Review - Haval H6

With drive-away prices from just $30,990, the H6 manages to undercut a number of its key competitors on price, with the company claiming its latest SUV lineup has the ability to outpace even the most established family SUVs in the segment, while undercutting them on price. 

The problem for the H6, though, is that any new entrants into the midsize SUV segment are forced to take a baptism of fire, going up against the likes of the Toyota RAV-4, Mazda CX-5, MG HS, Honda CR-V and the Ford Escape. With competition this stiff, how well does the H6 assert itself into Australia’s midsize SUV lineup, and what - if any - sacrifices are you going to make stepping into the cut-price option, in the form of the Haval H6, over its competitors? 

Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $30,990

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Haval H6 (PREMIUM) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Haval H6 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

Drive-away prices for the Haval H6 range kick off from $30,990 for the entry-level H6 Premium, with prices jumping to $33,990 for the H6 Lux, and to $36,990 for the H6 Ultra trim level. For those looking for an all-wheel drive H6 variant, the Haval H6 Ultra all-wheel drive is priced from $38,990. 

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What Features Does the Haval H6 Have?

The entry-level Haval H6 Premium comes riding on a set of 18-inch alloy wheels, and receives a set of LED headlights, including LED tail lights and daytime running lamps, single-zone climate control with second-row air vents, powered windows, keyless entry and start, cloth interior upholstery, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display as well as a 10.25-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a host of active safety technologies that we’ll cover later in this review. 

Opting for the H6 Lux variant adds a set of LED fog lights on the front, as well as a set of roof rails, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with faux leather interior upholstery, heated front seats with an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera system, rear privacy glass, upgraded eight-speaker sound system, front-mounted parking sensors as well as an automatic anti-glare rear-view mirror.

Moving to the H6 Ultra for either the front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive H6 variant adds a set of 19-inch alloys, a heated steering wheel with heated and ventilated front seats, semi-autonomous parking assistance, a 12.3-inch infotainment system, driver’s head-up display, ambient lighting package, automatic boot lift, panoramic sunroof, wireless smartphone charging and four-way adjustable passenger seat. 

Range Features: 

• 18-inch alloy wheels 

• 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 

• 10.25-inch digital driver’s display 

• LED headlights, tail lights and daytime running lamps

• Keyless entry & start 

• Cloth upholstery 

• Single-zone climate control 

• Front-mounted parking sensors (Lux) 

• Roof rails (Lux) 

• LED fog lights (Lux) 

• Faux leather interior (Lux) 

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel (Lux) 

• Heated front seats (Lux) 

• Surround-view camera (Lux) 

• 19-inch alloy wheels (Ultra) 

• 12.3-inch infotainment system (Ultra) 

• Head-up display (Ultra) 

• Semi-autonomous parking assistance (Ultra) 

• Ambient lighting (Ultra) 

• Powered boot lift (Ultra) 

• Panoramic sunroof (Ultra) 

• Heated steering wheel with heated and ventilated front seats  (Ultra) 

• Wireless smartphone charging (Ultra) 

Haval H6 (MKY) Colours

Is it Comfortable to Drive? 

In recent years, midsize SUVs have become significantly more sophisticated when it comes to everyday driving comfort, offering the benefits of a large SUV while maintaining the sense that the driver is actually piloting a much smaller, more agile vehicle. In this regard, Haval has done an exceptionally great job in making the H6 feel like a modern, competitive entrant into the fiercely competitive world of midsize SUVs, managing to hold its own against a barrage from its rivals and only missing the mark on a few small details. 

The entire H6 range makes do with the same engine, in the form of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit fitted with a turbocharger that produces 150kW and 320Nm of torque. Translated to English, this means that you’ve got more than enough power to get you up to speed in a familiar manner to its main rivals, which makes the H6 an extremely user-friendly and effortless daily driver. Commuting around town is made easy by the lightweight steering rack that makes the H6 easy to navigate through the city and maneuver through three-point turns, as well as making the process of squeezing into tight car parks a simple task. Power from the engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that works fabulously providing silky-smooth and rapid shifts, although the transmission is prone to misbehaving while driving slowly. This isn’t unique to the H6, though, with similar problems arising in a number of family-bred commuters that receive a dual-clutch transmission over something like a torque-converter automatic. 

Overall, though, the H6’s engine and transmission combination offer the driver more than enough power for a relaxing commute or a long distance journey, which is made even more appealing by the fact Haval has fitted the H6 with suspension that can handle Australian road conditions. Too often, new entrants to the SUV market fall short when it comes to handling the rough-and-tumble of Australia’s road conditions, however the H6 remains compliant and composed when the smooth city streets end, and the going gets tough. While there’s some noticeable body roll when you move through the corners, overall, the H6 remains comfortable and stable to pilot over irregular road surfaces, with only a small disturbance transmitted to the cabin over large potholes. 

In terms of the H6’s overall driving dynamic, it remains a comfortable family commuter and long distance tourer, which is made even more impressive by the extremely reasonable drive-away prices and value on offer. In a direct head-to-head with its major competitors, the H6 fails to lead the pack, but as a value-for-money proposition, the H6 is an extremely user-friendly and comfortable family-mover. 

Is the Haval H6 Practical and Spacious? 

Stepping inside the H6, the driver and front passenger are treated to a modern, sleek and stylish cockpit that has eliminated a number of physical buttons in favour of a more practical cabin. The design has been well executed by Haval, with a front cabin that welcomes the driver to a technologically-advanced cockpit design that looks more futuristic than a number of the H6’s key competitors. The elimination of a number of physical buttons, too, has allowed Haval to incorporate more storage options for the front of the cabin, which gives the H6 a material advantage over some key rivals when it comes to cabin space and practicality. 

Up front, the front of the cabin features the usual set of door bins to accommodate large drink bottles, while the centre console features a large folding armrest with storage underneath, a set of cup holders and another storage area that doubles as a wireless smartphone charger in higher-spec models. It keeps getting better, though, with another layer of storage hiding underneath the centre console for added space and practicality. 

 The dashboard has been designed to sit quite low, giving the driver a great view out the front of the cabin, flanked by a set of digital screens, one for the driving instruments and one for the infotainment system. The steering wheel and driving position is fully-adjustable, allowing smaller drivers to get a better view of the road, or for taller drivers to sink deeper into the cabin for a more comfortable drive. All up, the front of the H6’s cabin is a well-executed piece of design that provides the driver and front passenger with a heap of space and practical elements for the loose items that growing families often accumulate. 

Moving to the rear of the cabin, you’ll find a comfortable bench seat with a heap of both leg and headroom for passengers in the rear. The H6 absolutely meets the standard for the midsize SUV segment when it comes to legroom, offering everyone from kids, teenagers to full-sized adults enough room to stretch out and get comfortable for longer journeys. There’s no issues when it comes to headroom and the amount of shoulder-to-shoulder width in the H6’s cabin, making it a perfect place to accommodate a growing family. 

You might think that the comfortable seating arrangement in the second-row has translated to a smaller-than-average boot. We’re glad to report, though, that the H6 actually has some of the largest boot capacity of the segment, with around 600L on offer with the rear-seats standing, which expands to 1,485L with those seats folded down. Compared to its major rivals, the H6 outperforms the Mazda CX-5 (442L), Honda CR-V (522L) and the Toyota RAV-4 (580L) when it comes to boot space, making it one of the most spacious and practical midsize SUVs for the family currently on the market. For those growing families, you’ll be glad to know that the H6 range offers easily-accessible ISOFIX anchor and top tether points in the rear of the cabin that can accommodate a pair of child seats. 

Is it Safe? 

The Haval H6 range is yet to be tested by ANCAP, however, Haval is hoping to soften the blow for buyers by offering a huge range of active safety technologies in all H6 variants. This means that the entry-level H6 Premium comes packaged with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warnings with lane-keep assistance, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warnings, a reversing camera with rear mounted parking sensors, safe exit warnings and a heap of airbags. 

Opting for higher-spec H6 variants adds a set of front-mounted parking sensors, surround-view camera, semi-autonomous parking assistance, rear cross-traffic alerts and an adaptive cruise control system. 

Is the Haval H6 Fuel Efficient?

Haval says that front-wheel drive variants of its turbocharged four-cylinder engine are rated at 7.4L per 100km on a combined cycle, while the all-wheel drive variant is rated at 8.3L per 100km. Real-world driving conditions will likely see these figures rise to around 9 and 10L per 100km respectively, depending on your daily commute and driving style. All up, the economy on offer in the H6 is reasonable considering its power output, but lacks the fuel efficiency of a number of its key rivals, as well as lacks a hybrid option for those looking for a petrol-electric variant. 

Our Verdict: Is the Haval H6 Worth it? 

In terms of the question we posed at the beginning of this review, there are remarkably few sacrifices that buyers opting for the Haval H6 will have to make if opting for one of the cheapest midsize SUVs on the Australian market. Haval has done a great job in keeping up with the fast pace of its competitors, with a family SUV that behaves remarkably well on the road that also receives an extremely handsome interior design. 

When you consider just how many features Haval is throwing into even the entry-level H6, the value for money proposition becomes even clearer, making the H6 one of the best options for families looking for a budget-friendly SUV. If you haven’t already, make sure that the H6 has a spot on your shortlist while shopping around for family-friendly midsize SUVs. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year unlimited-KM warranty 

2. 12-month/15,000km service intervals 

3. Five years of servicing priced at $1,560

4. No official ANCAP safety rating yet

5. 600L boot; expands to 1,485L 

Pros 

• Slick interior design 

• Comfortable and capable suspension for Australian roads 

• Feature-packed with generous prices

• Great ownership program with long warranties and cheap servicing costs 

Cons

• Dual-clutch transmission can lurch at low speeds

• Underwhelming fuel economy 

• Lack of hybrid or diesel variant 

OnlineAuto Rating: 7.5/10

Haval H6 Competition