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SELWYN TIMES Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Wednesday <strong>November</strong> <strong>13</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 33 Haval H2 – SUV that won’t break the bank HAVAL HAS only been in the Kiwi marketplace for a couple of years but already it has made quite an impression, I’ve seen a lot of the brand on Christchurch roads and the motoring public are certainly aware of its presence. Strictly speaking, Haval is not new; it’s a subsidiary company of the Chinese Great Wall conglomerate and the nameplate is dedicated to sport utility vehicles only. That’s no surprise as the global market has an insatiable appetite for SUVs and China will capitalise on that demand. Haval is represented here in three body styles, effectively small to large. This evaluation focuses on the entry-level model, the H2. The Haval H2 is the car that will get you into the brand without breaking the bank. It is available here in two specifications, effectively low and high grade. The entry-level model is listed at just $25,990, while an extra $2000 will buy you leather trim (heated front seats, also electrically adjustable), dual zone climate control, uprated audio and a few other healthy specification items. The test car was the upspec H2, and those features sit over and above what could well be Motoring Ross Kiddie considered good specification in the first instance. There’s a raft of inclusions even in the standard model, such as keyless entry and ignition, sunroof, cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring and Isofix child seat tethers. This last feature is part of a substantial safety package that has earned the H2 a five-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program rating. That being the case, you know Haval has been proactive in building safety into its models. Under the bonnet sits a turbocharged 1.5-litre fourcylinder engine and it drives through a traditional six-speed automatic gearbox. Haval claims 110kW (5600rpm) and 210Nm (2200-4500rpm) power outputs, and if you look at the areas where those figures are supplied you easily come to the conclusion that the makers have put a lot of development work into the driveline so that it works with a broad flow of energy. It is also an engine that works sweetly. Well, that’s no surprise, at 1497cc there’s not a lot of reciprocating mass so it works quietly and with fluid turbo boost. There’s no lag, and the engine management protocols HAVAL H2: Part of a comprehensive range of models from Chinese conglomerate Great Wall. work in harmony with the sixspeeder so that gear changes are instant and structured so that respectable acceleration can be gleaned. On that subject, the H2 will reach 100km/h from a standstill in 10.5sec and will make 120km/h from 80km/h in 6.2sec. There are three drive modes, all self explanatory – eco, normal and snow. I chose normal mode for most of my evaluation drive, however, if you are conscious about fuel use, eco mode will dull throttle response. Unlike its bigger stablemates, some of which have four-wheeldrive, the H2 is a front-wheeldrive model only, however, I must make mention of the suspension engineering. Full marks to Haval, the rear end of the H2 is a fully independent system, offering suspension freedom and promoting a high degree of both handling and in-cabin comfort. The spring and damper rates are only mildly firmed, but there is still just enough damping so that gravitational forces are arrested when tricky corners are encountered. I took the test car on the loop using some of my favourite high country roads and I was hugely impressed with its road manners and civilised nature. It is quiet on the highway and steers directly, there’s a lot of rubber on the road through Korean-made Kumho tyres (235/55 x 18in), and feedback through the steering is decidedly • Price – Haval H2, $27,990 • Dimensions – Length, 4335mm; width, 1814mm; height, 1695mm • Configuration – Fourcylinder, front-wheeldrive, 1497cc, 110kW, 210Nm, six-speed automatic. • Performance – 0-100km/h, 10.5sec • Fuel usage – 9l/100km informative. On my highway loop the engine ticks over at just 2000rpm at 100km/h and it uses fuel at the rate of 6.8-litres per 100km (42mpg), which is not too distant from the norm for an engine of this size. My week-long average of 10l/100km (28mpg) was a little on the high side but worked well with Haval’s combined cycle claim of 9l/100km (31mpg). Those figures aren’t outstanding given the engine isn’t big, but I guess at around 1.5-tonne there is a bit of weight to shift. Nevertheless, the H2 is an impressive vehicle, it is easy to drive and offers family-friendly ergonomics. All too often sport utility vehicles are there to tempt, but many families simply don’t have the cash to get into the perfect car. That’s where Haval H2 fits the bill well – it is an affordable, nononsense wagon.
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