The Haval H2 could become a common sight on our roads

By Farzana Chaumoo

Haval is not a popular name on South African roads, but you might better know this brand as GWM (Great Wall Motors) from China. After introducing the sub-brand last year, the H2 was released and we got to test it shortly thereafter. It’s equipped with a turbocharged 1,5-litre engine and paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

I drove the manual H2 last December and I must admit, I didn’t write many positive things about it.

My most recent test derivative was the Haval H2 1.5T Luxury 6 A/T (R309 900) with 6-speed automatic transmission, as the name suggests. This time around I was pleasantly surprised and it felt very different. However, before getting to the positives, let’s begin with a small, but inconvenient issue: The H2 needed boosting on two different consecutive days before I actually got to take it out on the road. The dead battery was a result of a small light in the back seat that was switched off just prior to the car being delivered. Once that was sorted, I enjoyed pleasant driving in the days that followed.

The drive

The Haval H2’s 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine puts out 105 kW of power and 202 Nm of torque. As aforementioned, the engine was surprisingly capable, providing sufficient power when needed.

The H2 has a good, solid feel to it. It also has responsive steering and holds itself well on bends and corners. I took the H2 for some light off-roading, which it handled as well as it did the road. Its suspension is impressive too. It’s definitely not a hardcore off-roading machine, but like many compact SUVs, it can hold its own. Available in front-wheel and four-wheel drive and with a ground clearance of 184mm, climbing small hills can be done without damage.

Interior

The cabin is comfortable and spacious. It’s well-equipped and has enough stowage pockets. The centre console has a neat, quite modern setup with everything in good reach of the driver. It is fitted with a large touchscreen that has user-friendly Bluetooth connectivity. While you may expect a Chinese vehicle to have a second-rate interior, the H2’s build quality is notable with neat finishes. In no way does it have a flimsy feel to it.

For the driver, a 3D, fashionable, multi-functional dashboard can be found. It displays the common driving information that includes instant fuel consumption and remaining driving mileage. It also has a convenient multifunctional steering wheel with buttons for cruise control, audio control, and Bluetooth.

A nice-to-have was the automatic one-touch opening sunroof. There was a dial on the roof that allowed the opening and closing but it’s not very user-friendly, and I struggled to get it to open halfway. Sometimes there’s a need for some fresh air and the sun to shine through just a little, and that requires a halfway function.

Safety and tech

“With the adoption of advanced wireless radio frequency identification technology, the chipset within the intelligent key carried by the owner can sense and automatically unlock and lock the doors, featuring high safety and intelligence.” While I read that the vehicle had keyless entry when nearby, it didn’t respond at all for me. I would just unlock the car the normal way, with the button on the remote. The boot-opening button on the remote wasn’t working either – perhaps there was a problem with the remote itself.

The H2 is fitted with LED Daytime Running Lamps, a courtesy lamp as well as electric foldable side mirrors. In case you’re wondering what a courtesy lamp is – it’s a small display light in the side mirror that reflects the Haval logo on the floor. It’s quite a cool feature.

The H2 Luxury also contains a comprehensive list of safety features including front, side and full-length curtain airbags, which provide additional protection for rear-seat passengers. There’s also electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist and traction control. The seats feature what Haval refer to as Front Active Headrests. In the case of a collision, this triggers a neck protection system which provides support to the head, to prevent serious injuries to the spine and neck.

In addition, it has a real-time tyre monitoring system which pre-warns in case of any hazards, which also helps to increase safety.

Final word

Being Chinese, the H2 has really impressed me. It is a capable SUV which is easy and comfortable to live with. It has a good dose of the necessities, as well as creature comforts.

Pricing

Haval Motors South Africa have released it with some competitive prices:

H2 1.5T City 6M/T	R244 900
H2 1.5T City 6A/T	R274 900
H2 1.5T Premium 6M/T	R254 900
H2 1.5T Premium 6A/T	R289 900
H2 1.5T Luxury 6M/T	R274 900
H2 1.5T Luxury 6A/T	R309 900

As per Haval: All Haval H2 models come standard with a 5-year/100 000km warranty, 5-year/60 000km service plan and 5 years /unlimited km roadside assistance.