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I spend time with the Haval H2 Lux Auto

Quick Facts:

  • Price: From R294 900 
  • Model Tested Price: R354 900
  • Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol
  • Transmission: 6-speed Auto
  • Power/Torque: 105kW / 202Nm

Did you know that apart from China, South Africa is the second-largest Haval market? This is also thanks to the Haval H2 models which fly off the shelves. 

Since the introduction of the Haval H2 into the South African market in 2017, Haval has gone on to achieve great numbers while adding vast dealerships across the country to ensure that buyers were satisfied when it came to service and the likes. 

I spend a week with the refreshed Haval H2 luxury auto which is the cream of the crop from the Chinese carmaker and I was quite surprised at how luxurious the compact SUV is. The days where you can get 6 way electrically adjustable seats from a car that costs R354 900 (top of the range) were starting to fade away. In fact, even a panoramic sunroof for that price of a brand new compact SUV is hard to find these days. 

My test had all the bells and whistles, Automatic LED headlights, auto wipers, a panoramic sunroof, 6 airbags, a tyre-pressure monitoring system (I know a brand which costs over a million rand and this is an option, but let us not get into that) leather seats, as well as keyless entry and keyless go, to mention just a few and these are luxuries that you now have to pay an arm and a leg from big-name brands. 

The looks of the Haval H2 aren't that bad either, like I always say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder ultimately but I fancied the H2. The rear was my favourite place to look at, the exaggerated chrome-covered tailpipes give it a mean rear appeal. 

Inside, plush and soft materials on the dashboard and door handles (scratchy plastics have been well hidden), a touch screen infotainment screen that allows for phone linking (Apple Carplay and Android Auto), a USB port as well as Bluetooth makes it easier for buyers to enjoy the music or to have better access to directions. I was a bit disappointed by the sound and the driver display, the driver display does not look the part for me, lacks a bit of flair while the sound is basically quiet even on its last level 30. My other frustration was how small the mobile tray was; it just could not fit my mobile device (iPhone 8+ ), and I had to end up using the door pockets as a phone place to keep my phone.  Don't get me wrong, the interior is an excellent place to be in, and it stands out, rear legroom and headroom have not been compromised either regardless of the panoramic sunroof, I have a giant of a friend, and he was very comfortable in the rear, his only complains was the lack of a USB port to charge. 

The drive? sigh, I think this is where the brand has been let down a bit. Overtaking is a bit frustrating, you need to plan your overtaking quite early. You can put your foot down but the vehicle just takes quite a while to respond making highway drives a bit tedious. Town driving is perfect, there are a few jerky movements that happen while in traffic but it is not that bad. Fuel consumption was also a hit and miss, while Haval claim fuel consumption of 9l/100km, the best I could do was 9.7l/100 which is not far from the claim but it is quite heavy compared to the other segment rivals I have had on test. 

Road noise and wind noise have been well taken care of, the Haval H2 had little to zero road noise even with the 18-inch alloys it was sitting on and this made the trip very comfortable.

Verdict - With the price of cars increasing each and every day while manufacturers keep making us tick options that we so need so that we can pay more, Haval has perfected this gap. The price of the car and what you get is amazing! Bang for buck! The other point I will make is that they have also vastly increased their dealer network since they came into the country and this makes it easier for people to trust and buy more of these H2s, I also have not heard of any issue with the vehicles and upon speaking to Haval, they reassured me that there are a lot of parts in stock should buyers need (dependable on the part needed). So, if you are looking for a sensible buy, shortlist this and go for a test drive!

Pricing

The Haval H2 starts at R294 900 with the top of the range model I drove coming in at R349 900

  • 5-year/100 000km warranty
  • 5-year/60 000 km service plan
  • 5-year/unlimited km roadside assistance.

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