Haval H6 GT

Looks are obviously subjective, but when something looks as good as the Haval H6 GT, well, there is no debate about it really. I have heard a few statements like, “It looks a bit like a baby Aston Martin DBX,” and, “It’s got a bit of a Range Rover or Lamborghini Urus vibe about it.” Regardless of what other car brands it might be similar to, the H6 GT can stand alone with its head held high and here’s why… DON’T STAY AWAY Something I am a little tired of hearing is that Haval can’t be trusted. I cannot tell you the amount of people who refuse to even consider a Haval because it is a Chinese brand. Not only do I find this shocking for reasons I am not going to go in to here, but it is also really ignorant. One of my favourite things to do is to suggest to a “hater” that they go and test drive the Jolion, for instance, and if they still hate it after driving it, then I will eat my words. Not once have I had to eat my words! The H6 GT is another superb product from GWM’s SUV brand and will no doubt take the name to new heights. WHAT IS THE GT? Like the Hyundai Kona, for example, the H6 GT offers a coupé-like style but with the added benefit of the practicality of an SUV. It is based on, you guessed it, the H6, but even with the sloping roofline, interior space has not been compromised. It will take on other compact SUVs such as the Volkswagen T-Roc and Mazda CX-30. But there is denying that this GT stands out in a crowd like nothing else. So much so that it has caused quite the stir on social media. And for a brand like Haval to achieve this is nothing short of incredible. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. The whole underdog thing. Think of ‘The Mighty Ducks‘ movie. Aaaaahhhhh! WHAT’S ON OFFER Right, so the GT sits right at the top of the H6 line up and, like all of Haval’s models, it offers a bunch in terms of standard features. It offers the same as the Super Luxury trim level so you can expect a wireless-charging pad, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control with intelligent cruise, heated seats and a panoramic sunroof. Not to mention the leather-trimmed seats with suede inserts. Gosh it looks good inside. It feels well built and the materials have a quality look and feel about them. It also has just about every driver assist and safety feature you can think of including Intelligent cornering, traffic jam assist, Pre-collision warning with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Lane Departure Alert, Lane Keeping Assist and Blind spot detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert and six airbags. But it does come with a few quirks. The safety systems, although well-intentioned, can be rather intrusive and to figure out how to disable them is quite the task. One has to swipe through a multitude of screens before you’re able to figure anything out. I would have also appreciated a traditional volume knob or button. ENGAGE DRIVE MODE The H6 GT boasts the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol engine, but with an overboost function that gives you an extra 5 kW and 5 Nm to bring you to a total of 155 kW and 325 Nm of torque. It sends power to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, but if it’s a bit more excitement and engagement you’re after, then you’ll have to scroll through a billion screens to pop it into Race Mode. This will give you a more aggressive take on driving while livening up the throttle and transmission responses. Not to mention the throaty roar from the exhaust. Sport mode might be a bit more appealing to those who want to rather enjoy their drive. Race mode can be a bit testing if you’re in traffic. Normal mode is probably where you will spend most of your time, however, especially if you are at all concerned about your fuel consumption figure. As with most Haval products, it can be quite high. You’ll probably see close to 10l/100 km. PRICING OF THE GT It comes in at R629 950 and while this means it doesn’t exactly offer the huge value for money proposition we have so become accustomed to with Haval, it is competitively priced and I think fairly priced as well. Nothing looks like it. Nothing in this segment has the same appeal for me. Those lumo brake callipers and styling elements throughout the cabin are head turners! Choose your colour wisely because you really can make quite the statement with this car. I think it will certainly appeal to a young, vibey, and image-conscious buyer who doesn’t want to be running with the same ol’ crowd, but who would rather stand out and make waves. Again, I applaud Haval for another excellent product and one that I think many will be surprised to see is, in fact, a Haval. I don’t intend to start eating my words anytime soon.