This could’ve changed things for the brand here. Shame.
Chinese marque Haval might not be quite as mainstream as they’d like on our shores, but there’s no denying that the company is gaining more and more traction, with decent (if not stellar) sales and surprisingly satisfied customers. However, like all Chinese brands, Haval struggles with an image problem that is attributed largely to the fact that it’s Chinese.
Their latest offering, the H4 SUV, could have changed that perception if it were offered outside their domestic market. With pretty handsome styling, impressive technology, and two turbocharged petrol mills, the H4 has all the makings of something that would do rather well in the mid-sized SUV segment internationally.
Under the bonnet you’ll find either a 1.3-litre or 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-pot petrol, offering 102kW/225Nm and 124kW/285m respectively. It wasn’t mentioned if the car had all-paw traction (but front-wheel drive is likely), but Haval did say that the car gets a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
With a total length of 4420mm, a width of 1845mm, and a height of 1695mm riding on a 2660 wheelbase, the Haval H4 inhabits a space between its own H2 compact crossover and H6, or for better perspective, between a Honda HR-V and CR-V. Surprisingly, for a Haval, the design of the H4 is not only contemporary, but rather tasteful, including the large corporate grille that in this iteration, does not require getting used to.
And inside, Haval is touting a “high-tech interior,” with headlining features including a 12-inch “floating” infotainment screen, and a totally-digital instrument cluster, which looks like a cross between the systems found in Volkswagen and Peugeot offerings (not that we mind).
There are even advanced driver assistance systems like a 360º supervision camera, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and all-round parking sensors. There’s even something called ‘Haval Connected,’ a telematics system that has smartphone mirroring, security monitoring, and permits remote vehicle diagnosis.
However, Haval Australia has clarified that the H4 is “only being produced for consumption in the Chinese market” (which is a weird way to say it), which is a shame. Could’ve been a game-changer for them here.
For more information on Haval, check out our Showroom.
