GWM Haval H6 – Premium Experience Without The Premium Price Tag

If you find yourself shopping for a C-segment SUV, I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes. There are just so many to choose from, and lately, more and more buyers are putting price and specification above brand loyalty. But even then, the potential shopping list is not exactly short. Take the GWM Haval H6 we had on test for a week as an example. Just within this one model line-up, you can choose between two powertrains and various trim levels.

The Haval H6 falls under the GWM (Great Wall Motor) brand and is no longer the new kid on the block. In fact, the first H6 was launched in South Africa in 2017, and the car has come very far from its humble beginnings. Over the years, it has grown in size and stature, and in its latest incarnation, it is a worthy competitor in this segment.

The H6 follows the basic design cues of an SUV, but now features a more pronounced grille and vertically mounted fog lamps. At the back, the Haval name has now been replaced by the GWM badge. The car rides on 19-inch alloy wheels, giving it quite a commanding stance.

We had the 4WD 2.0-litre Turbo model on test, which is the top-spec petrol model. The engine pushes out 170 kW of power and 380 Nm of torque. There is also a hybrid version available, which utilises a 1.5-litre Turbo engine in conjunction with electric motors. This combination produces an impressive 179 kW of power and 530 Nm of torque.

I was quite surprised at how well the H6 accelerates. That is, of course, once the power delivery committee has deliberated over your sudden requirement for speed and cast their votes. If you bury your foot in the carpet, the car does not immediately react. It really is as if all the electronics are first having a meeting to decide whether you actually did put your foot down. But once past the decision-making stage, the H6 does take off with vigour. Having nine gears to go through, you will have to keep an eye on the speedometer, as the engine only begins to sound strained when you are already going way above the speed limit. Don’t do that too often, though, as you will pay the price at the pumps. Over the week of using the car, I could never get the consumption below 12 L/100km.

The H6 is a big car, and that translates into a very spacious cabin. The seats are comfortable, electrically adjustable in every direction, and even have adjustable lumbar support. The steering wheel can be adjusted up, down, forward, and back, so fine-tuning your driving position is effortless. The seats can also be cooled or heated, depending on the weather. Rear passengers have ample legroom and should be very comfortable on long journeys.

The tailgate opens electrically to reveal 520 litres of space. It comes with a retractable cover which hides your belongings from prying eyes. Under the floor of the boot sits a space-saver spare wheel, which might be a minor concern for some buyers.

In front of the driver is a small 10.5-inch TFT screen that shows all the important trip information. The model we had on test also featured a heads-up display for speed and lane-assist warnings. To the left of the driver is the ubiquitous, massive infotainment screen. GWM did leave a few physical buttons for basic functions, but as is the bugbear with these modern systems, the one you use most often is usually buried somewhere in a sub-menu of a sub-menu that can only be found by a tech-savvy teenager.

The infotainment screen does connect wirelessly to both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but that just makes matters worse. Once Google Maps is up on the screen, there is no way for you to quickly adjust the fan speed or temperature. There are always the voice-activated commands you can give the car, but to me, that is just annoying. Then again, this is not a problem exclusive to GWM cars; it is the new industry trend, and we will probably just have to get used to it.

While this particular model had a 4WD badge on the back, I was certainly not going to try it out on a serious off-road track. Personally, I think the all-wheel-drive system will be most useful for finding traction on the occasional sandy road or muddy track.

On the road, the H6 is a joy to drive. Once you get used to the throttle and how to feed in the power, it delivers a rewarding experience. It has a decent sound system and a huge panoramic sunroof. It’s really a car I could easily live with, and I think it would be lovely to take on a long road trip. The only decision left is whether you prefer the (cheaper) petrol version or the hybrid version. Either way, you are getting a lot of car for your money!

GWM Haval H6 Range & Pricing

For more information, visit: www.gwm.co.za