There was a time when coupe-inspired SUVs were accessible only to those with deep pockets. Think of cars like the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe, BMW X4, Audi Q5 Sportback and Porsche Macan, all of which cost nearly a hundred grand.

But now, for half of the price you could get into an equally stylish SUV-coupe with the same if not better equipment level. The Haval H6 GT is the latest model from the fast-establishing Chinese SUV manufacturer to disrupt the market. Available in two variants, the H6 GT Lux is priced at $40,990 while the upper-spec H6 GT Ultra asks $46,490. No, they are not manufacturer’s list price, they are drive-away pricing. It’s tempting, we know.

On test was the H6 GT Ultra with the only option available – metallic paint, bringing the final drive-away sticker to $46,985.

Being the only SUV-coupe in the mainstream segment, you could argue that the H6 GT has no real competitors. Nevertheless, it plays in the medium SUV category, going up against the likes of Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 and even its own sibling the Haval H6, which is in fact what the H6 GT is based on.

The drawcard of the H6 GT is obviously the coupe-inspired design. Amongst the segment’s more conventionally styled SUVs, the Haval oozes sportiness and sleekness with its tapered roofline, liftback profile and roof spoiler. Elements of muscularity are retained with those aggressively styled front and rear bumpers as well as thick wheel arch mouldings, inside which sit 19-inch alloy wheels.

While the overall design is attractive and well proportioned, a few areas in the rear of the car look tacky, like those fake exhaust tips, faux carbon-fibre look garnish and the boot lid spoiler that doesn’t extend all the way to the edge of the tailgate panel. Below the rear number plate are also two mounting points designed for squarer plates which really shouldn’t be there.

The interior is where things are the most impressive. A quick fact check: this thing is under fifty grand drive-away, but the interior looks premium. Cover the badge and it’s quite likely most people would put the price tag of this car at around the $60-70k mark.

The clean, contemporary dashboard design is pleasing to the eye, while the leather (synthetic) seats with suede upper seat back and GT embroidery look plush. There’s certainly an aura of sophistication in the cabin.

While the vibe is good, some cabin trim materials are still a little less refined, for instance the plastic trim inserts around the aircon vents and on the steering wheel spoke are a bit rough on the edges. Most upper surfaces are soft touch, though.

Despite its coupe-ish roofline, the H6 GT still boasts generous cabin space for five adults thanks to an underpinning that is derived from the stupendously spacious H6. Headroom and legroom is plenty for both front and rear occupants. A drive shalf hump usually present in the rear cabin floor of all-wheel drive cars is almost non-existent in the H6 GT, adding to the comfort of the middle rear passenger.

Cabin storage is also excellent, with a large open storage under the centre console for a small handbag, plus additional storage in the centre compartment and glovebox. A pair of cupholders can be found in the front centre console and on the back of the rear dropdown armrest. Well-sized bottle holders are also featured in the door bins.

Perhaps, the only compromise for its coupe styling is in the boot. At 392 litres, the boot capacity is about that of a hatchback. Drop the rear seats and the space expands to 1390 litres. In comparison, the regular H6 offers 600 litres and up to a maximum of 1485 litres.

The tech on offer is generally up to date, if not a little low on usability. A large 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen supporting wired Apple Carplay and Android Auto serves as the main interface for most of the car’s functions including climate control. It’s always risky to ditch physical buttons and incorporate climate settings into a touchscreen, with very few manufacturers getting it right. Haval, unfortunately is not one of them. The climate controls are nestled within menu and pages, certainly not the easiest to get to when on the move. The on-screen buttons, as well as some texts, are also too small.

The infotainment system has AM/FM radio and Bluetooth but not DAB digital radio, which is a big miss given most of its rivals have it as standard. It’s also lacking built-in satellite navigation, forcing you to rely on phone mirroring and reliable phone coverage.

A 10.25-inch fully digital instrumentation cluster combines with a colour head-up display to give a modern cockpit. However, like the centre touchscreen some texts are hardly legible and the screen size is rather small.

The Lux variant packs a 6-speaker audio system while the Ultra model has 8 speakers. Also included in the top-spec model is a wireless phone charging pad.

From the driver’s perspective, the A pillars are thick which can hinder the front quarter vision. Elsewhere, the rotary gear selector in the centre console looks lovely, but since its rotation is not limited, it’s far too easy to over rotate and select Manual when you actually wanted to select Drive.

Granted, there’s a bunch of passive and active safety features included as standard in the Ultra in case the fiddly controls and poor forward vision play against you. Amongst them are autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert with braking, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree surround view camera, tyre pressure monitoring and seven airbags.

Most of those safety techs are fine, but a few need to be used with caution. For instance, the lane-keeping assist steering correction doesn’t disable when you indicate to change lane. The indicator clicker also oddly turns off whenever the drive assist system is sounding a warning.

Under the bonnet of the H6 GT is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine developing 150kW and 320Nm. It’s paired with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission sending drive to the front wheels (Lux) or all four wheels (Ultra).

Accelerating away from a standstill, immediately noticeable is the overly eager throttle response. It ought to be finessed a little. Once you’ve gotten used to it you’ll appreciate the smooth, muted and gutsy power delivery that is more than adequate for the daily grind.

The dual clutch auto works discretely in the background, most of the time operating in the right gear to get things moving along swiftly. However, it’s quite slow to re-engage on idle stop start. When it does eventually slot into gear you’ll feel a slight lunge. Not the most refined of idle stop start systems.

The car comes with several selectable drive modes, including Normal, Eco and Off-Road. Strangely, switching to Sport or Race modes will momentarily activate the hazard lights. We aren’t sure if it was due to a bug in the software or a deliberate feature. Either way, it’s not smart to bring on the hazard lights on drive mode change, as it can cause confusion to other drivers.

The suspension is setup for comfort and thus feels compliant across all but the roughest of surfaces. The trade-off, however, is in body control where it can feel a little unsettling under quick direction changes. That said, there’s good traction from the all-wheel drive system and good stability on the freeway at high speeds.

Over our week-long test with the H6 GT driving on a variety of roads and traffic, fuel use recorded was 9.2L/100km. This is against the rated average of 8.4L/100km. It runs on 91RON fuel.

Adding to its value-for-money proposition, the car comes with a 7-year unlimited kilometre factory-backed warranty and 5-year 100,000km complimentary roadside assistance.

Verdict

2023 Haval H6 GT Ultra AWD pricing and specification

The post 2023 Haval H6 GT Ultra AWD Review appeared first on ForceGT.com.

If you have no idea what you’re looking at right now, let me break it all down for you – this is the Haval H9, the flagship model from the world’s most powerful SUV manufacturer which shifted nearly 938,000 units globally last financial year alone.

The Chinese marque, which is a subsidiary of the more widely-known Great Wall, first landed Down Under in 2015 with a range of four SUVs – the baby H2, the more stylish H6, the larger H8, and this, the seven-seat H9, which looks a bit like the love child of a Toyota Prado and a Mercedes GL.

Despite the H9 being positioned by Haval itself as a rival to the ever-popular Prado, it’s priced more closely to entry level off-roaders like the Isuzu MU-X and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport while coming with more kit than the lot of them.

While many in Australia are still unfamiliar with Haval – which becomes rather clear when you look at the Aussie sales figures of just over 700 units in 2017 – I became familiar with the brand when I tested out the first incarnation of the H9 to hit our shores back in 2016 for a previous assignment.

However, since then, Haval has given the big bus a bit of a refresh for 2018, with tweaked front-end styling, sharpened pricing, and increased levels of standard equipment, particularly for the entry level model, so I thought it was worth revisiting to see if the improvements have made it a more worthy contender.

When the base model is badged as the Lux, you know that it must be well equipped and that’s certainly the case here, with a sunroof, a 10-speaker audio system, a new TFT screen in the gauge cluster, and safety kit that should have been in from the get go – blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and lane departure warning – all now standard fit.

But it’s the range-topping Ultra that we’re taking a look at here, which is truly brimming with niceties. Leather-upholstered heated and ventilated seats in the front with two-stage massaging, heated seats for the second row, a heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, a bangin’ Infinity stereo, and power-folding third row seats all improve on what the base model already offers for just another four grand.

Consider just how many features it has and the $44,990 starting price for the H9 Ultra seems almost too good to be true – even more so with the current $45,990 drive-away offer. However, that might be because it’s not all quite what it’s cracked up to be.

While there’s no doubt that it’s far from lacking in the tech department, there’s not quite the air of quality you’d hope for on the inside. While the materials are all okay, they aren’t especially plush, and there is a lot of harder black plastic and an overabundance of nasty faux wood to contend with.

There were also a few rattles from the headlining in the rear – perhaps the cover for the panoramic sunroof – and from behind the dashboard as well. Peculiarly, however, no rattle was louder than that of the bonnet which shook around rather disconcertingly as you drove along. One of the fake vents tacked onto it didn’t sit quite flush either, and also shook around a tad.

The quality of the infotainment screen is very so-so as well as it, unfortunately, hasn’t been updated and still features two strange voices – one for the already infuriating sat nav system, which is a robotised male voice that sounds utterly depressed, and a female voice that sounds akin to a failing Margaret Thatcher impersonation asking you to “please select the parking mode” every single time you shift into reverse. It’s truly maddening.

The switchgear is also a bit of a mixed bag, with some pieces feeling a bit cheap and others feeling to be of a higher quality, and all of the labelling on them seems to be written in completely different fonts.

The same goes for the screens and dials too, which use some fonts that look quite modern and sleek, while others look dated and low res.

It’s far from the worst interior in the world, but it’s also far from the best. I think my main criticism would be that it doesn’t feel up to scratch for a $45K car and, personally, I would happily trade the massaging seats for some nicer materials and better build quality.

There is rather a clear answer as to why the interior doesn’t quite feel up to par, however, and that’s because the majority of your money is going on brand-name off-roading kit.

The automatic transmission is now an eight-speed unit from ZF, the transfer case is from BorgWarner, the locking rear differential is supplied by Eaton, and the electrics are provided by Bosch. There’s also an optional lift kit co-developed with Ironman 4×4, too.

It’s a good thing then that all of those bits work pretty well for the most part, and they all do their very best to make the H9 a nicer thing to drive. What really lets it all down, however, is the main piece that Haval itself has contributed to the puzzle – the engine.

If you were expecting a turbo diesel lump under the rattly bonnet, think again. As the Chinese market continues to resist diesel, what sits under there instead is a tiny little 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot petrol that produces 180kW and 350Nm – up from 165kW and 324Nm.

While decent outputs for an engine of this size, they simply aren’t enough to make progress easy in a vehicle tipping the scales at over 2.2 tonnes. Even with the power bump, the engine feels as though it’s straining constantly as it attempts to propel this big bus along.

It sounded a bit sickly too, with an odd whirring noise that was rev-dependent that could be heard clearly in the cabin.

At least the ZF eight-speed it’s paired to does a great job of swapping cogs, with gear changes all seamlessly smooth.

Off-road, the H9 really does shine. The lack of torque isn’t an issue for low-speed applications as what there is does come on low down in the rev range, and all the pricey brand-name stuff, as mentioned, really does the trick.

The diff lock is quick to activate and proves to be a big help at times, the full-time four-wheel drive system constantly sends the power to the right place, and the gear ratios of the auto box are all spot on.

What impressed us most, however, was the suspension, which ironed out a lot of the undulation on some of the rough tracks we took it on. It also had an impressive amount of travel. Take a look for yourself – on the shot below, the rear near-side wheel was only mere millimetres off the ground.

The new Kumho rubber – which is a million times better than the Cooper tyres of the old one – also fared pretty well, with only a little slip detected through water and particularly thick mud.

I wouldn’t worry too much about taking it through water though as it’s not really the H9’s best friend. Despite a claimed 700mm wading depth, we noticed electrical gremlins rearing their head after just a quick splash.

After taking the shot above – which, as you might have guessed, is always an incredibly fun one to do – we noticed the transmission missing the upshift from second to third under heavy load. After an hour or so, the issue ceased – presumably once the electrics had all dried out – but it’s not a good sign. From further investigation and reading others’ reviews of the H9, it sounds like our electrical issues were far from rare.

Otherwise, the H9 is a solid off-roader and certainly very capable, and it feels to be in its element most when roughing it.

On the road, however, it’s still lacking, even if there are improvements since the last iteration. While it handles alright on roads with longer sweeping bends, I’d avoid taking it to any tracks that are led to by tight, twisting roads as the body roll due to the H9’s heavy mass is immense. Thankfully the hydraulic power steering, while far from especially responsive, is at least less vague than in some other big off-roaders we’ve sampled recently.

We also noticed a lot of hesitation off the line, and it wasn’t until the engine spun up to around 2,500rpm in first gear that it would actually start to set off with any determination. Trying to make a quick turn out into traffic is a bit of a risky exercise.

While there’s a bit more power to make proceedings easier, it’s still far from thrilling in a straight line. It’s thirsty too – we saw a tested 13.3L/100km consistently throughout our week with the H9 – as the four-pot is working mighty hard to shift this thing around, and I don’t doubt that with a larger, torquier engine, such as a V6 or a turbo diesel unit, you’d see equal if not better fuel economy.

It’s also hard to ignore the H9 still sports only a four-star ANCAP safety rating. However, since that rating was produced, Haval has added more active safety tech and strengthened the firewall, and a re-test is scheduled for later in the year once they’ve added AEB into the mix.

Verdict

2018 Haval H9 Ultra pricing and specifications

Photos by Justin Cribbes.

The post 2018 Haval H9 Ultra Review appeared first on ForceGT.com.

HAVAL has previewed its fully autonomous, pure EV SUV ahead of its debut at the Auto China Beijing on April 25.

Branded under the company’s luxury arm, the WEY X is said to offer Level 5 autonomous driving, meaning the car’s artificial intelligence system is capable of mirroring a highly trained human driver in various situations, including dirt roads and bad weather.

The WEY X follows in the footsteps of WEY’s other pure EV, the XEV concept unveiled at the 2017 International Automobile Exhibition in Frankfurt.

According to the brand, the 2018 iteration blends seamlessly with existing vehicle to vehicle (V2V) and vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) technology in a fully integrated transportation network. Combined with the latest autonomous driving expertise, the WEY X identifies and predicts potential risks in advance to minimise the potential for accidents.

Engineers have replaced traditional keys and buttons in the WEY X with a full biometric identification system. Each registered user can create their own individual set-up, including seats, music preferences and preferred navigation information.

Inside, the digital instrument and infotainment screen span the entire width of the dash and even includes a hologram of, presumably, the car’s digital assistant.

More details of the WEY X will be revealed at Auto China Beijing, which runs from April 25 to May 4.

The post HAVAL previews WEY X fully autonomous pure EV SUV appeared first on ForceGT.com.

HAVAL has taken the wraps off the next-generation of China’s biggest selling SUV, the mid-size H6.

Unveiled by HAVAL’s Design Director, Pierre Leclercq, the new H6 will go on sale in China later this year.

The new model boasts a new 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine along with the existing 2.0-litre turbo petrol from the current model. Both will be matched to a 7-speed Getrag dual-clutch transmission.

In terms of styling, the new H6 features a larger front grille and Audi Q7-inspired headlights. At the back, there is a pair of LED taillights and twin tailpipes integrated into the bumper.

However, it is the interior that the H6 appears to make great strides, boasting a modern cockpit complete with a fully digital instrument cluster and 12-inch infotainment screen.

“The H6 is an extremely important vehicle for us at HAVAL,” said Leclercq

“Replacing a very successful product is always a difficult task. As our best-selling vehicle, it was vital the customer stayed our number one priority during the development of this second generation H6.”

“When you work on a new platform, you have the chance to work on proportions. And proportions are key to the dynamic of the vehicle and its stance on the road.

“The new H6 is 40mm shorter than today’s H6 and it 40mm wider. Coupled with a front end that is higher than the previous version, it gives the vehicle a much stronger, tougher look.

“The H6 is a great family SUV. But it doesn’t mean it should be boring or static. We worked hard to achieve a silhouette that is very dynamic.”

The new HAVAL H6 will launch at the Shanghai Auto Show in April.

The post HAVAL unveils 2nd-generation H6 mid-size SUV appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Made in China. It isn’t hard to find at least an item in one’s household that comes from the Middle Kingdom these days and that includes motor vehicles.

The world’s second largest economy now produces more cars than Japan, with one out of every four cars in the world coming from the Asian powerhouse. HAVAL is one of them and is claimed to be one of the biggest brands in China.

Launched in Australia last year, it has now entered the country’s biggest and most competitive medium SUV segment with its new H6.

Like most, this is my first acquaintance with a Chinese car and if I were to be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Happily, first impression was certainly positive in our range-topping H6 LUX.

Designed by Pierre Leclercq who was responsible for the original BMW X5, the H6 sports a handsome styling with hints of the Range Rover Evoque in its silhouette, thanks to the blacked-out C-pillars and plunging roofline.

It will even write its own name on the ground when you unlock the car at night, which gives it a premium feel.

Inside, everything are where they are supposed to be. The top of the dashboard and door cards is made of nice squishy tactile plastic, while the faux leather steering wheel and seats feel nice and soft. These are complemented by the mood lighting system that adds a lovely premium touch to the cabin ambience.

There’s also the obligatory large, 7-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system to take care of your entertainment needs, although satellite navigation is missing from the first batch of cars. This will be standard as of this month and older cars will be retrofitted.

Both models also come with a blind-spot monitoring system, although why it is disabled every time you turn off the car is a mystery.

The H6 arrives into Aussie showrooms in two specification levels, the entry-level Premium and range-topping LUX. Prices start at $31,990 and $34,990, respectively, but are currently available at a drive-away price of $29,990 and $31,990 until the end of the year.

Both models come relatively well equipped compared to their immediate rivals, with the H6 Premium getting 17-inch alloy wheels, six airbags, rear-view camera, keyless start, Bluetooth, climate control, rear privacy glass and rear air vents.

The LUX adds 19-inch wheels, rear-seat heaters, a giant panoramic glass sunroof with electric sunblind, kerb-side camera and self-levelling headlights.

At the back, the H6’s rear seats come with comfort enhancing reclining seat backs that fold relatively flat to expand upon the already sizeable cargo space.

Importantly, the doors shut with a reassuring ‘thunk’ to project a quality feel. But while general fit and finish is good, close inspection reveals interior gaps that are slightly larger than class rivals. Some plastics on the lower parts of the dashboard and tailgate also feel a little on the cheap side.

Motivated by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 145kW at 5,200rpm and 315Nm at 2,000rpm, the H6 drives its front wheels (the H6 is front-wheel drive only, with the local distributor choosing not to bring in the AWD version which has a manual gearbox only) via a Getrag six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

It is one of the more powerful engines in its segment and is smooth and relatively quiet around town. It can be too eager off the mark, causing the front wheels to spin even in the dry before the traction control jumps in. On the move, the H6 has good rolling acceleration but what surprises us most is how well calibrated the twin-clutch transmission is, where it is crisp and decisive in delivering its six ratios.

Sadly, the good news ends here, as the H6’s driving dynamics leave much to be desired.

The car pushes wide at every opportunity, even at low entry and exit speeds. As if the ho-hum handling isn’t enough, the overly excitable emergency stop signal flashes the hazard lights almost every time you brake into a corner, while an overly intrusive ESC adds to the frustration. We get that these are safety features and the calibration may be suited for Chinese conditions, they need to be reworked for Australia.

While we are on the subject of annoyance, the car has a habit of dispensing warning chimes on almost EVERYTHING! You get a ‘bong’ for turning on the cruise control, another ‘bong’ for changing its speed, yet another one for resuming. Seriously?

The H6’s body control is also all over the place and doesn’t give the driver a confident feel. It is far more suited to city driving where it soaks up bumps and ruts with ease. Its steering is also well weighted and communicates well for the urban jungle, although its turning circle is rather large for its size.

The H6, which doesn’t come with engine stop/start technology, is quite thirsty compared to its peers, returning a combined fuel average of 12.6L/100km on test – nearly 4L/100km more than the official rating of 8.8L/100km.

Verdict

Design and Comfort: 8.5/10

Performance and Handling: 6.0/10

Quality: 8.0/10 

Economy: 6.0/10 

Features and Equipment: 8.0/10

There’s a lot of like about the HAVAL H6. It is handsome while cabin appointment and fit and finish are well above our expectations.

It is comfortable around town, with good front and rear leg and headroom.

However, there’s more work to be done in its driving dynamics and fuel economy. If those two are not your priority, the H6 is well worth a look with its generous equipment, premium appointment and above average 5-year warranty.

Pros:

• Handsome styling and good fit and finish
• Good ride quality and comfortable
• Powerful engine and decently calibrated dual-clutch transmission
• Generous equipment

Cons:

• Below average driving dynamics
• Thirst
• Intrusive ESC

2017 HAVAL H6 pricing and specification:

Competitors: Ford Kuga, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Cherokee, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 4008, Subaru Forester, Skoda Yeti, Mitsubishi ASX, Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan

The post 2017 HAVAL H6 LUX Review appeared first on ForceGT.com.

HAVAL has taken the wraps off its latest H7 SUV in Beijing this week. Set to arrive in Australia in 2017, the H7 is said to represent a new level of luxury and technology for the company.

“Australia is a very important market for us. It is one of our first export markets and we know how popular SUVs are with Australian customers,” said HAVAL Design vice president, Pierre Leclercq.

“The H7 is the latest example of how hard we are working to develop quality products that Australian customers will be proud to own.”

Built on an all-new platform, the H7 is available with either five or seven-seats and slots between the H8, which is already on sale in Australia and the H6, which will arrive later this year.

A 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection petrol engine powers the H7, producing 170kW of power and 355Nm of torque, matched to a Getrag six-speed dual clutch transmission that can propel the H7 from rest to 100km/h in nine seconds.

It will boast new levels of safety for the Chinese SUV manufacturer, coming complete with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, 360 degree view, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and forward collision warning.

Inside, the H7 has a new TFT instrument panel and a large, 12-inch multi-media monitor in the centre of the dashboard.

“We’re very proud of this vehicle,” said Leclercq. “It continues the evolution of the HAVAL brand and is another step up for us.

“We worked very closely with leading partners to deliver a lot of new technology that customers in Australia want, including new safety features and multi-media.

“I’m very excited to see the final production version. It’s a very simple, clean design, but also very strong,” he said.

The H7 goes on sale in China in April. It will arrive in Australia in the second half of 2017. Pricing and final specification for the Australian market will be announced closer to launch.

The post HAVAL unwraps new H7; arriving in 2017 appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Chinese carmaker, HAVAL is set to unveil their new H7 SUV at the Auto China Exhibition in Beijing next week.

The new model is said to boast new levels of safety for the brand, including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, 360-degree camera, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and forward collision warning.

The H7 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine matched to a six-speed dual clutch transmission that is said to propel the SUV to 100 km/h from rest in just nine seconds.

The H7 will be one of the highlights of the HAVAL stand, which will also feature two exciting concept vehicles.

The Auto China Exhibition is one of the biggest events in the automotive calendar, covering an area of 220,000 square metres at China’s International Exhibit Centre.

An estimated one million patrons are expected to attend the event between April 25 and May 4, playing witness to more than 2000 exhibitors from around the globe showing their products to the world’s largest automotive market.

Since 2010, the annual production of vehicles in China has exceeded the output of the US, Europe and Japan combined.

The post HAVAL to unveil H7 at Auto China Exhibition appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Australia’s newest automotive brand, HAVAL has set up shop in Australia with three premium SUVs – the H2, H8 and H9.

With its head quarters in Melbourne, the Chinese brand’s first four Australian dealers are Berwick HAVAL, King’s HAVAL in Geelong, Lansvale HAVAL in Sydney and Autostrada HAVAL in Perth.

“We are very excited to be launching our range of premium SUVs into Australia,” said HAVAL Motors Australia Managing Director, Parker Shi.

“Australia is a country where SUVs sales have doubled in the past five years. We are confident our combination of quality product and outstanding value for money will prove popular with Australian customers,” Shi said.

He said HAVAL was working to have 10 dealers by the end of 2015 and at least 25 by the end of 2016

According to the company’s press release, since the launch of its first SUV in China in 2002, HAVAL has established itself as the premier SUV manufacturer in the world’s biggest automobile market. It has been the top-selling SUV brand in China for 13 consecutive years. Dedicated to producing only premium SUVS, the company says it is committed to becoming the world’s leading specialist SUV brand, as evidenced by the recent opening of a $4 billion state-of-the-art R&D centre in Baoding. The company has manufacturing plants at Tianjin and Xushui. Combined, they are capable of producing 1.8 million SUVs each year.

“When other manufacturers are spreading their talents across a wide range of vehicles and platforms, HAVAL is focusing and specialising. Specialising in the fastest growing automotive sector in the world,” said Shi.

“In 2013, we sold our 1 millionth vehicle. In 2014 we posted a 23 per cent increase in sales over 2013 and made the top 10 for the list of global SUV sales for the first time, ahead of brands such as BMW, Land Rover, Mitsubishi and Mercedes Benz.”

Chief Marketing Officer Tim Smith said HAVAL was the first major OEM to enter the Australian market in more than 10 years.

“We are committed to providing new levels of customer service with a range of vehicles that offer outstanding value for money. Every HAVAL comes with a 5 year,100,000km warranty, 5 years of roadside assistance and 5 year HAVAL Service Price Guarantee.

“Every HAVAL is designed to achieve 5 star ANCAP rating and we are actively working with ANCAP to realise this result in Australia,” said Smith.

The range and pricing (plus on-road costs):

HAVAL H2

The range begins with the Mitsubishi ASX-sized HAVAL H2 with price ranging from $26,490 to $30,990 plus on-road costs.

An urban SUV, the H2 can be customised with an assortment of two-tone paint and two-tone interior finishes.

A sales star in its home country, the HAVAL H2 boasts European styling that is fashionable, sporty and highly appealing.

The H2 features a large, U-shape grille that instantly identifies it as a member of the HAVAL premium SUV family.

The phoenix-shaped headlamp includes 15 LED crystals – 10 for daytime running lights and five for the high visibility turn signal.

The blade-type dual waistlines accentuate the flowing lines of the smallest member of the HAVAL line-up and deliver a streamlined side profile.

A variety of interior choices – including three two-tone options – are available in cloth or Comfort-Tek premium eco-leather.

The long list of standard creature comforts include keyless entry and start, cruise control, Bluetooth with audio streaming, reversing camera with rear parking sensors and an eight inch touch screen.

Under the bonnet rests a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine with dual VVT producing 110 kW of power and 210 Nm of torque, matched to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Front- and all-wheel-drive options are offered.

Standard safety features include six airbags, ESP, active headrests and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

HAVAL H8

The larger H8 is described as HAVAL’s premium large urban SUV and priced between $41,990 and $48,990 plus on-road costs. With turbocharged performance and high levels of interior comfort, it is said to have outstanding refinement levels. The company says the H8 is destined to become a favourite with Australian families.

Boasting a sophisticated dual wishbone independent front suspension and multi-link independent rear suspension, the H8 is said to deliver a smooth, comfortable ride on all surfaces.

The 2.0-litre direct injection turbocharged engine drives the rear wheels by default through a six-speed ZF automatic transmission, while a Borg-Warner transfer case automatically detects wheel slip and can direct the drive to the front wheels in a 50:50 split.

Standard features include seats covered in Australian-sourced leather, sunroof, alloy wheels, Xenon headlamps, satellite navigation, three-zone air conditioning and parking sensors front and rear.

Safety features of the 4.8m long H8 include six airbags, ESP, Hill Descent Control, driver condition monitoring and reversing camera.

Optional features on the range-topping LUX model include heated, ventilated and massaging seats, adaptive front headlamps and an electronic tailgate.

HAVAL H9

The Toyota Landcruiser Prado-challenging H9 tops out the HAVAL range, with prices ranging from $46,490 to $50,990. With its tough construction, seven seats, rugged ladder frame chassis and dual range powertrain the H9 is said to be perfect for off-road adventure-loving families.

The H9 uses the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine found in the H8, which produces 160 kW and 324 Nm. In addition to the ZF six-speed transmission, the H9 comes complete with a dual range transfer case.

The LUX model boasts an electronic all terrain control system, with a Borg Warner torque on demand intelligent 4WD system, including a 4L mode for maximum traction.

The H9 also comes with AFS smart lighting, which automatically curves around corners and adjusts the Xenon headlamps up and down when ascending or descending.

With 1457 litres of carrying capacity and seven seats, the company says the H9 will set a new standard for premium family SUVs in Australia.

The post Chinese SUV maker, HAVAL launches in Australia with 3 model lineup appeared first on ForceGT.com.