Haval H6 2.0T FWD: Competing with co-national compact crossovers

By Ghaith Madadha - Feb 28,2022 - Last updated at Feb 28,2022

Photos courtesy of Haval

Introduced globally in the same year that parent company Great Wall Motors and its Haval SUV brand re-launched in Jordanian, the third generation Haval H6 is another of many compact and mid-size Chinese crossovers gaining local popularity.

With sharp modern styling for its third iteration, plenty of tech and convenience features, and a powerful turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the Haval H6 follows a familiar formula that seems well-executed for the most part, if not exceptionally so, in its well-populated, highly competitive and family-oriented segment.

Assertive update

Competing against co-national crossovers like the Changan CS75, MG HS and Geely Azkarra or others like the Nissan X-Trail, the third Generation H6 is built on the brand’s new “Lemon” platform.

Similar in design to the second generation H6, the newer model trades its predecessor’s horizontally slatted grille for a more up-market wire-mesh design, and gains sharper lines, creases and surfacing for a fresher, sportier and distinctly more assertive aesthetic. Its front bumper meanwhile features triangular gill-like elements and more jutting motifs.

Offered with either 1.5- or 2-litre turbocharged direct injection 4-cylinder engines in different market, the Jordanian specification H6 receives the latter, larger and more powerful engine, albeit in front-wheel-drive guise, rather than front-biased four-wheel-drive, as available elsewhere. Developing 201BHP at a relatively high revving 6,000-6,300rpm and 236lb/ft torque at a broad 1,500-4,000rpm plateau, the H6’s output is channelled through a slick and succinct shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automated gearbox with various driving modes, including manual mode gear selection, via steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Slick and quick

Quick and smooth through gears, the Haval H6’s gearbox works well with its quick-spooling turbocharged engine to all but eliminate the turbo lag that is often symptomatic of small powerful forced induction engines. When deliberately selecting high gears and low revs, there is obviously some turbo lag, but rarely so in the H6’s default auto mode. Meaty and muscular in mid-range, the H6’s engine is confident and quick accelerating on inclines, and pulls smoothly and eagerly to its rev limit.

An eager performer on city roads as family crossovers of its segment go, the Haval H6 overtakes with quick confidence and pulls hard from low down and right to its peak power band. The front-driven H6 is estimated to be able to carry its approximate 1,590kg weight through the 0-100km/h benchmark in around 8.5-second and onto somewhere in the region of a 190km/h top speed. Meanwhile, braking ability was reassuring, and fuel consumption is estimated at a comparatively moderate 8l/100km, combined.

Driving dynamic

With front wheels momentarily scrambling for traction when launching hard from standstill or a rolling start as it channels so much torque through the same wheels responsible for steering, the H6 is susceptible to some torque-steer on low traction tarmac and some under-steer if coming back on throttle too early or aggressively in tight corners. Best driven with smoothly applied inputs, the H6 is nevertheless aided by stability and traction control, and rear cross-path, blind spot and lane departure warning systems.

Driven perhaps too briefly to draw final conclusions about dynamic limits and characteristics at such point, it was, however, evident that the H6 is tidy and comparatively nimble through corners when driven more sympathetically, but susceptible to under-steer if driven more aggressively. Its steering was meanwhile light and quick, but lacked the feedback to draw a particularly nuanced feel for the road, or the car’s exact position through hard driven corners. The H6’s high bonnet meanwhile adds to a perception of width.

Settled and spacious

Smooth, settled and well-insulated from road and engine noise, the H6 meanwhile seemed to well-control body lean through corners during a short test drive. Also gripping well at the rear — albeit under less than demanding condition — the H6 was notable for feeling settled and buttoned down when dismounting road bumps. That said, the H6 may well well-control vertical movements, but it rides slightly firm over common road imperfections, and becomes more pronounced over larger, more sudden lumps, bumps, cracks and pothole.

Refined and quiet inside for the most part, speed bump “thunking” sounds are, however, more noticeable than expected. Nevertheless, the H6’s cabin is a relaxing and more up-market affair than anticipated, with pleasantly modern styling, trim, rotary gear selector and tablet-style instrument screen.

Featuring good quality leathers for its class, textures meanwhile include some soft and some hard surfaces. Accommodating inside, the H6 is sufficiently spacious for tall rear passengers, accommodates 600-litre luggage space and features many mod cons, including 360° parking camera.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS