Scaling the Great Wall: Haval H6 HEV, Cannon pick-up truck

Chinese car brands are shaking up the local market with their range of features-packed and tech-infused models. We got acquainted with a few upcoming offerings from Great Wall Motor.

FOLLOWING the recent launch of GWM Malaysia’s 4S centre in USJ Subang, Selangor, the China-based automotive brand also presented the planned introduction of its Haval H6 HEV mid-sized C-segment hybrid sports utility vehicle (SUV), Cannon pick-up truck and Haval Jolion HEV compact SUV.

The three vehicles will effectively expand the company’s sole offering of the all-electric Ora Good Cat.

The H6 SUV and Cannon pick-up truck will be the first to arrive and earmarked for the end of the year, while the Jolion SUV will make its debut sometime next year.

With the exception of the Jolion which was present to provide potential future owners with an idea of what can be expected, the H6 and Cannon were seen dressed in their respective near-finalised “suits” for this initial impression.

Haval H6 HEV

Being a mid-sized SUV, the H6 has a length of 4,683mm, width of 1,886mm and height of 1,730mm, and will provide plenty of spacious practicality thanks to a relatively long wheelbase of 2,738mm.

While being similarly sized to the outgoing Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, it is dimensionally larger (albeit slightly) than its immediate competitors such as the Honda CR-V, Maxda CX-5 and Proton X70, it possesses modern styling cues that are currently in vogue.

The combination of the large front grille with a digital-like design, LEDs for its automatic headlights and unified rear taillight clusters will certainly tick the boxes of many.

Inside, the cabin feels rather premium thanks to a plethora of kit that provides a good mix of comfort and convenience.

The six-way driver and four-way front passenger-powered front seats are ergonomic with a good amount of support including thigh support.

Included in the mix is a large 12.3-inch colour touchscreen with a 360-degree view for the infotainment system embedded into the centre console and a somewhat wordy 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster as well as a heads-up display (HUD) unit do well to provide crisp graphics.

The air vents located in the centre at the front have been tucked under the touchscreen and this has limited the reach of cool air to the occupants.

At the rear of the cabin, there’s an inherent sense of spaciousness with plenty of knee and headroom that’s coupled with a natural amount of recline for the backrest that would provide a good sense of comfort for long-haul trips.

The cabin feels pleasant with its dark grey rubberised dashboard that’s accompanied by a leather-like material on its midsection.

This can also be found on the door cards matched to the colour of the upper seat section.

The use of piano-black sections along the centre tunnel and power window controls may bid welcome to the eyes at first and imbues a sense of luxury, but this simply means a microfibre cloth needs to be kept nearby to constantly/periodically have it looking pristine.

Nothing in the cabin seemed to suggest a less-than-sturdy build quality (controls included) which arguably could use some added tactility, but other than the interior felt comfortable and spacious.

Power from its 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 147hp and 230Nm of torque gets boosted by an electric motor for a combined system output of 240hp and 530Nm of torque.

Meanwhile, power delivery is managed by what the company calls a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission which is GWM-speak for a dual-clutch transmission.

While rolling on 225/55 series tyres fitted to 19-inch polished-black wheels, the chassis rides on front independent MacPherson struts and rear multi-links.

The combination provides for good steering response and a highly compliant ride.

In traffic, the H6 will crawl effortlessly in heavy traffic and there’s a strong sense of grunt when planting the right foot, but this will have the standard-issue Hankook tyres squeal for some initial grip at first.

Despite having 55-profile tyres, there’s still some pitch and roll from the H6’s suspension when being manhandled – a common phenomenon for most SUVs in general, but at least this SUV has the ability to come to a strong stop when needed.

In its entirety, the H6 may come across as vanilla in the looks department, but at least it makes up for it in terms of kit, fit and finish.

GWM Cannon pick-up

Cannon

The Cannon, with its typical looks of a pickup truck, is anything but typical.

Behind its large front chromed grille flanked by automatic LED headlights – the combination which has been dubbed Champion Belt, is a 2.0-litre turbodiesel mill capable rated at 160hp and 400Nm of torque.

Power delivery to the four-wheel-drive (4WD) system is managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission from German gearbox maker ZF.

The pairing was smooth in its operation with good overall response while in traffic and power will surge nicely on full-throttle which is accompanied by a prominent amount of induction noises.

The suspension uses a combination of front double-wishbone and rear leaf spring setup that’s almost hidden by the 18-inch wheels with road-going 265/60 series tyres meant for sports utility vehicles.

Surprisingly, the braking system has been fully equipped with disc brakes instead of the usual front disc and rear drum combination commonly found in typical pick-up trucks.

The Canon’s exterior mirrors are power-adjustable with an auto-fold function and the tailgate comes with a pop-out step assist for added convenience which happens to be also flanked by LED rear light clusters.

GWM Cannon pick-up

Inside, the cabin is almost fully wrapped in leather to take on a more luxury-oriented persona with its diamond stitches on its semi-perforated seats with light-copper piping.

For contrast, there’s a combination of piano-black finished surfaces mixed with predominantly satin metallic surfaces up front (including the push-start button).

A sole panel imbued with a diamond-like stippling design surrounds the 4WD mode selector roundel and angular T-shaped gear selector that’s rather pleasant for resting palms.

Furthermore, a wireless Qi charger has been included in the list of features.

Ergonomically, there aren’t any complaints with all controls nicely in reach.

However, the button’s tactility and steering wheel (with tilt but not telescopic adjustability) did cheapen the cabin’s initial upmarket experience through its fairly futuristic design cues and large infotainment touchscreen.

GWM Cannon pick-up

Although the Cannon’s electric power steering system provides a good response – thanks mostly to the road-going Cooper tyres that are rated for mud and snow, the ride does play to a more rudimentary “commercial vehicle” tune.

This certainly dumbed down this pick-up truck’s impressive feature-packed cabin experience with front-seated passengers dealing with nothing more than nudges. Rear-seated passengers, however, will feel some jolts when travelling over uneven surfaces.

The culprit of much of the said jolts getting transmitted into the cabin for rear-seated passengers could be due to the combination of leaf springs with somewhat low 55-profile tyres.

The lower the profile, the more communicative (harsh) the ride becomes due to stiffer tyre sidewalls.

Utilising higher-profile tyres, typically in the range of 60 to 75-profile tyres commonly associated with pick-up trucks, will bring about a more comfortable experience.

Undoubtedly, the Cannon does impress with its initial offerings and would make a good addition for many as an everyday ride, but its suspension tuning (or lack thereof) may suggest a more commercial application. A case of the best of both worlds perhaps?

Overall, both vehicles have impressed (to a certain degree) thus far through their respective interior build qualities, ergonomics, exterior presentation and unconfirmed furnishings.

The only remaining question now is where will these vehicles sit in terms of pricing against their competitors.