Haval aims for the sports SUV segment with an exciting new offering that targets the bold, adventurous and energetic individual. The H6 GT shows that the firm is well-versed at creating appealing products, not only from a price point of view.
If I had told you 10 years ago that a Haval would cause a social media stir, you’d have had me committed. Never in our wildest dreams did we envision images of a KU Grey Haval with lime green accents being the object of desire, creating a buzz that was tangible and palpable. But here we are with the launch of the new Haval H6 GT, an exciting new entrant into the compact SUV market with equipment, drive, and visuals to capture even the most stoic imagination.
On the back of the success of the new H6 and the Jolion, Haval has made the bold decision to introduce the H6 GT to the local market. Keeping company with the likes of the Hyundai Kona and Tucson, RAV4, X-Trail and CX-5, the H6 GT offers you aggressive, coupe-like styling with the practicality of a compact SUV.
Styling
Aesthetics play a large role in the desirability of a model and Haval, while producing attractive vehicles of late, has never managed to create something that has a true aspirational value to it. The H6 GT changes that though and I can’t blame you for drawing correlations with the BMW X4 or X6, Audi Q8 and Lamborghini Urus… yes, I said Lamborghini. Narrow headlights, sharply angled and a large front air dam with striking details allude to a vehicle with substantial street cred.
Large 19-inch alloy wheels, finished in black with lime green brake callipers poking their noses out from behind the spokes and further gloss black detailing along the skirts and window frame help create a visage that is stylish, contemporary and rather attractive. Choose a light colour for your GT and revel in the contrast created between these gloss black elements and the bodywork.
Small styling cues further bolster the performance credence that the H6 GT tries to create. A contrasting rear diffuser, decking lip and roof spoiler may be deemed “Ricey” by some, but appreciated by others, after all, “Rice” stems from Race-Inspired Cosmetic Equipment. Rice or nice? You decide.
Interior
The energetic treatment extends to the interior as well where a rather stylish interior awaits you. Highlighted with the same lime green detailing, the interior of the Haval H6 GT is awash with soft-touch surfaces, raised stitching, and a general emphasis on aesthetics. The comfortable and supportive multi-tier seats are draped in Alcantara and embossed with the green GT logo.
Tech is at the forefront and the interior sports a rotary dial for gear selection, a large 10.25-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch multicolour touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Wireless charging and a multitude of USB outlets ensure that devices are charged and remain connected while a heads-up display further augments the driver’s awareness of what is happening around him.
While I can applaud the efforts to streamline the controls and minimize the switchgear, the omission of a volume control knob and drive mode selection buttons results in a rather frustrating time behind the wheel. Drive modes require that you first swipe to the right on the screen before selecting your desired mode, or diving three or four pages deep into the menus. Similarly, the only tactile volume control is on the steering wheel with the alternative being a swipe down on the screen to reveal the touch controls for the audio system—less than ideal. The menus have to be sifted through as well should you wish to cancel or activate the myriad of safety systems that include an audible sound when parameters are breached. Infuriation x2.
Features
You cannot criticize Haval for one thing, and that’s a lack of tech. The GT is packed to the very brim with a proverbial smorgasbord of driver assistance systems that include Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist. The cruise control features Intelligent Cruise, Intelligent Cornering and Traffic Jam Assist while the safety systems extend to Pre-Collision Warning with automatic emergency braking, traffic sign, cyclist and pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alerts and lane change assist. It’s worth noting that is has one of the best, high=resolution 360-degree cameras you can find on the market today.
You get no fewer than 6 airbags and several stability and traction control systems to help aid in keeping you safe while the TOD (Torque on Demand) system in the AWD ensures sure-footed road behaviour and the best traction at any given moment. This brings me neatly onto the performance side of things.
Performance
We would have loved to see some sort of violent, large displacement turbocharged V-something or another under the hood of the H6 GT to back up the styling credentials but alas, no such luck this time around. Haval is not known for creating performance offerings but as far as poke goes, the GT does an admirable job. It’s fitted with a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine that produces 155 kW and 325 Nm of torque. Haval doesn’t quote performance figures in the way of sprint times or top speeds, but trust me when I say that there’s more than adequate poke to this powertrain.
Power is sent to all four wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that, if I’m completely honest, isn’t bad. It’s not the best execution of a DCT system and the programming could do with a little refinement but for the average man on the street, it will pose no concern. It’s equipped with steering wheel paddles but there’s no need to fiddle with these too much as the ‘box does a decent enough job of selecting the appropriate gear for the situation. I will lament the lack of throttle response and the light steering feel when normal mode is selected. It’s fine for the commute and probably the best way to ensure that you don’t waste fuel, but in Sport or Race mode (the latter opening up the active exhaust and providing a rather tasty soundtrack to your hooliganism) both of these areas improve drastically. In Race mode, the throttle becomes a hair-trigger, to the point of making it rather difficult to drive in traffic with this mode enabled.
Road manners and suspension compliance are great and for an SUV with sporty pretensions, it manages to strike a rather satisfying balance between taught and supple, feeding back what it needs to and ironing out what it doesn’t.
The critique levelled at the Haval brand as a whole regarding their fuel consumption once again weighs in and while our energetic driving saw us returning figures in the low 11 l/100 km range, we struggle to see how it would fare much better when driven conservatively. We surmise that you can anticipate real-world figures of around 9.5 l/100 km.
Price
The Haval H6 GT is competitively priced, coming in at R629 950. This is backed by a 5-year/ 100 000km warranty and a 5-year / 60 000km service plan for peace of mind. This places it firmly in the aforementioned bracket but will face some scrutiny when compared against a similarly priced Toyota Fortuner or Subaru Forester. The fact remains that very few of these offerings in this price range offer the style and pannache afforded you by the Havel H6 GT. It’s a striking example of compact SUV execution and certainly worth the premium over its rivals. The standard spec is mighty impressive and is bound to be a hit with the younger, more eccentric individual that is looking to make a statement.
Chad LückhoffWith over 18 years of motorsport commentary and a passion for 90s Japanese Sports Cars, Chad Lückhoff is happiest when surrounded by drift cars and smoking tyres. His experience as the Technical Editor of the country’s top tuning magazine means that it’s the nuts and bolts of motoring that tickles his fancy. As comfortable in front of the camera as he is behind it, he’ll take you behind the wheel with his video reviews, written recounts, and invoking photography. One of the first to join the AutoTrader fray, Chad has been living his passion at AutoTrader for over 7-years.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Haval H6 GT (2022) - First Drive Impression