GWM Australia has taken an enormous step ahead within the hotly contested medium SUV phase, with the arrival of the all-new Haval H6 vary, hitting native showrooms priced from $30,990 driveaway.
Opening with the H6 Premium grade, the four-variant vary strikes as much as $33,990 driveaway for the mid-spec Lux whereas the top-spec Extremely might be had in both 2WD ($36,990 d/a) or AWD ($38,990 d/a) guises.
Changing the second-gen H6 produced from 2017 to 2019, the brand new H6 rides on the model’s world modular platform, and measures 4653mm lengthy, 1886mm broad and 1724mm tall, with a 2738mm wheelbase.
All variations of the H6 are powered by a brand new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, tuned to provide 150kW from 6000-6300rpm and 320Nm from 1500-4000rpm, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated.
Driving the entrance wheels in all variants bar the top-spec Extremely AWD, mixed gasoline consumption is rated at 7.4 litres per 100km, as much as 8.3L/100km for the all-paw grade with CO2 emissions rated at 169/190 grams per kilometre, respectively.
The Haldex AWD system on the Extremely has been developed by BorgWarner, and incorporates a 50:50 entrance/rear torque cut up and a most torque distribution capability of 1200Nm.
From the surface, the entry-level H6 Premium might be recognized by its 18-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting for the head-, tail-, daytime working and rear foglights and sharkfin antenna, whereas inside it scores a ten.25-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay compatibility, a ten.25-inch digital instrument cluster, six-speaker sound system, single-zone automated air-conditioning, material seats, six-way handbook adjustment for the motive force’s seat, multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters and a 12V energy outlet.
Commonplace lively security tools throughout the vary consists of emergency lane preserve, ahead collision warning, lane departure warning, lane preserve help, lane centre retaining, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, bicycle owner and crossroad detection, visitors signal recognition, blind spot detection with lane change help, rear collision warning, door open warning, hill descent management, hill begin help, tyre strain monitor, rear parking help, a rearview digicam and 7 airbags.
The mid-spec Lux builds on the options of the Premium and provides entrance LED foglights, roof rails, leather-based steering wheel, dual-zone local weather management, Consolation-Tek seats, six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar help, heated entrance seats, digital anti-glare rearview mirror, adaptive cruise management with cease and go, clever cruise help, visitors jam help and a surround-view digicam.
In the meantime, the Extremely provides a panoramic sunroof, electrical tailgate, 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, head-up show, heated steering wheel, wi-fi charging, four-way electrically adjustable passenger’s seat, heated and ventilated entrance seats, rear cross-traffic alert and totally automated parking.
Six exterior colors can be found, with Hamilton White the usual hue and Ayers Gray, Burgundy Pink, Vitality Inexperienced, Sapphire Blue and Golden Black all accessible at a $495 premium.
GoAuto had the prospect to pattern the new-generation H6 throughout a weekend, particularly the mid-spec Lux grade.
The development over the previous couple of years with Chinese language car-makers has been an enormous enchancment in perceived high quality over a brief period of time, and the H6 isn’t any exception, beginning with its exterior styling.
With former Land Rover designer Phil Simmons on the helm, the H6 is a classy automobile beginning with its sharp headlight signature and entrance bumper. The chrome entrance grille can look somewhat gaudy, nonetheless it definitely does add presence.
Rear styling has additionally taken a step ahead with the tail-end taking design inspiration from the Kia Sportage and Land Rover Discovery, whereas the standard-fit 18-inch wheels add a cultured contact.
Inside, the aware push to look extra upmarket is arguably much more clear, with a cultured and minimalist format that has saved extra buttons and panels to a minimal.
Even the match and end is commendable for what’s a price range automobile – beautiful leather-based trim with distinction stitching runs throughout the dashboard, and is sustained on the centre console, steering wheel and seats.
The one apparent draw back to the clear and minimalist inside is it hampers usability, with just some choose air-conditioning features accessible on the contact of a button, with practically every thing else contained inside the touchscreen.
For instance, partaking the heated seats requires not less than three clicks by a sequence of sub-menus to activate, making operation of the automotive extra distracting than it must be.
Being a budget-friendly automobile, the infotainment system on the Lux misses out on options like DAB+ digital radio and satellite tv for pc navigation, nonetheless commonplace Apple CarPlay goes a way in direction of fixing that drawback.
The system is in any other case pretty simple to function, however a couple of choose shortcut buttons would go a good distance in direction of bettering usability.
The digital instrument cluster incorporates a good degree of configurability, whereas the steering wheel comprises the standard suite of buttons.
Seating dimensions are very roomy for each entrance and rear passengers, whereas there are big quantities of storage within the centre storage unit and transmission tunnel.
With a minimal of 600 litres on provide, boot house is beneficiant for a medium SUV, and might be expanded to 1485L with the 60:40 split-fold rear seats stowed.
As talked about, all variations of the H6 are powered by a 150kW/320Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder mill teamed to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated, within the case of the Lux driving the entrance wheels solely.
These outputs present loads of go for a automotive of this dimension, even to the purpose that the entrance wheels can get overwhelmed within the moist or in any other case slippery circumstances. Our automobile skilled some torque steer and wheel slip when accelerating away from the lights within the moist, regardless of solely modest throttle enter.
Steering calibration is somewhat on the imprecise and sluggish aspect, and will do with each a sharper and extra direct tune in addition to some weightier and extra responsive suggestions, nonetheless that’s solely a minor criticism.
Haval has completed a superb job with the experience high quality of the brand new H6, offering a snug tune that handles bumps and imperfections properly.
The snug tune does not likely translate to a sporty dealing with really feel, with an total impression of a automotive with a comparatively excessive centre of gravity and no nice sportscar-like aspirations.
In the identical means that manufacturers like Hyundai and Kia exponentially improved their merchandise all through the 2000s, we’re within the midst of an identical transcendent shift with Chinese language marques like Haval.
The H6 is proof that the hole is narrowing – there are nonetheless some parts the place the Chinese language car-maker falls behind, however with a value vary of $30,990-38,990 driveaway, the worth it represents is tough to disregard.
2021 Haval H6 driveaway pricing*
| Premium 2WD (a) | $30,990 |
| Lux 2WD (a) | $33,990 |
| Extremely 2WD (a) | $36,990 |
| Extremely AWD (a) | $38,990 |
