The Chinese version of Proton X70 has defeated the Honda CR-V and now it has arrived in Malaysia

The HAVAL H6 is a well-known model in China, similar to the Proton X70.

It was first introduced in 2011 and gained immense popularity due to its affordable pricing, spacious interior, and frequent updates. The HAVAL H6 has dominated its market segment for an impressive 92 months, consistently selling over 20,000 units per month, outperforming competitors like the Honda CR-V.

With the trend of electrification and the growing popularity of Chinese car exports, the HAVAL H6 HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) was introduced in Malaysia in October.

Currently, the HAVAL H6 HEV is only sold in one version in Malaysia, with a price of RM139,800, which continues the low-price sales strategy of the HAVAL H6 HEV. Its price is slightly higher than the Proton X70, but much cheaper than the Honda CR-V e:HEV.

The body size of the HAVAL H6 HEV is in the same league as the Proton X70 and Honda CR-V. You can see the specific body size in the model comparison on this website. We can also find that the wheelbase of the HAVAL H6 HEV is the longest among the three, reaching 2738mm, meaning that the HAVAL H6 HEV will have a larger interior space.

The HAVAL H6 HEV sold in Malaysia has an exterior design almost identical to the HAVAL H6 PHEV sold in China. The PHEV version was a response to Chinese government policies, while the HEV version maintains the same performance but offers a more affordable price.

The hybrid system of HAVAL H6 HEV is completely different from that of Toyota and Honda. HAVAL H6 HEV adopts a more expensive technical route, which can be understood as having 2AT gears, which takes into account the situations of low speed and high speed driving.

The hybrid mode of HAVAL H6 HEV is also different from THS (Toyota Hybrid System), but it is similar to honda i-MMD. The THS motor and engine can output power to the wheels at the same time. HAVAL H6 HEV will only drive the vehicle by the motor at low speeds (usually below 35km/h); at high speeds (usually 35km/h), the engine will drive the wheels directly; When fully accelerating, the engine and P1 motor and P3 motor provide power to the vehicle at the same time, so the 0~100km/h acceleration of HAVAL H6 HEV only takes 7.7 seconds.

The reason why HAVAL H6 HEV accelerates so fast is that its hybrid system uses a 1.5L turbocharged engine, which can provide 150Ps of horsepower/230N·m of torque, and the motor can provide 130kW of power and 300N·m. Combined, HAVAL H6 HEV can output 243Ps of power, with a torque of up to 530N·m.

Despite such powerful power, to be honest, it is very difficult for the fuel consumption of the HAVAL H6 HEV hybrid system to beat Toyota's THS. Although the official fuel consumption of HAVAL H6 HEV is 5.8L/100km, or 17.24km/L, the actual fuel consumption of HAVAL H6 HEV will be a bit higher.

But who would care about this slight increase in fuel consumption? After all, the price of HAVAL H6 HEV is much cheaper than Honda CR-V. In addition, HAVAL H6 HEV also has L2-level automatic driving technology (supporting 22 automatic driving functions including IAP comprehensive automatic parking, ARA automatic reverse assistance system, WDS intelligent avoidance system), intelligent voice support, intelligent car system, remote OTA and many other intelligent technologies.

The interior of the HAVAL H6 HEV is also very luxurious. First of all, there is a 10.25-inch LCD dashboard and a 12.3-inch LCD control screen. The design of the two looks like they are suspended in the control console, which is very technological. The shifting mechanism of HAVAL H6 HEV has also been changed to a knob-type, making the cabin look very clean and futuristic.

The HAVAL H6 HEV is not only stylish but also focuses heavily on interior space, having undergone numerous updates in China to improve comfort. The rear trunk has a capacity of 560 liters, and when the rear seats are folded down, the total capacity expands to 1485 liters, easily fitting two bicycles.

About the issue of quality, GWM has made many promises for HAVAL H6 HEV, even surpassing the conditions in China.

However, some Malaysian consumers prefer cars that are easy to repair and maintain on their own. Given that the engine compartment is filled with high-voltage wiring, the HAVAL H6 HEV may not be suitable for self-repairs, making it more appropriate for urban professionals and city dwellers who rely on authorized service centers for maintenance.