Review of Haval H6 2018

If you haven't heard of the Haval H6, you're probably not alone. In fact, if you didn't even know Haval was anything special, you're probably in the majority anyway. 

The Chinese manufacturer and its medium-sized H6 SUV are ready to compete with the big players. The H6 is vying for the biggest segment of the SUV market, with vehicles like the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail and all other very impressive family offerings.

With two available trim levels and aggressive pricing on both the Premium and entry-level Lux tested here, the Haval H6 seems to have something that sets it apart in the Australian market, offering customers who want a lot of cars for their cash is an alternative to the primary classes of the mainstream Korean and Japanese players.

But with fierce competition, ever-tightening prices, and ever-expanding equipment lists for base SUV models, is there really room for this Chinese model? Let's see…

Haval H6 2018: 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	$16,000

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10

Until recently, the Haval H6 has definitely offered really good value for money. At launch, the base price was $31,990 for the entry-level Premium version and $34,990 for the Lux version. But since then, there have been many new models in the midsize SUV segment, and some big names have added trim levels and slashed prices to boost sales and stay relevant.

The Lux has 19-inch alloy wheels and xenon headlights compared to the base Premium car.

The Premium comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, automatic headlights and wipers, laser lights, heated auto-folding side mirrors, tinted glass, roof rails, cruise control, ambient lighting, stainless steel door sills, power steering. adjustable driver's seat, cloth seat trim, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and push-button start, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia unit with Bluetooth phone, audio streaming, and USB input. 

The Lux adds a panoramic sunroof, heated front and rear seats, a power adjustable passenger seat, faux leather trim, its audio system with subwoofer and upgraded headlights - auto-leveling xenon units - plus 19-inch wheels.

There are seven colors to choose from, six of which are metallics, which cost $495. Buyers can even choose between different colored interiors; Premium has the choice between black or grey/black and Lux ​​has black, grey/black or brown/black as you can see here.

You'll get faux leather trim on the Lux, but sat nav isn't standard on either spec.

And there are deals to be had. The H6 Premium can now be purchased for $29,990 with free satellite navigation (usually $990 more) and a $500 gift card. You will get Lux for $33,990 XNUMX.

The H6 doesn't have satellite navigation as standard on any specification, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto phone mirroring technology isn't available at all. 

The safety package is respectable, if not best in class, with a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, six airbags, dual ISOFIX child seat attachment points (and three top tether hooks), and blind spot monitoring included on both options. .

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

It doesn't look much like the other models in the Haval lineup, which is a good thing. The H2, H8, and H9 have the rounded edges of yesteryear, while the H6 is sharper, smarter, and more sophisticated. In my opinion, he looks more like a European than a Chinese.

The H6 is sharper and smarter in design than its fellow Haval stables.

The proportions of the Haval H6 are quite attractive - the brand defiantly calls it the H6 Coupe in the domestic market. It has lines in the right places, a svelte silhouette and a daring rear end that all combine to give it a certain look on the road. He's more stylish than some of his compatriots, that's for sure. And the Lux model is equipped with 19-inch wheels, which certainly help in this regard.

The interior, however, is not so amazing despite the attractive exterior. It has a lot of faux wood and hard plastics and doesn't have the ergonomic intelligence of the best SUVs in its class. The sloping roofline also makes rearward visibility difficult due to the rear windshield and thick D-pillars. 

How practical is the interior space? 7/10

The Haval H6 doesn't set any new standards in terms of cabin space and comfort, but it isn't a leader in its segment either - there are some older cars from better-known brands that take up this mantle.

On the plus side, there's decent storage space - four door pockets big enough for water bottles, a pair of cup holders between the front seats and two in the back in the fold-down armrest, as well as a decent trunk. Plus, you can easily fit a stroller in the back if you have kids, or scooters if you're into it, and the opening is wide, though a bit high when you put in heavy items. a compact spare tire under the trunk floor, a 12-volt outlet in the trunk, and a pair of mesh boxes. The rear seats fold almost to the floor in a ratio of 60:40. 

A stroller can easily fit in the back.

The backseat is comfortable, with a long seat cushion providing good under-hip support, and plenty of room - even for taller adults, there's plenty of legroom and decent headroom. Because it's a front-wheel drive car, it doesn't have a big transmission tunnel cutting into floor space, making side-sliding pretty easy. The rear seats also recline.

There is plenty of head and leg room in the back seat.

Up front, the button layout is not as logical as some other SUVs. For example, the big volume wheel between the seats and the many buttons down there are out of your line of sight. 

The digital information screen between the dials in front of the driver is bright and has quite a few things to look at, but crucially - and annoyingly - the digital speedometer is missing. It will show you the set speed on the cruise control, but not the actual speed.  

And chimes. Oh, chimes and dongs, bings and bongs. I don't need the cruise control to sound a warning chime every time I change my speed by 1 km/h... But at least there are six backlight colors to choose from, via a fairly innocuous button between the seats (the colors are: red , blue, yellow, green, pinkish purple and orange). 

If the technology were more comfortable and the plastics a little more special, the H6's interior would be a lot nicer. The capacity is not bad. 

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

The only engine available in the Haval H6 range is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 145kW and 315Nm of torque. Those numbers are good for its competitive set - not as strong as a Subaru Forester XT (177kW/350Nm), but more than, say, a Mazda CX-5 2.5-litre (140kW/251Nm).

The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine develops 145 kW/315 Nm of power.

It has a Getrag dual-clutch automatic transmission, but unlike many competitors, the H6 only comes with front-wheel drive.

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How much fuel does it consume? 5/10

Haval claims fuel consumption of 9.8 l/100 km, which is high for the segment - in fact, it's about 20 percent more than what's on the stickers of most of its competitors. 

In our tests, we saw even more - 11.1 l / 100 km combined with urban, highway and commuting. Turbocharged engines in some competing models strike a better balance of performance and economy than Haval has yet to offer.

What is it like to drive? 4/10

Not good… 

I could just leave this review on this one. But here's the excuse.

The engine is decent, with a good amount of sound when you fire up, especially in sport mode, which makes the most of the turbo engine's capabilities. 

But drifting off the line is stumbling at times, with slight transmission hesitation combined with mild turbo lag that is frustrating to drive at times. A cold start is not his friend either - at times it seems like something is wrong with the transmission, such is the chugging factor. The clarification in the sentence is simply not what it should be.

It's not the worst, although I also found the steering to be very difficult to rate. At times, the electric power steering system would boot up for almost no apparent reason, making roundabouts and intersections a bit of a guessing game. On the straight, he also lacks meaningful feel, but is easy enough to keep in his lane. When you're navigating lanes and the like, the slow steering rack makes for a lot of manual work - at least at very low speeds, the steering is light enough. 

It's hard to get into a comfortable driving position for adults around six feet tall either: reach adjustment isn't quite enough for the driver.

The front-wheel drive fundamentals struggle to use the engine's torque at times, with noticeable slip and squeal in wet conditions and some torque steer when hard on the throttle. 

The brakes lack the progressive pedal travel we've come to expect from a modern family SUV, with a wooden surface at the top of the pedal, and they don't tighten up as much as one might hope.

The 19-inch wheels and confusing suspension setup make the ride unmanageable in many situations - on the highway the suspension can bounce a little bit, and in the city it's not as comfortable as it could be. It's not edgy or uncomfortable, but it's not chic or well-decorated either.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / 100,000 km


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 6/10

The Haval H6 has not been crash tested, but the company hopes it can match the score set by the smaller H2, which received five stars in the 2017 test.

In terms of safety features, the essentials are there, such as six airbags, a rear-view camera, parking sensors, and electronic stability control with brake assist. Daytime running lights are standard, as is blind spot monitoring.

It also has Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Tire Pressure Monitoring, and Seat Belt Warning - our early-built test car had rear seat warning lights (located at the bottom of the auto-dimming rear-view mirror). ) was constantly glowing, which was very annoying at night. Apparently this has been fixed as part of the current changes.

Haval says new safety tech is on the way, with an update due in the third quarter of 2018 that should add forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Until then, it is slightly behind the times for its segment.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 6/10

Haval entered the market with a five-year 100,000 km warranty, which did not change the definition of the class, and it supports its buyers with the same duration of road assistance coverage.

Your first service is due in six months/5000 km and from now on the regular interval is every 12 months/10,000 km. The brand maintenance price menu is 114 months / 95,000 km, and the average cost of maintaining the company over the entire period is $ 526.50, which is expensive. I mean, that's more than the cost of maintaining a Volkswagen Tiguan (on average).

Verdict

It's hard to sell. I mean, you could look at the Haval H6 and think to yourself, "This is a pretty good looking thing - I think it will look good on my road." I would understand that, especially when it comes to high-tech Lux.

But buying one of these instead of a Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Nissan X-Trail or Toyota RAV4 - even in the base trim - might be a mistake. It just isn't as good as any of these cars, despite its best intentions, and no matter how good it may look.

Would you roll the dice and choose a Chinese SUV like the Haval H6 over a major competitor? Let us know in the comments below.