Haval H9

• The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 214 hp of power and 380 Nm of torque, tuned with an 8-speed automatic ZF transmission that ensures smooth shifts. Power delivery feels linear through all gears.  The power delivery is strong and responsive.

• Top speed reaches 200 km/h. 0-100 km/h takes approximately 1.3 seconds.

• Four-wheel-drive system with front and rear differential locks, drive modes including Auto, Eco, Sport, Sand, Snow, Mud, and 4L (low range), promising a pure off-road capability.

• Higher ground clearance of 224 mm, wheelbase of 2,800 mm, Front suspension uses a double-wishbone design, while the rear suspension is a multi-link independent setup

• Towing capacity is 3000 kg, and the fuel tank size is 70 litres, decent for the size of the SUV.

Some compromises

• The engine offers you more power than efficiency, a typical trade-off for an off-road SUV.

• The 7-seat configuration essentially means the third row is tight, not necessarily usable for adults.

• When cruising through highways, the suspension absorbs rough roads effectively, and the cabin is just comfy. That means the overall ride makes you believe you’re in good company, with a composed, stable, and perfectly relaxing cabin. This is also visible through the well-managed body control in corners.

• The adaptive cruise control is your highway-friendly feature, which not only maintains a speed and safe distance but also helps fatigue-free highway drives in a big way. You’re also greatly helped by the Lane Departure Warning alerts and Lane Keep Assist in certain situations.

• Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist, Hill-Start Assist, and Hill Descent Control are some standard features to make sure this off-road-friendly SUV is great fun with adequate features to help in various circumstances.

• Exceptionally high seven drive modes adapt to terrain intelligently, sand, mud, and snow modes improve stability.

• In the city, it is comfortable to handle, and the size is not an issue.  Visibility is excellent from an elevated driving position. The 360-degree camera assists while parking.

Things to Watch Out For

• The suspension is tuned for comfort over sportiness, and hard acceleration highlights practical focus. The large dimensions often make congested areas a little tough to navigate. The turning radius is reasonable but certainly not compact.

• Engine noise under hard acceleration is noticeable, and the turbocharged engine makes its presence obvious when you push it a little

• Premium leather seats across all three rows, the front seats feature power adjustment with memory functions and ventilation. There is some comfort from the massage function.

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with multifunction controls. Premium feel throughout.

• The cabin’s highlight is the 14.6-inch digital touchscreen, which supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The digital instrument cluster gets customizable displays, clear graphics, and easy-to-read layouts.

• Panoramic sunroof, Twin-panel design, Dual-zone automatic climate control, and independent climate control are some awesome features that make the cabin segment above

• Nine speakers enhance the audio experience, along with a wireless charging pad, USB ports throughout the cabin, and 45 intelligent storage spaces, making the cabin quite impressive in its segment.

• Seven passenger seating. The second row offers ample legroom. The third row is suitable for children. The boot is 791 litres, expandable to 1,023 litres with rear seats folded.

• Available colours: Hamilton White, Elegant Black, Aurora Silver, Burgundy Red, Golden Sand, Grey, Olive Green. Matte grey adds SAR 3,000.

• Overall, the H9 delivers a genuine luxurious experience; there is a superior built quality, and it is clearly durable for KSA weather conditions.

What we know

• The Haval H6 gets substantial occupant protection with 6 airbags, bolstered by advanced braking systems like Anti-Lock Braking (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist, alongside Hill-Start Assist, Traction Control, and Stability Control to protect you and your loved ones.

• Advanced driver assistance consists of all the must-have features like Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Jam Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking for collision mitigation, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, and Lane Centring Control, to make sure your confidence stays elevated, no matter where you’re driving

• Additional safety aids such as Tire Pressure Monitoring, front/rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, ISOFIX child seat anchors, child safety locks, and a high-tensile steel structure with crumple zones guarantee structural integrity and comprehensive safety coverage.

What to watch out for

• Safety Ratings: At this point, we are not sure about the Haval H9 crash rating because it looks like it hasn’t been independently tested by Euro NCAP. However, Great Wall Motors is always known for its safety record, which suggests you can trust the SUV.

• Driver Assistance: There are certain features for driver assistance that are available in some of its rivals that are missing in the mid-range H9. The notable ones are that Forward Collision Warning is often reserved for higher variants, which may limit safety accessibility in lower variants.

• The Service Network of Haval is an area of concern compared to well-established brands. But it is expanding and will take some time to reach the nooks and corners of KSA. If you are considering buying the H9, then you should keep that in mind, as far as spare parts availability and warranty claim processing may cause some delay.