Haval H6 1.5T Luxury DCT: The Chinese SUV That's Changed the Game

Three years ago, Chinese SUVs in South Africa were dismissed as cheap imitations. The Haval H6 has done more than any other single vehicle to change that perception. At R469,900 for the Luxury DCT, it offers equipment levels that European rivals charge R200,000 more to match. Standard equipment includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, a 360-degree camera system, blind spot warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and heated front seats. These are features typically found in SUVs costing R650,000-700,000. The 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine''s 110kW and 220Nm feels adequate rather than exciting — in urban traffic it''s perfectly quick but highway overtaking requires planning. The 7-speed wet clutch DCT gearbox serves the engine well in most conditions but occasionally hunts for gears in slow-moving traffic. Interior quality has improved dramatically over early Chinese SUVs. Soft-touch surfaces on the dashboard, genuine leather seats and tight panel gaps suggest a manufacturer that takes quality seriously. Four-year warranties help too — Haval''s 5-year/100,000km vehicle warranty and 3-year service plan addresses residual value concerns. Fuel consumption averaged 7.8L/100km over our test — marginally above the claimed 7.0L/100km but acceptable for a turbocharged SUV of this size.