Haval H5

Introduction:

Great Wall may not really be one of the biggest names in the world, but it is one of the big time manufacturers of mainland China. Established in 1984 and named after the Great wall of China, Great wall motors happens to be the largest Sport utility vehicle's (SUV) manufacturer of the country. With one of its forte products, the company is ready to hit the Malaysian automobile market with its Haval H5 which is rapidly becoming a popular name in European and Australian automobile market. H5 is one of the upbeat SUV cars from the manufacturers, the reliability is an issue, but more or less the SUV offers it all, and at a diminished price tag as well.

Engine, Mileage and Variants:

Launched at a much less price range than traditional rivals Hyundai Santa fe and Chevrolet Captiva H5 holds an edge over the rivals selling as a diesel-oriented drive however a petrol variant is also available. This omission turns as a blessing in disguise for an outsider in the petrol oriented Malaysian market segment. Powering the Havel H5 is the powerful 2.0-litre VGT engine providing high pressure common rail fuel injection technology along with the variable exhaust turbocharged technology. Consequently, the power output measures 110 kW at 4000rpm and maximum torque generated measures 310Nm between 1800 to 2800 rpm. When it comes to petrol engine, Great Wall H5 embedding its technology from Mitsubishi's arsenal now delivers a maximum power output of 100 kW at 5250 rpm alongside a maximum torque of 200 Nm between 2500 to 3000 rpm. Even the mileage count for the size is decent enough measuring 6.8 L/100 km for diesel variant. The performance factor is where Great Wall H5 truly excels, it delivers 0-100 acceleration count in just about 14.4 seconds clocking a maximum speed of just around 170 km/hr.

Exterior:

The muscular looking SUV is available in 5 seats and 7 seats variant with 2-wheel and part time 4-wheel drive option. The fact that Havel H5 is quite popular in Europe and Australia speaks for itself that the drive has passed all safety and emission standards. The frame of car looks good and character lines give it an elegant SUV appeal. Aerodynamic frame of the car with winged front grille makes it appear delightful, the overall build of the car feels robust. The honeycomb grille catches the eye of onlookers and the fog lamps are adequately placed over the front bumpers which enhance the overall appeal of the SUV. Overall, the dimensions of Great Wall H5 measure 4649mm x 1810mm x 1735mm with wheelbase measuring 2700 mm.

Interior:

Interiors are possibly the only aspect of Great Wall H5 where it is at par, if not better than its much more expensive competitors. The contemporary dashboard doesn't really sport an array of features but with a huge touchscreen with audio and Bluetooth controls on steering wheel, all-power windows and climate control and much more there is more than enough to meet your requirements. A four way adjustable front headrest along with 6-way electric Driver seat provides the driver with comfort, a must for long drives. Coming to the utility aspect, the 400-litres worth boot space is also decent enough for passengers to carry their luggage efficiently.

Safety and Security:

This Chinese machine has passed all safety standards of Europe and Australia which is impressive feature about Havel. Havel is loaded with features like dual front air bags, traction control feature, ABS like safety features with Electronic Break Distribution system on it to take serious care of its drivers and occupants. The manufacturer has kept safety of its valued customers in mind which is quite evident with its 4 star rating in ANCAP crash test which makes it a safe drive for its owners. For braking purposes, Great Wall H5 sports ventilated disc brakes on front and solid disc brakes on the rear.

Verdict:

Great Wall H5 offers almost everything you could have possibly fit in with this price tag, and more, something only Chinese are capable of. However when it comes to performance and overall satisfaction, H5 fails compared to traditional drives in the segment.