HAVAL H2

Haval H2 Overview

The facelifted Haval H2 subcompact crossover SUV from Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors (GWM), the largest SUV maker in China, made its global debut back in 2016 before the subsequent introduction locally in 2020 with heavy styling revision and updated equipment list.

The Haval H2 was initially available in two trim levels- Comfort and Premium, but a quick check on Haval’s website reveals that the Comfort variant is no longer on sale. Locally assembled in the company’s assembly plant in Gurun, Kedah, the Chinese crossover SUV is competitively priced from RM 90,163 for the sole Premium variant.

Unlike the Haval H1 that offers an industry first 7-year unlimited mileage warranty, the bigger Haval H2 comes only with a 5-year limited mileage (150,000 km) warranty. Both variants are offered with a 1.5 litre turbocharged engine with a slight reduction in performance compared to the pre-facelift 2017 Haval H2.

Haval H2 Exterior

The Haval H2 now sports a revised chrome hexagonal front grille with chrome slats, flanked by a pair of redesigned LED headlamps. The front bumper has also been redesigned, with a pair of larger and a more aggressively styled fake side intake, now housing both the fog lamps and the daytime running light.

Silver front and rear skid plates alongside the blacked out rear bumper and the twin trapezoidal exhaust outlets combine to give the car a sporty and rugged look. Also featured at the back is a redesigned taillight with new graphics. Feature missing from the previous model is the dual-tone roof option. However, the aluminium roof rails, chromed window frame, shark-fin style antenna and the high mounted rear spoiler are retained with an additional chrome element along the lower side doors.

The Haval H2 sits in between the Haval H1 and Haval H9 in Haval’s local vehicle line up. The crossover SUV occupies a rather grey area in terms of dimension. It is more of an oversized B-segment than a full-size C-segment SUV, not unlike the Toyota Corolla Cross and the Mitsubishi ASX. Compared to the properly sized C-segment SUVs like the Honda CR-V, the Haval H2 dwarf in comparison in terms of outright size.

Haval H2 Interior

The interior design is largely retained from the pre-facelift model, featuring leather upholstered seats, steering wheel and door panels. Soft touch material is used for the dashboard along with brushed-aluminium-like plastic trims and piano black inserts accented by satin chrome finish on the centre console.

Compared to the Honda HR-V’s bare interior, the Haval H2 is looking comparatively more upmarket. Interior occupant space is pretty generous considering its compact size. The 60:40 split folding rear seats allows for expandable cargo space.

Haval H2 Features

Standard equipment includes automatic LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights, automatic wipers, 18-inch alloy wheels, front ventilated disc brakes and rear disc brakes. Standard internal equipment includes an analog instrument panel with 3.5-inch TFT trip computer and gear shift indicator, infotainment system with Apple CarPlay connectivity, 6-way power adjustable driver seat, electronic parking brake, reverse camera, cruise control, single-zone automatic air conditioning with dust filter and keyless entry with push and start.

Optional equipment includes an android based 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system. In terms of safety, the Haval H2 comes equipped with 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Haval H2 Powertrain Performance

Powering the front wheels is a 1.5 litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, producing 143 PS at 5,600 RPM and 210 NM of torque from 2,200 RPM. Power is down from the previous model’s 149 PS and 210 NM. While engine refinement generally on an acceptable level, the throttle control seems to be lost in translation at times with questionable throttle response and less than linear power delivery.

Turbo lag is definitely noticeable with peak torque coming in at a relatively high RPM (2,200-4,500 RPM) within the narrow power band. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Manual override can only be done through the gear shifter.

Haval H2 Fuel Consumption

The Haval H2 SUV is classified as an Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) and conforms to the Euro V emission standard. Fuel consumption on a combined cycle is rated at 9.0 L/ 100km.

Haval H2 Ride Comfort

For a reasonably priced car, the Haval H2 is sitting on a fairly sophisticated chassis set up featuring a MacPherson independent suspension up front with a rear multi-link independent suspension. It offers decent maneuverability and ride comfort in all driving condition.

Haval H2 Conclusion