It actually is sort of a very good time to be available in the market for a mid-priced SUV, with the sector being full of what appears to be a plethora of choices from a rising checklist of contemporary gamers. Most ply the same old powertrain paths we’ve seen of late, however shock, hybrids are actually becoming a member of the fray in a much bigger manner than anticipated.
Deemed an retro pattern not too way back, it appears there may be nonetheless validity to it as a bridging measure within the march in the direction of electrification, as proven by Honda’s efforts on that entrance. Whereas the class won’t ever be the main mild, it does present these curious concerning the new vitality frontier a method to dip their toes in and pattern a little bit of the long run in an incremental method.
Nice Wall Motor is the following to supply its perception that there’s a relevance to hybrids, with the model set to formally launch the Haval H6 HEV as its subsequent entry within the Malaysian market. The Haval nameplate isn’t new, after all, however the car that reboots it right here is much faraway from the outdated.
It has after all been a very long time coming, the SUV. Having been previewed right here greater than a 12 months in the past, the expectation was for an introduction final 12 months. After a good bit of dallying, together with the cutting down of two variants to one, it’s lastly set to reach.
Whereas will probably be a domestically assembled (CKD) mannequin to roll out of the EPMB facility in Melaka, the Haval H6 HEV will first go on sale with an preliminary run of 100 totally imported (CBU) models earlier than switching over to the CKD model. The native automobiles will retain the identical specs because the preliminary CBU batch. Forward of its arrival, GWM Malaysia held a drive occasion to pattern the hybrid over a drive to Johor Bahru and again, providing a primary take a look at the way it shapes up.
Sizable, in type and in equipment
A recap of what to anticipate. The H6 measures in 4,683 mm lengthy, 1,886 mm vast and 1,730 mm tall, placing it in the identical dimension group because the current section chief, the Honda CR-V, in addition to the Proton X70 and Mazda CX-5, albeit with an extended wheelbase (2,738 mm) than the aforementioned trio.
In line with the place it comes from, the overall strains bear traces of design components seen in fairly a number of of its contemporaries, together with a rear mild bar, however its form is nice and the SUV falls straightforward on the attention from many angles. Exterior styling cues embody a ‘Star Matrix’ chrome pin entrance grille and 19-inch black alloy wheels wrapped with 225/55R19 Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 SUV tyres.
Customary exterior bits on the H6 – which can go on sale right here in its higher-spec Extremely type – embody computerized matrix LED headlights, LED daytime operating lights, LED entrance and rear fog lights and a power-adjustable rear tailgate with foot sensor operation. As for exterior colors, 5 can be found, these being Solar Black, Vitality Inexperienced, Hamilton White, Ayers Silver and a hero shade known as Crayon Gray.
Inside, highlights embody a three-layer dashboard, full with rose gold colored accent trim that separates the highest and backside halves visually. The rose gold theme additionally carries over to the steering wheel trim and door panel components, whereas further trim is introduced in piano black. Regardless of not being tremendous premium when it comes to visuals, total match of the supplies is sweet.
Cream is the reduction shade, and there’s loads of it, from the headliner and centre console (which has been designed to double up as a centre armrest) to the distinction components on the fake leather-based seats. The chosen color does add airiness to the cabin, however questions stay as to the way it will maintain up through the years, particularly in excessive visitors areas such because the centre armrest.
Show panels encompass a ten.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen unit for the infotainment system. The one mechanical switches to be discovered are seven buttons at the forefront of the centre console, organized in a piano-key fashion, and the gearshift is of a rotary dial selection.
The usual gear checklist consists of dual-zone local weather management, rear air-con vents, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a Qi wi-fi charger and an eight-speaker audio system in addition to a panoramic glass sunroof, head-up show and a ‘boss seat’ shoulder change on the entrance passenger seat.
Additionally to be discovered is ambient lighting, ventilated and powered (six-way driver, four-way passenger) entrance seats, an digital parking brake, a negative-ion air cleaner system and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity.
House and security
By way of cabin area, the rear part of the H6 exhibits how the competitors has caught up with the Honda CR-V, which for the longest time supplied essentially the most perceptible quantity of room. Whereas it’s not as expansive as say, the Leapmotor C10 (which is a section up, and competing within the EV area), there’s loads of knee room on this one.
A phrase about seat consolation. No complaints on the again, however the entrance models didn’t appear to supply sufficient assist in key areas. A part of it might be all the way down to the brief seat size, highlighted much more over the prolonged time spent in them over the drive. This statement wasn’t remoted, as a result of my co-driver seen the identical factor, as did a few of these from different publications after we in contrast notes.
Boot area is rated at 560 litres, which is sort of ample given the section it sits in, however should you want extra cargo space, folding the rear seats expands the amount to 1,485 litres.
As for security and driver help equipment, you get six airbags, a 360-degree digicam, a parking help system and an ADAS suite providing objects corresponding to autonomous emergency braking (AEB), full-speed adaptive cruise management, visitors jam help, rear cross visitors alert, lane change help and a Knowledge Dodge System, which actively maintains a protected distance from massive autos.
Hybrid coronary heart
Basically, the Haval HEV powertrain unit works in a lot the identical method as Honda’s second era i-DCD hybrid system, with energy being transferred to the wheels by way of the automaker’s two-speed Devoted Hybrid Transmission (DHT). Throughout operation, the electrical motor offers the principle technique of propulsion, with the engine coming into play at increased speeds – the system chooses which to make use of relying on the scenario.
The inner combustion engine is a GW4B15D 1.5 litre turbocharged four-pot, which gives 150 PS at 5,500 to six,000 rpm and 230 Nm of twist from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. On the coronary heart of the drive motor meeting is a TZ220X permanent-magnet synchronous motor, which develops 130 PS and 300 Nm.
Whole most system output is rated at 243 PS and 530 Nm, despatched to the entrance wheels. At 7.7 seconds, acceleration time from standstill to 100 km/h is brisk sufficient, ok to provide it a transparent nod over the CR-V RS e:HEV’s 9 seconds.
Loads of punch
In use, the system feels very succesful, and seamlessly so at that, the transitions to engine and again to electrification completed in imperceptible style. Likewise, the way in which the engine pulls up the velocity register – there’s no lurching or dips, and if something, appears like an ample naturally-aspirated mill in the way it places the facility to the wheels. As such, development is linear, and fluidly so. Excessive marks right here.
Much less so is how the automotive itself responds to exhausting pushes, with a hint of what can finest described as a slight judder operating throughout the car below exhausting acceleration. It’s not torque steer per se, as a result of nothing comes throughout by way of the steering, however somewhat translated right into a quivering really feel because the automotive makes an attempt to construct up velocity rapidly. It’s solely current if you apply full load on to the powertrain and when operating on the higher limits of its velocity functionality, so most house owners are hardly more likely to discover.
As is now changing into commonplace as of late, the suspension set-up for the H6 has been recalibrated for export markets, and it was talked about in passing that the tuning on this case mirrors that seen on Australian H6s. It’s a particular step up from that skilled in China earlier this 12 months, with considerably much less wallow and bounce within the total journey.
It’s nonetheless on the smooth aspect into corners, however on the entire, the presentation feels agency sufficient to go well with native tastes, and that composure is usually maintained up the velocity register, though right here, it’s lacking the sophistication and journey compliance introduced by one thing like the brand new CR-V, exhibiting that whereas it’s very respectable, it’s not all fairly there but. Likewise, elements of total noise ranges, which is suitable however nowhere close to class main.
Whereas the quoted gas consumption is a claimed 5.8 litres per 100 km, the drive yielded a quantity nearly double that (round 9 to 10 litres/100 km) on the journey laptop, unsurprising given the excessive mixture of congested routes and lots of free-spirited runs revamped the course of all the drive, the latter particularly on the return leg. The tank nonetheless had a lot to go by on the finish of it although, so it needs to be fairly economical over the long term.
The standard anomalies, and a few peculiarities
Away from the sterling powertrain behaviour and skill to achieve tempo cleanly, there are some areas the place there may be much less gloss. These largely mirror that seen on different Chinese language choices, and are centred round braking, the reliance on the touchscreen for some key changes and the way the ADAS works.
With the brakes, no points with really feel and power hauling up from increased speeds, however the modulation at decrease speeds will want a good bit of foot coaching – it’s the type the place should you hold it mild, it doesn’t cease as quick as you need it, whereas including extra stress ends in it catching a bit an excessive amount of.
In the meantime, you’ll need to get used to utilizing the display to regulate local weather management settings, which actually is tedium that a number of guide switches or controls can simply clear up.
As for the ADAS, effectively, apart from the same old audible bash of beeps and chimes prevalent elsewhere, the system additionally intrudes on driving efficiency, with objects corresponding to lane maintaining help at all times able to appropriate you want a stern disciplinary grasp. After all, you may disengage issues, however the thought needs to be to have them ever current from a security perspective. Based mostly on the sampling, and never simply with this one, extra work must be achieved. By everybody, actually.
A peculiarity that you simply as a purchaser would possibly or not thoughts is the way in which the steering wheel is positioned – the marginally upward angle of unit is paying homage to a lorry or pick-up truck. The actual inclination does imply that getting the perfect view of the instrument show panel out of your seating place might be a little bit of a problem.
The opposite oddity centres across the cruise management system, for which entry to isn’t by way of buttons on the steering wheel however a separate change stick, positioned on the decrease left aspect of the wheel. It really works effectively sufficient from a purposeful facet, however feels considerably incongruous given the shortage of switchgear elsewhere.
Value-effective practicality and effectivity
The H6 HEV properly brings the Haval nameplate again to a brand new viewers, and by all accounts the SUV ought to make new pals. It’s effectively geared up, drives effectively in areas that matter, has numerous area and is not any slouch on the transfer (that powertrain is sort of the performer), components that ought to serve it effectively within the family-oriented area it’s battling in.
It additionally comes with a 10-year or 1,000,000 km car guarantee and a eight-year or 1,000,000 km (whichever comes first) powertrain guarantee for its HEV system, together with its Devoted Hybrid Transmission (DHT), excessive voltage battery and cable in addition to the transmission management unit, which is a particular plus.
For these taking a look at one thing alongside hybrid strains, its pricing – stated to be below RM145,000 – also needs to make it a worthy consideration. Whereas it might lack the nth diploma of journey and dealing with refinement of the CR-V RS e:HEV (and Proton X70), it’s value remembering that it’s a good RM50k lower than the previous. On the hybrid to hybrid scale, that’s no small factor.
GALLERY: 2024 GWM Haval H6 HEV, show gallery
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