Latest news with #H7
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
The Haval H7 is a ‘Big Dog' families will love
An electronically locking rear differential and ground clearance of 210mm facilitates off-road prowess that is above-average for the class. The H7 rolls on 235/60/19 wheels. Road manners are fair, with decent insulation and a relaxed cruising manner at freeway speeds. Body-roll under cornering, hard acceleration and firm braking is to be anticipated. Buyers will find German and Japanese rivals offer more polish where on-road dynamic adeptness is concerned. The driving position is high-up and commanding while cabin space is considerable, simulating the feel of a much larger vehicle. Luggage capacity is 482 l, extending to 1,362 l with the seats folded. Part of the allure surrounding Chinese marques is the generous provision of standard equipment. To this end, the H7 delivers and then some. For the money it offers buyers a great deal, with everything from leatherette upholstery to electric seat adjustment, heated seats, heated steering wheel, a panoramic roof, digital instrument cluster and a massive central infotainment screen that almost resembles a household smart television. The suite of driver assistance features are plentiful, but as noted in previous reviews, the systems could do with sharper calibration for local market conditions. They tend to overreact and intrude, alarming the driver rather than offering meaningful aid. All things considered, however, the H7 is a compelling package with a strong appeal in the busy C-segment market. It embodies that basic recipe that is holding the Chinese in good stead: bold looks, high specification and keen pricing.
The Advertiser
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Australia declared free from bird flu, but a more deadly strain lurks
In a major win for the nation's biosecurity efforts, Australia has been officially declared free from high pathogenicity avian influenza in poultry. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has published Australia's self-declared HPAI-free status following agreement by the National Management Group that the February 2025 H7N8 outbreak in Victoria has been eradicated. The publication is designed to provide global transparency of a nation's animal health status. There have been no new cases of bird flu detected in poultry since 24 February 2025; the government submitted the self-declaration to the WOAH last month. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has been working closely with trading partners to triage a crippling crisis for the poultry industry that began after H7, a separate strain of the virus, tore through chicken flocks in Victoria, NSW and the ACT in July 2024. More than 1.8 million birds were culled nationwide during that outbreak, decimating the national layer hen flock and causing an Australia-wide retail shortage of eggs, in an effort to contain the spread of the virus while strict quarantine zones and trade restrictions were put in place. The government has also confirmed that Australia remains free of the H5N1 strain, a subtype of avian influenza that remains on its doorstep and has created havoc across entire continents. The highly contagious strain has infected more than 500 wild bird species and 90 mammalian species overseas and, while these were mainly marine mammals and bird-eating scavengers, "spillover" cases have been detected in dairy cattle, cats, goats, alpacas, and pigs. A sheep was also infected after being exposed to a highly contaminated environment in the UK. Asia has been significantly impacted by the H5N1 strain with cases being reported in several countries, including multiple human fatalities linked to the virus in Cambodia notwithstanding that human infections are rare. The government invested more than $100 million last year to enhance national preparedness and response capabilities as stakeholders prepare for a possible future outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in Australia, including the potential impacts to animals, people and ecosystems. Stakeholders said a significant outbreak of the highly pathogenic bird flu, which jumped species to infect humans and more than 80 dairy farms across 11 states in the US, could lead to the "worst environmental disaster in Australia's history". While the eradication of the latest outbreak marks a significant turning point, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins cautioned against complacency and said the joint effort underlines Australia's successful response and management capabilities and ongoing work to combat invasive emergency pests and diseases. "Australia must remain vigilant, as a highly contagious and serious strain of H5 HPAI is spreading globally through movement of migratory wild birds - this strain is not present in Australia," she said. "The rapid spread abroad has killed not only birds but also mammals, and means we cannot afford to be complacent. "The agriculture, environment and health sectors are working in partnership to manage national biosecurity threats that impact Australians." The H7N8 outbreak in February was reported days after the government declared Australia bird flu-free following the 2024 outbreak. A national review of avian influenza preparedness is also currently underway, with recommendations expected by the end of the year. Proposals being considered are permanent upgrades to farm-level biosecurity and improved diagnostic capacity for regional areas. Avian influenza virus strains are either low or high pathogenicity, depending on the impact the disease has on poultry. In Australia, low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses are naturally carried by wild birds, particularly ducks, often without signs of disease, and spread by contaminating the food or water supplies of domestic poultry and this can mutate into high pathogenicity strains on rare occasions. Scientists believe the 2025 outbreak was linked to one of these 'spillover' events. Australia's default policy for bird flu outbreaks is to contain and eradicate the disease in the shortest possible time, without vaccination. In a major win for the nation's biosecurity efforts, Australia has been officially declared free from high pathogenicity avian influenza in poultry. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has published Australia's self-declared HPAI-free status following agreement by the National Management Group that the February 2025 H7N8 outbreak in Victoria has been eradicated. The publication is designed to provide global transparency of a nation's animal health status. There have been no new cases of bird flu detected in poultry since 24 February 2025; the government submitted the self-declaration to the WOAH last month. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has been working closely with trading partners to triage a crippling crisis for the poultry industry that began after H7, a separate strain of the virus, tore through chicken flocks in Victoria, NSW and the ACT in July 2024. More than 1.8 million birds were culled nationwide during that outbreak, decimating the national layer hen flock and causing an Australia-wide retail shortage of eggs, in an effort to contain the spread of the virus while strict quarantine zones and trade restrictions were put in place. The government has also confirmed that Australia remains free of the H5N1 strain, a subtype of avian influenza that remains on its doorstep and has created havoc across entire continents. The highly contagious strain has infected more than 500 wild bird species and 90 mammalian species overseas and, while these were mainly marine mammals and bird-eating scavengers, "spillover" cases have been detected in dairy cattle, cats, goats, alpacas, and pigs. A sheep was also infected after being exposed to a highly contaminated environment in the UK. Asia has been significantly impacted by the H5N1 strain with cases being reported in several countries, including multiple human fatalities linked to the virus in Cambodia notwithstanding that human infections are rare. The government invested more than $100 million last year to enhance national preparedness and response capabilities as stakeholders prepare for a possible future outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in Australia, including the potential impacts to animals, people and ecosystems. Stakeholders said a significant outbreak of the highly pathogenic bird flu, which jumped species to infect humans and more than 80 dairy farms across 11 states in the US, could lead to the "worst environmental disaster in Australia's history". While the eradication of the latest outbreak marks a significant turning point, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins cautioned against complacency and said the joint effort underlines Australia's successful response and management capabilities and ongoing work to combat invasive emergency pests and diseases. "Australia must remain vigilant, as a highly contagious and serious strain of H5 HPAI is spreading globally through movement of migratory wild birds - this strain is not present in Australia," she said. "The rapid spread abroad has killed not only birds but also mammals, and means we cannot afford to be complacent. "The agriculture, environment and health sectors are working in partnership to manage national biosecurity threats that impact Australians." The H7N8 outbreak in February was reported days after the government declared Australia bird flu-free following the 2024 outbreak. A national review of avian influenza preparedness is also currently underway, with recommendations expected by the end of the year. Proposals being considered are permanent upgrades to farm-level biosecurity and improved diagnostic capacity for regional areas. Avian influenza virus strains are either low or high pathogenicity, depending on the impact the disease has on poultry. In Australia, low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses are naturally carried by wild birds, particularly ducks, often without signs of disease, and spread by contaminating the food or water supplies of domestic poultry and this can mutate into high pathogenicity strains on rare occasions. Scientists believe the 2025 outbreak was linked to one of these 'spillover' events. Australia's default policy for bird flu outbreaks is to contain and eradicate the disease in the shortest possible time, without vaccination. In a major win for the nation's biosecurity efforts, Australia has been officially declared free from high pathogenicity avian influenza in poultry. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has published Australia's self-declared HPAI-free status following agreement by the National Management Group that the February 2025 H7N8 outbreak in Victoria has been eradicated. The publication is designed to provide global transparency of a nation's animal health status. There have been no new cases of bird flu detected in poultry since 24 February 2025; the government submitted the self-declaration to the WOAH last month. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has been working closely with trading partners to triage a crippling crisis for the poultry industry that began after H7, a separate strain of the virus, tore through chicken flocks in Victoria, NSW and the ACT in July 2024. More than 1.8 million birds were culled nationwide during that outbreak, decimating the national layer hen flock and causing an Australia-wide retail shortage of eggs, in an effort to contain the spread of the virus while strict quarantine zones and trade restrictions were put in place. The government has also confirmed that Australia remains free of the H5N1 strain, a subtype of avian influenza that remains on its doorstep and has created havoc across entire continents. The highly contagious strain has infected more than 500 wild bird species and 90 mammalian species overseas and, while these were mainly marine mammals and bird-eating scavengers, "spillover" cases have been detected in dairy cattle, cats, goats, alpacas, and pigs. A sheep was also infected after being exposed to a highly contaminated environment in the UK. Asia has been significantly impacted by the H5N1 strain with cases being reported in several countries, including multiple human fatalities linked to the virus in Cambodia notwithstanding that human infections are rare. The government invested more than $100 million last year to enhance national preparedness and response capabilities as stakeholders prepare for a possible future outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in Australia, including the potential impacts to animals, people and ecosystems. Stakeholders said a significant outbreak of the highly pathogenic bird flu, which jumped species to infect humans and more than 80 dairy farms across 11 states in the US, could lead to the "worst environmental disaster in Australia's history". While the eradication of the latest outbreak marks a significant turning point, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins cautioned against complacency and said the joint effort underlines Australia's successful response and management capabilities and ongoing work to combat invasive emergency pests and diseases. "Australia must remain vigilant, as a highly contagious and serious strain of H5 HPAI is spreading globally through movement of migratory wild birds - this strain is not present in Australia," she said. "The rapid spread abroad has killed not only birds but also mammals, and means we cannot afford to be complacent. "The agriculture, environment and health sectors are working in partnership to manage national biosecurity threats that impact Australians." The H7N8 outbreak in February was reported days after the government declared Australia bird flu-free following the 2024 outbreak. A national review of avian influenza preparedness is also currently underway, with recommendations expected by the end of the year. Proposals being considered are permanent upgrades to farm-level biosecurity and improved diagnostic capacity for regional areas. Avian influenza virus strains are either low or high pathogenicity, depending on the impact the disease has on poultry. In Australia, low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses are naturally carried by wild birds, particularly ducks, often without signs of disease, and spread by contaminating the food or water supplies of domestic poultry and this can mutate into high pathogenicity strains on rare occasions. Scientists believe the 2025 outbreak was linked to one of these 'spillover' events. Australia's default policy for bird flu outbreaks is to contain and eradicate the disease in the shortest possible time, without vaccination. In a major win for the nation's biosecurity efforts, Australia has been officially declared free from high pathogenicity avian influenza in poultry. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has published Australia's self-declared HPAI-free status following agreement by the National Management Group that the February 2025 H7N8 outbreak in Victoria has been eradicated. The publication is designed to provide global transparency of a nation's animal health status. There have been no new cases of bird flu detected in poultry since 24 February 2025; the government submitted the self-declaration to the WOAH last month. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has been working closely with trading partners to triage a crippling crisis for the poultry industry that began after H7, a separate strain of the virus, tore through chicken flocks in Victoria, NSW and the ACT in July 2024. More than 1.8 million birds were culled nationwide during that outbreak, decimating the national layer hen flock and causing an Australia-wide retail shortage of eggs, in an effort to contain the spread of the virus while strict quarantine zones and trade restrictions were put in place. The government has also confirmed that Australia remains free of the H5N1 strain, a subtype of avian influenza that remains on its doorstep and has created havoc across entire continents. The highly contagious strain has infected more than 500 wild bird species and 90 mammalian species overseas and, while these were mainly marine mammals and bird-eating scavengers, "spillover" cases have been detected in dairy cattle, cats, goats, alpacas, and pigs. A sheep was also infected after being exposed to a highly contaminated environment in the UK. Asia has been significantly impacted by the H5N1 strain with cases being reported in several countries, including multiple human fatalities linked to the virus in Cambodia notwithstanding that human infections are rare. The government invested more than $100 million last year to enhance national preparedness and response capabilities as stakeholders prepare for a possible future outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in Australia, including the potential impacts to animals, people and ecosystems. Stakeholders said a significant outbreak of the highly pathogenic bird flu, which jumped species to infect humans and more than 80 dairy farms across 11 states in the US, could lead to the "worst environmental disaster in Australia's history". While the eradication of the latest outbreak marks a significant turning point, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins cautioned against complacency and said the joint effort underlines Australia's successful response and management capabilities and ongoing work to combat invasive emergency pests and diseases. "Australia must remain vigilant, as a highly contagious and serious strain of H5 HPAI is spreading globally through movement of migratory wild birds - this strain is not present in Australia," she said. "The rapid spread abroad has killed not only birds but also mammals, and means we cannot afford to be complacent. "The agriculture, environment and health sectors are working in partnership to manage national biosecurity threats that impact Australians." The H7N8 outbreak in February was reported days after the government declared Australia bird flu-free following the 2024 outbreak. A national review of avian influenza preparedness is also currently underway, with recommendations expected by the end of the year. Proposals being considered are permanent upgrades to farm-level biosecurity and improved diagnostic capacity for regional areas. Avian influenza virus strains are either low or high pathogenicity, depending on the impact the disease has on poultry. In Australia, low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses are naturally carried by wild birds, particularly ducks, often without signs of disease, and spread by contaminating the food or water supplies of domestic poultry and this can mutate into high pathogenicity strains on rare occasions. Scientists believe the 2025 outbreak was linked to one of these 'spillover' events. Australia's default policy for bird flu outbreaks is to contain and eradicate the disease in the shortest possible time, without vaccination.
TimesLIVE
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Five things I learnt driving the Haval H7 2.0T Super Luxury DCT 4WD
The Haval H7 line-up arrived in South Africa at the beginning of the year. The China carmaker's answer to the more established likes of the VW Tiguan, Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage and Ford Territory, to name a few, is a family-sized SUV that merges assured exterior styling with the generous specification levels we've learnt to expect from the Great Wall Motor sub-brand. I recently spent a few days with the mid-tier H7 2.0T Super Luxury DCT 4WD model and this is what I learnt from my time behind the wheel. 1: There's plenty of power on tap Behind that rather angry facade (one reminiscent of the Jeep Renegade) lurks a 2.0l GWM-developed four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine punching out a claimed 170kW and 380Nm of torque. It's a willing unit and one that endows the 1,715kg H7 with some impressive off-the-line shove. Though the carmaker doesn't supply claimed performance data, I'd hazard a guess the SUV hits 100km/h in around the seven second mark. Maybe a whisker less at sea level on a chilly winter's day. In gear acceleration is equally pleasing, the H7 hardly breaking sweat when you call on it to pass endlessly long lines of slow moving trucks that litter the Western Cape's route roads. Reasonably quiet and refined for a modern Chinese four-banger, the force fed motor offers a plethora of drive modes and comes paired to a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission that offers smooth, effortless shifting up and down the cogs. The presence of steering wheel paddles lets you to swap gears manually should the need arise. Left to its own devices the box mostly does a stellar job, though I did find, specially when driving in Eco Mode, it has an annoying tendency to hunt between ninth and eighth gears when travelling at highway speeds, which ironically does your fuel consumption no favours. To get around the quirk I simply selected manual mode and left it in top gear whenever I was cruising the N1. 2: You'll probably visit the pumps quite often Despite concentrated efforts, the best I saw flashed on the H7's trip computer was 9.5l/100km. Over the entirety of my test period, most of which was resigned to relatively sedate freeway driving, I averaged more than 11l/100km, which isn't great and a lot more than what you might average in something fitted with a turbodiesel engine. In everyday urban traffic I would expect the number to be worse, culminating in frequent visits to the fuel pumps. If you're looking for a frugal SUV I'd suggest you explore other options. 3: It rides firm but handles well A lot of SUVs feel soft and spongy but the H7 isn't one of them. Riding on large 19-inch alloy wheels, the RAV4 rival sports a surprisingly firm suspension setup similar to the one I experienced in my long-term Ford Territory 1.8 Titanium. As a result it can feel a bit choppy across ill-kept surfaces. The tradeoff is a vehicle that handles well for what it is. After travelling inland for a recent wedding, I had an opportunity to steer my test unit down beautiful twisting backroads around the greater Caledon area. In doing so I discovered the H7 can be flung about with a fair degree of enthusiasm. Though the relatively direct steering might be utterly devoid of feel (my Logtiech G29 and copy of Gran Turismo 7 give me more feedback), a taught chassis, plenty mechanical grip and a chassis that manages lateral forces well (not much roly-poly action through corners) means you can attack bends with relative gusto. Dynamically, I'd put it up there with the Territory, which is pretty high praise in this segment. 4: Off-road credentials I didn't take the H7 off-roading as I simply didn't have enough time. However, after glancing at said vehicle's spec sheet it should prove fairly competent when steered off the beaten track as it sports 200mm of ground clearance, a 24° approach angle and 30° departure angle. You also get an intelligent all-wheel drive system with many preset modes programmed for tackling certain types of terrain (Snow, Mud, Sand, Grass, Uneven Road or Auto), hill descent control, a 360° transparent view camera (to better spot unseen obstacles approaching or beneath the vehicle), off-road cruise control and an electronic locking rear differential for when things get specially slippery. Though not a hardcore enthusiast's 4x4 by any stretch of the imagination, the H7 should prove more than adept at conquering lonely gravel roads and Jeep tracks in all weather conditions with ease. 5: Well put together and generously appointed One thing that impressed me about the H7 is its interior build quality. From the way the weighted doors close with a reassuring "thunk" to the pleasingly tactile plastics used in the construction of the dashboard and wobble-free centre console, the SUV does feel like it'll go the distance in terms of fielding everyday wear and tear. Though I didn't care for the stupidly over-engineered gear lever or the incessant audible pings and bongs that seem to accompany every button press or menu input, I did enjoy the bidirectional air vents and heated/ventilated front seats upholstered in black leather. Ditto the heated steering wheel, wireless charging, panoramic glass sunroof, dual-zone climate control, adjustable ambient lighting and large digital instrument cluster. There's a hearty amount of kit packed into the machine, which does make it something of a bargain. Another great feature is the 14.6-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system that syncs wirelessly with Apple CarPlay. I've never seen Google Maps displayed so impressively large. Despite many of the vehicle's features being built into it, I applaud Haval for supplementing it with physical buttons for controlling things such as fan speed, air recirculation, ventilation modes and front/rear windscreen defrosting. The small but significant feature makes life much less distracting when you're sitting behind the wheel. The H7 driving position is excellent for an SUV of its ilk and there's plenty of scope for fine tuning your fit thanks to an eight-way electronically adjustable seat and a steering wheel that adjusts for rake and reach. Even set up for my lanky 1.88m frame, rear leg room remains capacious enough to accommodate anyone except maybe an NBA centre. The 483l boot (plenty for weekend wedding attire and other personal paraphernalia associated with a weekend in the country) is accessible via a powered tailgate, a nice touch. Summary Fairly easy on the eye, seemingly well built and packed to the rafters with standard niceties, the H7 2.0T Super Luxury DCT 4WD has a lot going for it. Even more so when you factor in the punchy turbocharged motor and above average off-road capabilities offered by its all-wheel drive system and rear differential lock, something that will certainly appeal to those who want to use their vehicle for more than weekly school/shopping runs. While its questionable thirst for fuel counts against it, the mid-range model makes a strong case for itself and should, if you're willing to shun proven European/Japanese marques in favour of Chinese, certainly be on your radar. Fast facts: 2025 Haval H7 2.0T Super Luxury DCT 4WD
The Citizen
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Facelift: GWM Haval H6 improves an already hard-to-beat package
Its flagship SUV until the arrival of the H7 at the beginning of the year, Great Wall Motors (GWM) Haval officially removed the wraps from the facelift H6 in South Africa last week after confirming initial details in February. Almost brand new The first and most comprehensive update to the H6 since its local market arrival four years ago, the changes not only involve aesthetics, but also the interior in a such way that it could be described as a completely new vehicle. While indeed referred to by the company rebranded last year as GWM Haval, hence the H6 sporting GWM branding on its tailgate and no longer simply only Haval, the launch in a drizzly and cold Cape Town also came with a surprise in the first-time sampling of the sportier H6 GT, though more about this later. A key model for GWM, as it together with the Jolion, makes up the bulk of the Haval division's sales as a result of the H7 still being new, the H6's exterior changes mirror those of the Chinese market variant, shown last year, without any market specific differences. New outside Spanning four models, excluding the pair of GT variants, all H6s receive new LED headlights, a redesigned front bumper, a new chrome grille, and Peugeot-type fog lamps that run in a claw motif from the main clusters down the flanks of the bumper. Not stopping there, GWM has updated the lower air intake and fitted gloss black 19-inch alloy wheels across the entire range after it proved popular on higher-end versions of the pre-facelift model. Just as prominent are the changes at the rear comprising the mentioned GWM logo in a block letter typeface between the new LED light clusters, a restyled bumper, roof rails and window surrounds finished in gloss black, and a slightly changed tailgate. Completing the exterior, the choice of colours has been streamlined to comprise three carryover options and a new addition, the former trio being Hamilton White, Ayers Grey and Sun Black, and the latter a shade called Noble Gold. Completely spruced-up interior Opening the door, the sweeping changes see the H6 adopt the now customary minimalistic design similar to the H7, but without letting go entirely of physical switches for some functions. In this regard, GWM has fitted a floating new centre console with a pair of wireless smartphone chargers, two cupholders, a storage area on the upper section, and a storage slot plus a pair of USB ports below. The placing of the former means the rotary gear selector departs in favour of a steering column-mounted lever, while the steering wheel has been revised with a ticker outer rim Taking prominence are the new 10.25-inch freestanding instrument cluster and the 14.6-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Replacing the previous 12.3-inch setup, the new display also serves as the interface for the climate control, though GWM has seen it wise to retain a traditional 'on/off' button rather than embedding it into the system. What did, however, come as irksome is increasing or lowering the volume of the sound system, which requires the 'folder' button on the top right of the steering wheel to be pressed until the green icon within the cluster disappears. Only then does the volume button become operational. As annoying and unnecessarily complicated as this is, the rest of the interior feels plush, premium and well put together, with only the odd scratchy surface being present. On the practicality side, space lacks for little and while the base model does without an electric tailgate, boot space is still more than impressive at 560l – this applying only to the petrol H6 and not the GT or the HEV. Spec and tech In terms of specification, the H6 range sports four trim levels, with the Luxury now becoming the base grade in place of the discontinued Premium. Besides the items already mentioned, the Luxury comes standard with an eight-speaker sound system, rain sense wipers, electric driver's seats, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, ambient lighting, heated and folding electric mirrors, and push-button start as well as keyless entry. Taking care of safety is the following: 540-degree camera system Tyre pressure monitor Front and rear parking sensors Adaptive Cruise Control Rollover Mitigation Hill Start Assist Automatic Emergency Braking Lane Keep Assist Hill Descent Control Traffic Jam Assist Driver Attention Alert Lane Departure Warning Lane Centring Assist. A drive mode selector with four settings: Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow, and a steering mode adjuster with three settings: Normal, Comfort and Sport, rounds the Luxury off. Taking the step-up to the Super Luxury bring the mentioned electric tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats with the passenger's chair now being electric, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Door Alert and Automatic Reverse Braking. At the line-up's summit, the Ultra Luxury gets Automatic Park Assist, a nine-speaker sound system and a Head-Up Display. More powerful petrol, same hybrid Out on the launch route, which started and ended in Stellenbosch and included Franschhoek via the renowned pass of the same name, only the conventional petrol variant could be sampled in Luxury guise. As before, GWM has retained the 2.0 T-GDI and HEV powertrains, but with an increase in power and torque for the former from 150kW/320Nm to the same 170kW/380Nm as the H7. Also new is the nine-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which replaces the previous seven-speed, while four-wheel-drive can be had as an option on the Luxury and as the sole choice for the Ultra Luxury. Adding the all-paw system brings an additional two driving modes: Sand and Off-Road. With drive going to the front wheels only, the self-charging HEV once again combines a 1.5l turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor and battery pack for unchanged outputs of 179kW/530Nm. The only transmission is a two-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT), and while the petrol will consume unleaded at a rate of 7.4l/100km or 8.3l/100km in the case of the 4WD, the HEV will do so at a claimed 5.1l/100km. Worth noting is that the HEV has run-flat tyres and no spare due to the battery pack underneath the boot board, and the same drive modes as the front-wheel-drive petrol. The drive The first leg of the journey involved the 4WD and despite the irritation of the audio system, it felt sure-footed, refined, comfortable and with a smooth ride that ironed-out the odd imperfection with ease. Heading up the pass was somewhat different, and while no H6 buyer would, admittedly, embark on a full-throttle assault, selecting Sport mode and giving it the maximum came with flustered shifting from the transmission on downshifts. That being said, it is an otherwise slick setup in everyday conditions, although the addition of paddle shifters would have been welcomed. In between, a brief moment to sample the H6 GT involved only the new plug-in hybrid variant, though a more in-depth report will only be made once it arrives on test. The second half of the route from Franschhoek back to Stellenbosch took place in the front-wheel-drive, which featured the typical Chinese vehicle throttle calibration issue not found on the 4WD. Not as confidence inspiring as the all-paw H6, the front-wheel-drive still felt comfortable and refined, but will require finessing or at best, small driving style changes to negate wheelspin on take-off as a result of the throttle and gearbox mapping disconnect. Conclusion A key model for GWM Haval, the updates to the H6 come as a welcome addition to an already well-appointed, if now ageing, model. However, with sales for the year standing at 1 426 units, and with a price tag still below R500 000, but with more specification and tech included, expect the H6 to remain a runaway success at a price tough to beat. Price All H6's price tags include a seven-year/200 000km warranty, a seven-year/75 000km service and, in the case of the HEV, an eight-year/150 000 km battery warranty. H6 2.0 T-GDI Luxury DCT – R495 500 H6 2.0 T-GDI Luxury 4WD DCT – R574 500 H6 2.0 T-GDI Super Luxury DCT – R542 500 H6 2.0 T-GDI Ultra Luxury 4WD DCT – R614 500 H6 HEV Luxury DHT – R641 500 H6 HEV Ultra Luxury DHT – R686 500 This article first appeared in The Citizen. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
The Citizen
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Facelift GWM Haval H6 improves an already hard-to-beat package
Key model for the Chinese brand has been thoroughly updated inside, out and up front on all petrol-engine variants. Haval H6 has been facelifted to the point where it could almost be seen a new generation. Images: Charl Bosch Its flagship SUV until the arrival of the H7 at the beginning of the year, Great Wall Motors (GWM) Haval officially removed the wraps from the facelift H6 in South Africa last week after confirming initial details in February. Almost brand new The first and most comprehensive update to the H6 since its local market arrival four years ago, the changes not only involve aesthetics, but also the interior in a such way that it could be described as a completely new vehicle. ALSO READ: GWM prices powered-up facelift Haval H6 before market debut While indeed referred to by the company rebranded last year as GWM Haval, hence the H6 sporting GWM branding on its tailgate and no longer simply only Haval, the launch in a drizzly and cold Cape Town also came with a surprise in the first-time sampling of the sportier H6 GT, though more about this later. A key model for GWM as it, together with the Jolion, makes-up the bulk of the Haval division's sales as a result of the H7 still being new, the H6's exterior changes mirror those of the Chinese market variant, shown last year, without any market specific differences. New outside Spanning four models, excluding the pair of GT variants, all H6s receive new LED headlights, a redesigned front bumper, a new chrome grille, and Peugeot-type fog lamps that run in a claw-motif from the main clusters down the flanks of the bumper. Not stopping there, GWM has updated the lower air intake and fitted gloss black 19-inch alloy wheels across the entire range after it proved popular on higher-end versions of the pre-facelift model. As with the front, the rear facia has undergone a number refreshments as well. Just as prominent are the changes at the rear comprising the mentioned GWM logo in a block letter typeface between the new LED light clusters, a restyled bumper, roof rails and window surrounds finished in gloss black, and a slightly changed tailgate. Completing the exterior, the choice of colours has been streamlined to comprise three carryover options and new addition, the former trio being Hamilton White, Ayers Grey and Sun Black, and the latter a shade called Noble Gold. Completely spruced-up interior Opening the door, the sweeping changes sees the H6 adopting the now customary minimalistic design similar to the H7, but without letting go entirely of physical switches for some functions. In this regard, GWM has fitted a floating new centre console with a pair of wireless smartphone chargers, two cupholders and storage area on the upper section, and a storage slots plus a pair of USB ports below. Interior has been redesigned to mirror that of the new H7. The placing of the former means the rotary gear selector departs for a steering column-mounted lever, while the steering wheel has been revised with a ticker outer rim. Taking prominence are the new 10.25-inch freestanding instrument cluster and the 14.6-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Centre console has been redesigned and now sports a floating design. Replacing the previous 12.3-inch setup, the new display also serves as interface for the climate control, though GWM has seen it wise to retain a traditional 'on/off' button rather than embedding it into the system. What did, however, come as irksome is increasing or lowering the volume of the sound system, which requires the 'folder' button on the top right of the steering wheel to be pressed until the green icon within the cluster disappears. Only then does the volume button become operational. Boot space is rated at 560-litres on all but the HEV. As annoying and unnecessarily complicated as this is, the rest of the interior feels plush, premium and well put together, with only the odd scratchy surface being present. On the practicality side, space lacks for little and while the base model does without an electric tailgate, boot space is still more than impressive at 560-litres – this applying only to the petrol H6 and not the GT or the HEV. Spec and tech In terms of specification, the H6 range sports four trim levels with the Luxury now becoming the base grade in place of the discontinued Premium. Infotainment system size has been increased from 12.3-inches to 14.6-inches. Besides the items already mentioned, the Luxury comes standard with an eight-speaker sound system, rain sense wipers, electric driver's seats, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, ambient lighting, heated and folding electric mirrors, and push-button start as well as keyless entry. Taking care of safety is the following: 540-degree camera system; tyre pressure monitor; front and rear parking sensors; Adaptive Cruise Control; Rollover Mitigation; Hill Start Assist; Automatic Emergency Braking; Lane Keep Assist; Hill Descent Control; Traffic Jam Assist; Driver Attention Alert; Lane Departure Warning; Lane Centring Assist A drive mode selector with four settings; Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow, and steering mode adjuster with three settings; Normal, Comfort and Sport, rounds the Luxury off. Taking the step-up to the Super Luxury bring the mentioned electric tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats with the passenger's chair now being electric, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Door Alert and Automatic Reverse Braking. At the line-up's summit, the Ultra Luxury gets Automatic Park Assist, a nine-speaker sound system and a Head-Up Display. More powerful petrol, same hybrid Out on the launch route, which started and ended in Stellenbosch and included Franschhoek via the renowned pass of the same name, only the conventional petrol variant could be sampled in Luxury guise. As before, GWM has retained the 2.0 T-GDI and HEV powertrains, but with an increase in power and torque for the former from 150kW/320Nm to the same 170kW/380Nm as the H7. H6 range is once again topped by the hybrid HEV, which only comes in front-wheel-drive. Also is new the nine-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which replaces the previous seven-speed, while four-wheel-drive can be had as an option on the Luxury and as the sole choice for the Ultra Luxury. Adding the all-paw system brings an additional two driving modes; Sand and Off-Road. With drive going to the front wheels only, the self-charging HEV once again combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor and battery pack for unchanged outputs of 179kW/530Nm. Self-charging HEV hybrid develops a combined 179kW/530Nm. The only transmission is a two-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT), and while the petrol will consume unleaded at a rate of 7.4 L/100 km or 8.3 L/100 km in the case of the 4WD, the HEV will do so at a claimed 5.1 L/100 km. Worth noting is that the HEV has run-flat tyres and no spare due to the battery pack underneath the boot board, and the same drive modes as the front-wheel-drive petrol. The drive The first leg of the journey involved the 4WD and despite the irritation of the audio system, it felt sure-footed, refined, comfortable and with a smooth ride that ironed-out the odd imperfection with ease. Heading up the pass was somewhat different though and while no H6 buyer would, admittedly, embark on a full-throttle assault, selecting Sport mode and giving it the maximum came with flustered shifting from the transmission on downshifts. That being said, it is an otherwise slick setup in everyday conditions, although the addition of paddle shifters would have been welcomed. Seats are supportive and offers electric adjustability for the driver across all trim grades. In-between, a brief moment to sample the H6 GT involved only the new plug-in hybrid variant, though a more in depth report will only be made once it arrives on test. The second half of the route from Franschhoek back to Stellenbosch took place in the front-wheel-drive, which featured the typical Chinese vehicle throttle calibration issue not found on the 4WD. Not as confidence inspiring as the all-paw H6, the front-wheel-drive still felt comfortable and refined, but will require finessing or at best, small driving style changes to negate wheelspin on take-off as a result of the throttle and gearbox mapping disconnect, Conclusion A key model for GWM Haval as mentioned, the updates to the H6 come as a welcome addition to an already well appointed if now aging model. H6 has been a key model for GWM Haval, with sales this year so far of 1 426 units. However, with sales for the year standing at 1 426 units, and with a price tag still below R500 000, but with more specification and tech included, expect the H6 to remain a runaway success at a price tough to beat. Price All H6's price tags include a seven-year/200 000 km warranty, a seven-year/75 000 km service and, in the case of the HEV, an eight-year/150 000 km battery warranty. H6 2.0 T-GDI Luxury DCT – R495 500 H6 2.0 T-GDI Luxury 4WD DCT – R574 500 H6 2.0 T-GDI Super Luxury DCT – R542 500 H6 2.0 T-GDI Ultra Luxury 4WD DCT – R614 500 H6 HEV Luxury DHT – R641 500 H6 HEV Ultra Luxury DHT – R686 500 NOW READ: This is the real deal: Facelift Haval H6 shows its true face
