Shanghai show: Haval uncovers all-new H6

HAVAL has ripped the covers off its new-generation H6 mid-size SUV in China, marking the first makeover for China's best-selling SUV.

Despite sharing a name, the Australian and Chinese versions of the H6 are different. In China, the H6 went on sale in 2011, but the model Australians know as the H6 is the Chinese-market H6 Coupe launched there in 2015.

The new H6 is set to go on sale in its Chinese homeland later this year, and while Australian timing is unclear, it is likely to replace the existing Australian H6 that went on sale in October last year.

Revealed at a sales celebration event in Baoding, China, earlier this month, the new H6 ushers in a new exterior design based on the HR-02 concept that debuted a fresh interior and new powertrain at last year’s Beijing motor show.

At the front, the new H6 has a deeper, more aggressive grille flanked by new, sharper headlights that have an Audi flavour, a squared off front bumper and new foglight housings.

It also features a bulging bonnet and smoother lines, with a lower character line and high-set shoulder line running along the side panels.

At the rear, Haval has ditched the ‘floating’ D-pillar for a more modern look, and while the rear end and tail-lights are new, they follow the theme of the outgoing H6.

Inside, the H6 has an all-new interior with a more modern, cohesive look than the current model, and offers tech features such as digital instrumentation and a 12-inch infotainment screen with a mobile media interface.

Haval is keeping most of the details of the new H6 for the Shanghai motor show in April, but it has confirmed the H6 will be offered with a new 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine that will join the carry-over 145kW/315Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol unit. Both are paired with a seven-speed Getrag dual-clutch transmission.

Former BMW designer and now Haval design director Pierre Leclercq described the H6 as “an extremely important vehicle” for the Chinese car-maker, adding that the new platform allowed his team to be creative.

“Replacing a very successful product is always a difficult task,” he said. “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 is 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 H6 is not only Haval’s best seller globally, it is the top-selling SUV in China, with 580,000 sold in its home market last year alone.

In Australia it competes in the tough sub-$60,000 mid-size SUV segment against the likes of Mazda’s top-selling CX-5, the Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester, Nissan X-Trail and the Hyundai Tucson to name a few.

Following its launch in October last year, Haval Australia sold 57 H6s in 2016 and kicked off 2017 with 12 sales in January.

Haval Motors Australia public relations and product specialist Andrew Ellis told GoAuto that the fledgling auto-maker was satisfied with the response to the H6 since its launch last year.

“We are still expanding our dealers, now we have got 13 Haval dealers,” he said. “Once we get people into it, the conversion rate is very, very good.

“The H2 is still the biggest seller (in Australia), no surprises there. But we were always confident H6 would do well. The pricing is still sharp. We are maintaining that pricing for a few more months yet.”

Haval is offering the H6 in Australia from $29,990 driveaway.