see, my expectations for Haval were for a brand that is really popular in China, where it is owned by Great Wall Motors, but can't keep up with brands like Toyota and Mazda when it comes to driving and styling. Instead, their strength seemed to be simply value for money.
Surprise! The new generation H6 is not only good value for money. It still has a very good price, but it also has an amazing look. But that wasn't the biggest surprise.
If you're considering a midsize SUV like the Toyota RAV4 or Mazda CX-5, I highly recommend you expand your network and consider the H6 as well. Let me explain.
| Haval H6 2021: Premium | |
|---|---|
| Safety Rating | |
| engine's type | 2.0 L turbo |
| fuel type | Premium unleaded gasoline |
| Fuel efficiency | 9.8l / 100km |
| Landing | 5 Places |
| Price from | $20,300 |
Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
This new generation of H6 looks incredibly beautiful. So much so that my dad thought it was a Porsche when I arrived to pick it up. But saying dad also has a glass coffee table supported by a golden nude lady and he thinks I work at a car dealership despite me explaining that automotive journalism is a real job.
This new generation H6 looks incredibly beautiful.
For once, he wasn't wrong. Well, it doesn't look like a Porsche, but I get what he means, considering how the LED strip on the tailgate lights up and connects to the taillights on both sides.
Haval have seemed low quality and underdeveloped in the past, but this new H6 seems to be the opposite.
I don't know what deal the H6 designer made with the devil, but there's no angle that makes this SUV look nothing short of beautiful. It's a bright but not overbearing grille, sleek headlights and flowing profile lines that run into a curvaceous rear end.
Haval have seemed low quality and underdeveloped in the past, but this new H6 seems to be the opposite.
The same goes for the minimalist cabin. These screens house almost every function except climate control, which clears the dashboard of buttons.
This cab features a premium design with a floating center console and metallic trim. Moving up to Lux from Premium adds leatherette upholstery, a leather steering wheel, and then Ultra expands the high-end feel with a 12.3-inch multimedia display and a panoramic sunroof.
This cab features a premium design with a floating center console and metallic trim.
In terms of dimensions, the H6 is larger than most midsize SUVs, but smaller than a large SUV: 4653mm from end to end, 1886mm wide and 1724mm high.
The H6 is larger than most midsize SUVs but smaller than a large SUV: 4653mm from end to end, 1886mm wide and 1724mm high.
Six exterior colors: Hamilton White, Ayres Grey, Burgundy Red, Energy Green, Sapphire Blue and Golden Black.
How practical is the interior space? 8/10
The H6 is roomy for a midsize SUV, with large and wide seats up front and excellent legroom and headroom in the second row. The H6 doesn't come with a third row, which is a shame because there's room for one.
The H6 is roomy for a midsize SUV with large and wide front seats.
Cargo capacity of 600 liters is plenty for this class, and there's plenty of interior storage: two cup holders in the second row, two more up front, plenty of space under the floating center console, although the door pockets could be better.
Second rowers will love the directional vents on the back as well as the two USB ports. There are two more USB ports on either side of the floating center console.
The leatherette upholstery in the Lux I tested was easy to keep clean and would be more family friendly than the fabric material used in the Premium.
Second rowers will be happy with the directional vents on the back.
You'll notice the high load lip of the trunk, and people my height (191cm/6ft 3in) have an open tailgate and your heads can meet from time to time. However, the H6 is very practical.
Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10
You save a decent amount of money by choosing the Haval H6 over, say, the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, or Nissan X-Trail. The entry class H6 is called Premium and costs $30,990, while the mid-range Lux is $33,990.
Both come with front-wheel drive only. If you want all-wheel drive, you need to upgrade to the top-of-the-line Ultra for $36,990, or pay $2,000 less and get it with front-wheel drive.
The H6 has two 10.25-inch displays with Apple CarPlay.
In comparison, the RAV4 and CX-5 ranges start at over $3k more than the entry-level H6 and don't have the same level of features. Let me show you what you get for your money.
The Premium comes standard with two 10.25-inch displays with Apple CarPlay, a six-speaker audio system, digital radio, air conditioning, a proximity key with push-button start, a rearview camera, paddle shifters, LED headlights, and 18-inch alloy wheels. .
The move to the Lux adds dual-zone climate control, privacy glass, a power adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, a leather steering wheel, a 360-degree camera and roof rails.
The Ultra features a 12.3-inch multimedia screen, a power front passenger seat, and both front seats are now heated and ventilated. There's also wireless charging, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, an electric tailgate and automatic parking.
This is an incredibly good price. Usually cheap things (like a Jetstar flight) offer nothing in return (like a Jetstar flight). Yes, no one is going to blame you for what you ripped off here.
What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10
The same four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine is found in all three trim levels. This is a 2.0-liter engine with 150 kW/320 Nm.
This engine had no issues with the H6 when I tested it with my little family on board, with good acceleration and smooth shifting from the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
When pushed hard, the four-cylinder engine responds well, but it's too noisy.
As mentioned at the beginning of this review, only the top-of-the-line Ultra trim gives you the choice between all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. Premium and Lux are front wheel drive only.
The same four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine is found in all three trim levels: a 2.0-litre engine with 150 kW/320 Nm.
The car we tested was a front-wheel-drive Lux, but we'll be looking at an all-wheel-drive version when it arrives in our garage soon.
On paper, the H6's Haldex all-wheel-drive system looks promising, and this generation's SUV has a locking rear differential for better off-road capability. However, the H6 is not an SUV in the Toyota LandCruiser sense, and your adventures on it should be moderate, not wild.
There is no diesel in the H6 lineup and at this stage you won't find a hybrid option or an electric version of this SUV.
Traction force with brake is 2000 kg for all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive H6.
How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
Haval says that after a combination of open and city roads, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine should consume 7.4 l/100 km in front-wheel drive cars and 8.3 l/100 km in all-wheel drive vehicles.
When testing the front drive, I measured 9.1 l/100 km at the fuel pump. This was after the track and city riding were split into equal parts.
Eagerness for work, considering it was just me and an idle car most of the time. Throw in a family of four plus holiday gear and you can expect worse mileage.
This is where the H6 shows the weakness of its offering as it doesn't have a hybrid powertrain in its Australian range.
What is it like to drive? 8/10
I'm still in shock. This is the biggest surprise. The H6 I tested handled easily, with a comfortable and relaxed ride. I didn't expect this, not when most of the Havals I've piloted in the past have been disappointing when it comes to driving.
Sure, the engine isn't overly powerful, but it's responsive, and the dual-clutch transmission shifts smoothly both in slow traffic and at 110 km/h on the motorway.
Sharp speed bumps going too fast on the front-wheel-drive Lux I tested show only modest suspension travel, causing a reverberant “bang” as the dampers and springs react. I have experienced the same on many of the cars I have tested, even the really prestigious ones.
While this is one of the very few complaints I have about the way the H6 rides, for the most part this SUV runs remarkably well with a (high) level of handling that I seriously didn't expect.
I can't tell you what the all-wheel drive version of the H6 looks like after testing only the front-wheel drive version, but we will no doubt have one. Cars Guide garage soon.
Warranty and safety rating
Basic Warranty
7 years / unlimited mileage
guarantee
ANCAP Safety Rating
What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
Is Haval H6 safe? Well, the H6 hasn't received an ANCAP rating yet, but this next-gen car appears to be well-equipped with advanced safety technology across all three classes.
All H6s come with AEB that can detect pedestrians and cyclists, Blind Spot Warning and Lane Change Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist and Rear Collision Warning.
The Lux adds adaptive cruise control, while the Ultra offers rear cross-traffic alert with brakes and an "Intelligent Dodge" overtaking system.
Along with all this technology, there are also seven airbags on board. And for child seats, you'll find two ISOFIX points and three top tether anchorages.
How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10
The H6 is covered by a seven-year Haval unlimited mileage warranty. Service is recommended every 12 months or 15,000-10,000 km, although the first service is required at 25,000-210 km, then 280-380 km and so on. The service cost is capped at $480 for the first service, $210 for the second, $XNUMX for the third, $XNUMX for the fourth, and $XNUMX for the fifth.
Verdict
The H6 could be a turning point for Haval in Australia. This is the brand's first big success and is changing how Australians feel about this Chinese automaker. The high cost and stunning looks of the H6 will win many over, but add in an excellent warranty, cutting-edge safety technology, and surprisingly good quality, and you have a package that will appear on par with the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5.
Top of the line has to be the Lux, a car I tested with leatherette seats, privacy glass and dual-zone climate control.
