Haval H6 Lux 2018 Review: Weekend Test
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Haval H6 Lux 2018 Review: Weekend Test

This is where Haval can be confusing, but in China, the brand is the king of SUVs and one of the top manufacturers in the country. No wonder executives are eager to replicate this success in Australia, which is why Haval is moving its fleet to our shores in an attempt to capture a piece of our expanding and lucrative SUV market.

Their weapons in this war for the hearts and minds of Australian SUV buyers? Haval H6 Lux 2018. At $33,990, it falls right into the hotly contested midsize SUV category.

The sharp price and styling of the H6 seems to signal Haval's intent from the start. Moreover, Haval positions it as the sportiest model in the lineup.

So, is this competitively priced H6 SUV too good to be true? My kids and I had the weekend to find out.

Saturday

The first thing that came to mind upon seeing the H6 up close, dressed in metallic gray and sitting on 19-inch wheels, was that it had a rather complex profile. Very unexpected.

Its profile is well proportioned to the style, which conveys a premium feel well. The tone is set by a sharp front end with xenon headlights, the stylish lines of which run along the sides of the body and narrow towards the massive rear end.

Lined up side by side with its rivals - the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Nissan X-Trail - the H6 easily holds its own in the design department, even by comparison it looks the most European. If looks are worth nothing by then, this H6 promises quite a lot. Even the kids give him two thumbs up. So far, so good.

Our first scheduled stop for the day is my daughter's dance rehearsal, then we stop by grandma and grandpa's for lunch and then do some shopping.

Once inside the H6, the premium feel is maintained with a panoramic sunroof, heated front and rear seats, a power-adjustable passenger seat and leather trim. More prominent, however, was the not-so-premium range of hard plastic surfaces and trims adorning the cabin. The plastic panel at the base of the gear lever was particularly flimsy to the touch.

Our 45 minute journey to the dance rehearsal site gave the four of us a good opportunity to get to know the salon. The kids in the back made good use of the two cup holders located in the armrest, while my son cracked open the sunroof in the front.

In addition to rear cupholders, the H6 offers ample storage space, including water bottle holders in each of the four doors and two cupholders between the front seats. Interestingly, at the bottom of the dashboard was an old-school ashtray and a working cigarette lighter - the first time the children saw this.

The rear seats provide plenty of legroom and headroom for kids and adults alike and, as my daughters quickly discovered, can also recline. The front seats are electrically adjustable (in eight directions for the driver), providing a sufficient level of comfort and a convenient position for the driver.

Despite limited functionality, navigating the eight-inch multimedia screen was not as easy as I expected. (Image credit: Dan Pugh)

After rehearsal, the rest of the day was spent driving the H6 through the back streets of the suburbs to music from the eight-speaker stereo that kept us busy. Despite limited functionality (satellite navigation is optional and not included in our test car, which doesn't look particularly "luxury"), navigating the eight-inch multimedia screen wasn't as easy as I expected. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is not available even as an option.

The H6 passed the parking lot test at a local mall with flying colours, thanks to its modest size, parking sensors and a rearview camera that makes it easy to work in tight spaces. However, our test car has one odd feature; the rear camera view on the touchscreen would sometimes not show up when engaging reverse, requiring me to shift back into park and then reverse again to get it going. Engaging reverse gear also turns off the stereo sound.

Sunday

The rain started early and was supposed to continue, so lunch at a family friend's house was the only scheduled outing for the day.

Only one engine is available in the Haval H6 line - a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit with 145 kW and 315 Nm of torque. Paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, it propelled the H6 at decent speed between corners.

When you press the accelerator, there is a distinct delay before the first gear is engaged with a push. (Image credit: Dan Pugh)

A brief test of the paddle shifters had little effect on ride quality, as the gearbox was slow to respond to commands. The digital display on the binnacle also made it impossible to tell at a glance which gear I was in. In standard automatic mode, however, the H6's shifts were smooth and quite responsive in response to numerous hill climbs and descents around local curbs.

Starting from a standing position in the H6 was a largely unpleasant experience, however. When you press the accelerator, there is a distinct delay before the first gear is engaged with a push. While this was an annoyance on dry roads, it was a complete letdown on wet roads due to the significant accelerator pedal control needed to prevent front wheel spin.

City driving and handling were reasonably comfortable, but with noticeable body roll when cornering. Piloting the H6 felt completely rambling as the steering wheel made it feel like it was attached to a giant rubber band rather than the front wheels.

In addition to the rear cupholders, the H6 offers ample storage space. (Image credit: Dan Pugh)

In terms of safety, in addition to a rearview camera and parking sensors, the H6 is equipped with six airbags and electronic stability control with brake assist. Blind spot monitoring is also standard, however this is an optional feature that requires the driver to activate it for each drive. Hill start assist, hill descent control, tire pressure monitoring and seat belt warning complete the safety offering. All this adds up to a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating.

I drove about 250 km over the weekend, the on-board computer showed fuel consumption of 11.6 liters per 100 km. That's well above Haval's claimed combined figure of 9.8 liters per 100 kilometers - and right in the "thirsty" category.

While it gets marks for stylish looks, practicality and price, it's hard not to notice the H6's less refined interior and driving deficiencies. In the hot SUV market, this puts it far behind its competitors, and something tells me that the H6 Lux is going to suffer from huge competition in its segment, and buyers are really spoiled for choice.

Would you prefer the Haval H6 to one of its better known competitors?

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