108 wheelsmag.com.au
WITH the weight of expectation riding on its elevated
shoulders, we approached the Haval H6 wide-eyed
and full of beans. As the biggest-selling SUV in China
(580,000 in 2016) and the first Chinese-brand car to
ever feature in a Wheels comparison test, it marks a
historic moment in motoring.
This ‘premium’ SUV from the Great Wall empire is
no bargain-basement knock-off. Sure, the glasshouse
looks a little Range Rover Evoque-esque, but it
succeeds in yielding more kit for your coin than its
rivals, and the H6 carries a promising mechanical spec.
Packing a powerful 145kW/315Nm 2.0-litre turbo-
petrol four tied to a Getrag six-speed dual-clutch ’box,
plus enough cabin acreage to rival a warehouse, the H6
Premium brings sufficient spec-sheet swagger to make
its $30K driveaway sticker temptingly persuasive.
But it doesn’t take much digging to reveal the H6’s
true colours. Beneath its wafer-thin upmarket veneer
hides the bones of a much older Great Wall SUV
dating back to 2011. And while the H6’s acceptably
refined engine and reasonable seat comfort give it
some semblance of respectability, it has so many rough
edges it’s virtually saw-toothed.
The H6’s interior works on a superficial level – much
like its ride quality on relatively smooth roads – until
you start poking and prodding its switchgear, exposing
an inconsistent lack of quality and attention to detail.
Its cheap touchscreen disperses a rainbow of
colour from your finger every time you press it, while
shuffling through Standard, Sport or ‘Economic’ drive
modes (to alter steering weight, transmission and
throttle calibrations) is accompanied by a microwave-
like ‘ding’. And another one five seconds later! But
only if you’re doing less than 100km/h. Above that
speed, the Haval locks you out of any drive-mode
selection, and into an unsettling ride that’s barelycontained by its judicious ESC system.
Aspects of the H6’s dynamics are a reminder of
what HQ-HX Holdens used to drive like. Turn in well
before a corner to account for front-end lean and
steering vagueness, then moderate throttle inputs to
limit plough understeer. Except that the Haval isn’t
as predictable as a pre-RTS Kingswood, with little
cohesion between its front and rear ends.
Get your trajectory wrong and you’re more likely
to startle oncoming traffic than the inside of a corner,
and any sudden steering movements are greeted with
severe intervention from its ESC that lasts several
seconds. That the hazard lights switch on every time
you brake and steer at the same time speaks volumes
about the H6’s handling shortcomings.
The steering is disconnected and oddly weighted,
like two bags of sand suspended from either end of a
rope, each fighting to point the H6 straight. In overly
hefty Sport mode, it’s even worse.
On a bumpy surface, the H6’s suspension and
steering each shimmy to the beat of a different Tina
Turner hit, equally flummoxed by what to do, and
when you want to pull up, the wooden-feeling brakes
offer neither decent retardation or confidence.
And the list goes on. The Haval’s thirst for fuel
is the least of its problems, given that we’ve driven
prototypes that feel eons closer to engineering sign-off
than this. All the lounging cabin space and warranty
coverage in the world have little chance of salvaging a
car with the active-safety handicap of a Haval H6. NP$29,990*
Engine
1967cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo
Power
145kW @ 5200rpm
Torque
315Nm @ 2000rpm
Transmission
6-speed dual-clutch
Dimensions
(L/W/H/W-B)
4549/1835/1700/2720mm
Weight
1715kg
Cargo capacity
400 litres
Tyres
Cooper Discoverer HTS
225/65R17 102H
Fuel consumption
13.3L /100km (tested)
0-60km/h
4.6sec
0-100km/h
10.0sec
0-400m
17.2sec @ 133.0km/h
30-70km/h
3.7sec
80-120km/h
7.5sec
100km /h-0
40.3m
3yr resale
50%
✔ Rear-seat room; warranty
✘ Dire dynamics; little
finesse; heavy and thirsty
* DriveawaySPECS
BIG TROUBLE IN MAINLAND CHINA
SCORE Haval H6 Premium
9
TH
2.0/ 10