By Malusi Msomi

The South African car buying market is quite interesting. Besides being very brand-loyal, some buyers prioritize style above everything, and the Haval H6 GT seems to have captured that audience. Let’s unpack why the R642,550 Haval H6GT has captured both buyers and car lovers in general.

Bold Styling

The H6 GT is, in essence, a Coupe version of the H6 SUV but much sportier looking thanks to its coupe SUV shape, sporty front and rear bumpers, black 19-inch wheels, massive exhaust trims, and a rear spoiler. The exterior look is topped off by lime-green-colored brake calipers. Our test H6 GT is finished in a rather stunning Atlantis Blue, with buyers also having other colors to choose from, such as KU Grey, G7 Red, Hamilton White, and Son Black.

The Haval H6 is a gorgeous car to look at, and getting into a German-manufactured alternative will most likely set you back nearly twice as much to get it up to spec like the Haval H6 GT. Taking a quick glance and seeing its silhouette, you could swear it’s a Lamborghini Urus, and we’re not the only ones that feel that way.

Interior

The lime-green brake calipers theme filters quite a bit into the cabin. The H6 GT comes with a unique sports interior accentuated by lime green trimmings, piping, and stitching with Alcantara inserts and heated seats. It also comes with a customizable digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The H6 GT comes standard with a panoramic sunroof to add some ambiance in the cabin. The climate control is accessed through the touchscreen; we find this as a drawback as it requires you to take your eyes off the road. We feel that physical buttons work way better.

Style, unfortunately, comes at a cost for most coupe-styled SUVs. In this case, coming in at 392 liters, the H6 GT’s boot space takes a hit compared to the standard H6’s boot, which comes in at 600 liters. It’s not all doom and gloom as the H6 retains plenty of head and legroom in the cabin.

Power and Driving Dynamics

Powering the Haval H6 GT is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 155kW and 325Nm of torque. Power is sent to its AWD system via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. During highway driving, it performs well with swift and effortless overtaking. However, we did find a few issues when it came to city driving. From a standstill, it suffers from turbo lag when accelerating quickly. When using its stop-start function, it seemed a bit too eager to get off the line, lunging forward unexpectedly. After a while, you learn how to tap the accelerator for smoother take-offs. Haval claims 8.4 l/100 kms, but we were nowhere close, averaging around 12 l/100 km at the end of our test period.

The ride is pretty good in the Haval H6 GT, and when switching it into Race Mode, you get a more prominent exhaust note and a more aggressive throttle and transmission response. It also comes with quite a few driving modes, which include Standard, Eco, Sports, Snow, Sand, Off-road, and the aforementioned Race mode. It’s no Lamborghini Urus in terms of handling, as the front end tends to wash out during quick cornering. Overall, it’s a pleasure to drive.

Safety

In terms of safety, the Haval H6 GT comes equipped with a smart array of safety features which includes Autonomous Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane-Keep Assist, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Front and Rear Parking Sensors, and Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

Verdict

Priced at R642,550, it is quite a bit of money. Then again, you’re getting quite a bit of car for your money. Yes, there are a few niggles to fix, but the Haval H6 GT offers a fair amount of tech, a decent cabin, and stunning looks.