An all-new Haval H6 has broken cover and will be taking the reins from its immediate predecessor which was a strong seller in its home market. It expects to gain new customers with this new model, due to arrive in local showrooms within the next year.
Chinese car brand Haval, under Great Wall Motors, has always just focused on SUVs, or at least seemed entirely disinterested in the typical passenger car. It’s only been around for 4 years as an off shoot from its parent company and started selling cars in Australia 2 years ago.
Though we here have had encounters with the H6, this new model departs from the previous version’s more coupe-like styling and is instead shaped more like a conventional SUV. This is due to the H6 sold locally was known as the H6 Coupe in China, which will still continue to be produced alongside this new ‘full-size’ H6.
In terms of the competition it will face here, any new contender in this space will have a tough time fending off the appeal of the Mazda CX-5, Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Tucson, and Toyota RAV4. But Haval is banking on its lower price and generous amount of standard equipment to direct customers its way.
The H6 itself looks smartly styled, even premium-looking, and in fact was penned by former BMW designer Pierre Leclercq. Inside, the visuals and materials were developed to give an upmarket feel, with clean lines, sedate palette of colours, minimal layout, a 7-inch central infotainment screen, and a huge 12-inch digital instrument cluster.
Under the bonnet lies a new engine for Haval, a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, which will join their more familiar 2.0-litre turbo petrol that develops 145kW and 315Nm. Drive for both motors is sent through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission developed with Getrag.
Following its official premiere in April at the Shanghai Motor Show, more details on the H6, including that more efficient engine, will be available.
