Haval out to steal march on rivals
A FEW months ago an automotive brand that is largely unknown outside China arrived on the South African market with the H2 compact SUV.
Haval is actually a luxury sub-brand of GWM which has had a market presence in South Africa for more than 10 years, mostly with a series of hard-working bakkies.
Haval says it comprehensively redefines any preconceptions you might harbour towards Chinese machines, offering world-class quality, ride and refinement.
While the brand might be a new player in this country, in its home market of China it’s a giant, having sold more than one million SUVs there last year.
Now Haval has upped its game, releasing its second all-new model in Mzansi. The Haval H6C was launched recently at the SA Motoring Experience at Kyalami and the company says it is a sleek, slick, sophisticated SUV that isn’t just “pretty good for a Chinese model”.
Haval is so confident in its new model that it says it beats its competitors in all conceivable areas – from perceived quality to performance and everything in between.
At the launch at Kyalami, where potential customers also got to pilot the brand’s models around the racetrack, Haval says it received very positive feedback.
Besides driving dynamics and good styling, the H6C also contains some of the latest technology, including a reassuring five-star C-NCAP crash-test rating. It also features a barrage of airbags and various other safety measures.
Even the most affordable models boast the likes of dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, and keyless entry.
When you move from City specification models to Premium and Luxury versions of the H6C, the list of luxuries and safety items increases.
All models are driven by a four-cylinder 2.0l turbocharged petrol motor, making an effortless 140kW and 310Nm of torque between 2 000 and 3 600r/min. Power runs to the front wheels via a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic (DCT) gearbox.
Stock has been arriving at Haval dealerships since the middle of this month.
The H6C and Haval SA’s other model, the H2, is backed by a five-year/ 100 000km warranty, a five-year/ 60 000km service plan and five-year/unlimited kilometre roadside assistance.
Pricing ranges from R329 900 to R389 900. – BDLive