Haval H6 vs Mazda CX-5
With the Chinese brands fast becoming the talk of the town here in South Africa, we have decided to look at how the Haval H6 stacks up to the more established Mazda CX-5. This is new school vs old school. Is the Haval a better option or should you stick with the Mazda?
Design
The HAVAL H6 has a modern and sleek design with a bold front grille, sharp headlamps, and distinctive body lines. The CX-5, on the other hand, has a more elegant and refined look with a prominent front grille, sleek headlights, and a curvy body. Both vehicles look modern and appealing. Both offer unique LED light designs which make them even more attractive on the road. With the radical designs that we have seen from the likes of Kia and Hyundai, these two vehicles remain subtle in their own way. The CX-5 however looks just a little bit better in our opinion.
Performance and handling
The HAVAL H6 is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine that produces 105kW of power and 210Nm of torque. It is mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.
The CX-5, on the other hand, is available with two engine options: a 2.0-liter petrol engine that produces 121kW of power and 213Nm of torque, there is a diesel option which is lovely and a 2.5-liter petrol engine that produces 143kW of power and 257Nm of torque. For this article lets focus on the 2.0-litre because that would be fair.
Unfortunately without turbocharged technology the entry engine in the CX-5 and in fact the 2.5 as well can feel dramatically under powered and one really needs to work the motor to get the desired performance.
The Haval on the other hand offers a lot of its performance early on but this can have a negative effect on fuel economy. It’s a catch 22 really. The CX-5 offers a more engaging driving experience, with its responsive engines and nimble handling. The HAVAL H6, on the other hand, provides a smooth and comfortable ride, with its suspension system absorbing bumps and road imperfections effectively.
Interior
The HAVAL H6's interior is designed to provide a spacious and comfortable cabin experience for passengers. The vehicle's cabin has a modern and minimalist design, with a large touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster, and a panoramic sunroof. The H6 also comes with a range of convenience features that up the technology offering substantially. 360 degree cameras, crisp graphics and the option to customise the overall user experience in a bonus.
The CX-5's interior on the other hand definitely offers a more luxurious and refined experience. The vehicle's cabin is spacious and comfortable, with high-quality materials and finishes. The CX-5 comes with a range of convenience features such as a touchscreen infotainment system, a Bose sound system, and a heads-up display. The CX-5 also offers advanced safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.
The cabin is however starting to show its age. The screen is relatively small by today's standards and the semi-digital cluster should be a full digital cluster. The plus point however is the solid build quality of the Mazda.
Conclusion
The HAVAL H6 and Mazda CX-5 are both excellent midsize SUVs that offer a combination of style, comfort, and performance. The HAVAL H6 is more affordable and provides more modern technology, while the CX-5 might be more expensive; it does offer a more refined driving experience and advanced safety features. We recommend taking both for a test drive to better understand which vehicle suits you best.
