Driven - The Haval H6
Quick Facts:
- Price: From R431 900
- Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine
- Transmission: seven-speed DCT
- Power/Torque: 150kW/320Nm
Looking for a Haval H6 Luxury from a trusted dealer? Click here to view our current deal.
We spent a week sampling the latest Haval H6 in what was essentially a mind-blowing week. Launched in 2021, the Haval H6 came to cement its place in the SUV segment that sees the likes of the Mazda CX-5, the Nissan X-Trail, the Subaru Forester, the Toyota RAV-4 and the Volkswagen Tiguan to name just a few. With its striking looks, a plethora of technology and a capable 2.0-litre engine, the latest H6 replaces the outgoing model in what we think is the most impressive car under the Chinese stable in South Africa.
We sampled the Haval H6 in its 2.0-litre 4WD Luxury guise (only one engine available in the H6) and if looks alone could convince buyers, then this would be a 10/10. A well-executed design at the front. A huge mesh grille at the front flanked by LED headlights as well as fog lamps below - the front has been given a lot of thought and a lot of work has been put into it. Creases running across the bonnet all the way down to the fog lamp housings do make the Haval H6 a looker upfront. The rear is probably the most talked about, featuring a light bar that runs across the rear and has fewer angles.
Inside, a symphony of luxury. We noticed this in the Haval Jolion and the materials as well as how everything has been laid out have been brilliantly put together. Apart from the occasional glitches with the infotainment and drivers display, the Haval H6 has been executed well. The faux leather stitched seats are comfortable and offer six-way adjustability while the room in the rear is more than sufficient. In fact, it's more than sufficient and we pondered if they could’ve added an extra two seats (to make it a seven-person car), but the H9 is already capable of that. Boot space also feels roomier even with a full-sized spare wheel inside. In the daytime and at night, the graphics on the infotainment and drivers displays are amazing. Although our issues with the P-Series Luxury Tourer and the Haval Jolion concern the driver's display, the H6 tops them! A feature worth mentioning is the panoramic sunroof, which feels larger and lets in a lot of light.
A host of driver assistance systems are available and we think the pick of the bunch has to be the 360-degree camera which is definitely handy!
All models come standard with the following safety features:
- AEB with pedestrian/cyclist detection and junction assist
- Lane-keep assist
- Lane departure warning
- Active lane centring
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/start
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Driver attention monitoring
- Traffic sign recognition
- Safe exit warning
- Front, front-side and curtain airbags plus a front-centre bag
- Reversing camera
- Rear parking sensors
In terms of the drive, the 2.0-litre power plant is brilliant for what it is. Delivering 150kW/320NM via its seven-speed dual-clutch drive system. Power is sent to all its wheels (in the case of our test unit). The various driving modes also ensure that you drive as efficiently as you can, or “off-road” while the sport mode ensures that you get a burst of power on demand. Ride handling and refinement are nothing to become crazy over however it does seem to do its job capably. Less to no road and wind noise in the cabin Our biggest issue came with the adaptive cruise control. It abruptly cuts power bends before resuming. This was a massive frustration for all of us.
All other aspects of the Haval H6 impress us, from the steering feel to the input, and we believe that it has been well designed. Prices also add significant value, and while many people are sceptical about Chinese brands, I believe the warranties, plans, and guarantees put together by the brand can show customers how much they support their products. The H6 really made us consider a lot of other brands within the same size and price range. We struggled to understand why people would not go for the model.
Our Fave H6 highlights:
- 12.3-inch infotainment system
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights, daytime running lights and tail lights
- Keyless entry and start
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Faux leather upholstery
Pricing
The Haval H6 is priced from R413 900 with our test unit coming in at R494 900. It is offered with a five year/100 000 km warranty, a five year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance as well as a five year/ 60 000 km service plan.
Looking for a Haval H6 Luxury from a trusted dealer? Click here to view our current deal.
