It’s the Friday and we are in the @HavalsouthAfrica H6 C. This is the older sibling of the H2 we had on test recently and thoroughly enjoyed. The H6 C is offered in both automatic and manual which can be had in three trims; ie City, Premium and Luxury. A 2,0 litre turbopetrol engine that pushes out 140kW/310Nm is standard across all the the range. Standard features include the Keyless Entry System, Front and Rear Park Distance Control, Reverse Camera, Multi-function steering wheel and automatic wipers. It is however a thirsty SUV, my current fuel consumption at 13.5 liters/100km. That may be due to the city driving and the open road will probably lesson the average. The H6 C is priced from R329,900. By @salaontop #havalh6c #haval #h6 #suv #chinese #chinesesuv #competition #newcar #car #carssales #sales #friday #weekend 📷 @forever4tune

A post shared by The Car People (@khulekani_on_wheels) on May 31, 2018 at 10:03pm PDT

By Sala Masindane

With the increasing demand for SUVs across the globe, it only makes sense that more and more manufactures are claiming their share in the market. Great Wall Motors (GWM) has been doing very well in recent years, especially in the bakkie segment. It is no surprise that GWM/Haval launched a few of SUVs, these include, among others, the H2 and the recently tested H6C (coupe).

Let’s be honest, there has been a perception that GWM samples from other brands in terms of designs and you do get that some of that in the H6C. Then again, a lot of designs are similar these days. The H6C is a formidable competitor to the likes of the Kia Sportage, Madza CX-5 2.0 Active and the Toyota RAV4 2.0 GX. It comes in three trims; City, Premium and Luxury. Our test unit was the H6C City 2.0-litre turbo petrol, which produces 140kW and 310Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox and is also available in automatic for those that prefer less change up or down. Some of the standard features of the H6C, include keyless entry, reverse camera, retractable mirrors, cruise control, park distance control, LED daytime running lights and automatic wipers.

Illuminated door sills that cover most of the surfaces greet you when entering the cabin of the H6C and the mood lights also capture your attention to the Haval’s detailing. There’s decent legroom so five adults can sit comfortably and there is sufficient boot space for the luggage. We must mention that the interior is quite upmarket, although the City unit does not come with leather upholstery but rather a fabric one. The multi-functional steering wheel is made up of leather and features controls for audio, cruise control, and telephone to mention a few.

Continuing this trend are couple of dial buttons that can change or control just about everything on the H6C, such the as the rotary knob, hill ascent and hill descent control and equalizer. These could have been eliminated and added on the easy-to-use 8-inch infotainment touchscreen. This space could have been used for larger cup holders. I must also mention that the beep sound for everything you touch or switch on can be a little annoying. .

The ride quality of the H6C is impressive and the driving position is comfortable. There’s still room for improvement on the suspension, as I experienced discomfort and rattles on uneven road surfaces. Due to its “compact” nature, the H6C tackles the daily driving with ease, with the assistance of the PDA and reverse camera for all those awkward spaces. The power of the 2.0T motor probably plays in the role of the fuel consumption, we managed a 13.5 L/100km which is a far cry from the claimed 11.5 L/100km.

The Chinese brand has come a long way and continues to get better and better. Many have questioned its staying power and the dealer network of Haval. Well, no need to worry because you can visit one of over 40 dealerships across the country for service or product related questions.

The pricing of the Haval H6 is as follows:

2.0T 6MT 2WD City – R329,900
2.0T 6MT 2WD Premium – R339,900
2.0T 6MT 2WD Luxury – R359,900
2.0T DCT 2WD City – R359,900
2.0T DCT 2WD Luxury – R369,900
2.0T DCT 2WD Premium – R389,900

The Haval H6C is offered with a 5 year /100,00km warranty, road side assistance and a 60,000km service plan.