Haval H2 vs Nissan Qashqai vs Toyota RAV4: here's our winner.

Haval H2 vs Nissan Qashqai vs Toyota RAV4: here's our winner.

Haval H2

The Haval H2 is one of the smallest SUVs produced by the Chinese automaker. It plays in a busy segment that’s filled with the likes of the Hyundai Kona, the Mazda CX-3 and the Honda HR-V, but does it offer than just a good price?

The Haval brand is picking up in South Africa and has the potential to become very big in SA in a few years. After all, they are owned by China’s largest SUV maker – Great Wall Motors, and anything that is considered big in Chinese terms is huge. I’m sure you’ve seen their wall…?

If you’ve been SUV shopping then you would’ve noticed that the H2 comes in at a price cheaper than its rivals, but are you getting what you pay for?

It’s no doubt that the H2 is quite a looker, and of course, it would as BMW’s former head of design Pierre Leclercq, led the H2’s styling team, but is let down by driveability and some refinement. Compared to rivals, it’s very well specced with things like a full-sized spare, sunroof and good rear legroom. But when you look to the C-HR, the Kona or the CX-3, these brands have set the standard for driving experience and build quality which the H2 doesn’t quite measure up to.

The H2 measures in at 4335mm long, 1814mm wide and 1695mm tall, and is bigger than many of its rivals. The Kona’s length measures in at 4165mm, while the HR-V is 4294mm long and the CX-3 is 4275mm end-to-end. Here, the C-HR trumps all of them for its length of 4360mm.

The interior refinement in the H2 is not on the levels of its Japanese rivals and could be improved. However, the cabin has a nice symmetrical design in terms of the layout and how everything is in good reach for the driver. Materials used also have a decent finish.

In terms of practicality, the H2 offers a 300-litre boot capacity which is small compared to the Kona’s 361 litres, or the C-HR’s 377 litres, but still bigger than the CX-3’s 264 litres. Beneath the boot floor, a full-sized spare wheel can be found, so the loss in boot space allows you the gain in the ability to travel wherever you’d like without the fear of being stuck on the side of the road with a puncture.

Storage space in the H2 is good. Bottle holders in all the doors can be found along with two cupholders in the front and two in the back. Passenger space is good too with there being sufficient head, shoulder and legroom in the front and in the rear.

The Haval H2 scored the maximum 5-star ANCAP rating. As standard, it features airbags, seatbelts, Children Safety Locks, Electronic Anti-glare Internal Rear View Mirror with SBR Alarm, Park Distance Control, ABS (Anti-skid Brake System) + EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution) + BA (Brake Assist), a TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System), and on top-spec models there’s also ESP (Electronic Stability Program).

Toyota RAV4

Over the 25-year lifespan of the Toyota RAV4, there have been four generations that have lead to the all-new model, suggesting this Japanese automaker invests a lot of time and effort in its development.

Currently, in its fifth generation, the 2019 model is more stylish, more advanced, more equipped and safer than any of its predecessors.

It would seem the brand is trying to rope in both mums and dads with the new masculine model. The RAV4 looks like its upped its size too but this is due to the exterior design and the platform Toyota used to build the new model off. It measures in at 4600mm long (5mm less than the fourth-gen model), 1855mm in width and 1685mm in height which translates well to interior dimensions. The cabin has a lot more design flair as well as more space.

Aside from the space, the cabin’s quality also took a step up. There is good storage space all around with four cupholders (two in the front and two in the rear), a bottle holder in each door, as well as loose item storage in the front and in the center. Rear seat occupants get a map pocket and one that is not mesh!

Passenger space is good too with great seat comfort. There’s also good levels of adjustment, however, front passengers can’t get electric seat adjustment.

Rear passenger space is outstanding and possibly class leading. Tall passengers will have no discomfort sitting behind a tall driver as inches of legroom space can still be had, along with good shoulder room and excellent headroom. Children will have no problem getting comfortable in the back, and you could even fit a pair of child seats with no hassle.

Boot capacity has increased to 580 litres and features a reversible liner for the dual-level boot floor setup. The only drawback here is the slowness of the electric tailgate system.

In terms of safety, there’s a full suite of airbags fitted to all Rav4 models that include knee and curtain types. These are accompanied by electronic driver aids in the form of ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Hill Assist Control (HAC) and Trailer Sway Control.

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan’s Qashqai has maintained its popularity amongst South African consumers despite the compact SUV market becoming so increasingly crowded. The Qashqai fights the good fight against the likes of the Mitsubishi ASX, Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V.

In recent years, its exterior design hasn’t been changed too much, having received only mild updates to keep it fresh. These can be seen in the revised headlights, the ‘V Motion’ grille, and the new bumpers.

The cabin also remains mostly the same and is beautifully built. Materials used are pleasant to touch and there is a very neat dash layout. Cabin space is well proportioned and the large sunroof makes the car feel less claustrophobic.

The Qashqai seats five passengers. There is plenty of headroom while legroom is good even in the rear.

Storage in the cabin is sufficient with there being four cupholders and four bottle holders while the cubby swallows the owner’s manual. Boot space caters for 430 litres and is enough space for a family getaway, a weekend shopping spree or just transporting the kid’s daily gear around. With the 60/40 split fold rear seats, boot space can be extended to 1596 litres.

All models in the Qashqai range are fitted with six SRS airbags, ISOFIX, Electric Parking Brake, Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist System (BAS), as well as Hill Start Assist (HSA) as standard. Additional systems on the Tekna model include Intelligent Around View Monitor & Moving Object Detection, Intelligent Blind Spot Warning, Cross Traffic Alert, Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, and Privacy Glass.

The Qashqai has received a five-star rating from ANCAP when tested in 2014.

Verdict

We can’t falter the Haval H2 too much. There’s a lot of bang for the buck here, however, it’s just not on the same levels as other, more esteemed rivals. But, if you are looking for an SUV on a tight budget the Haval H2 is definitely worth considering.

The Qashqai’s MY18 update was subtle yet effective having received detailed improvements. Its ride, handling and safety systems were all improved while it also looks more modern. It remains good to drive and is filled with standard safety tech.

The Toyota RAV4 is our winner here and the Japanese automaker has now given buyers even more reasons to consider the RAV4 than ever before.

Keyword: Haval H2 vs Nissan Qashqai vs Toyota RAV4: here's our winner.