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Sam Charlwood30 Jun 2021
REVIEW

Haval H6 v Hyundai Tucson 2021 Comparison

Hyundai’s new Tucson has fast become a benchmark in the mid-size SUV class, but the latest Haval H6 looks unbeatable value for money
Review Type
Comparison

Turning the tables

Hyundai is no stranger to being the plucky upstart.

The Korean manufacturer has undertaken a huge transformation in the Australian marketplace over the past two decades, famously cutting its teeth as ‘cheap and cheerful’ before establishing its place as one of the country’s most sought-after mainstream brands.

Its unrelenting rise was underscored by the Hyundai Kona being named carsales’ Best Small SUV 2021 earlier this year.

And just last week, the all-new 2021 Hyundai Tucson you see here was named Best Mid-Size SUV 2021, beating a formidable field of 18 other candidates to claim top honours in this all-important, high-volume class and establishing a position as the one to beat.

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Which brings us to the 2021 Haval H6, the newest entrant in this vital category (released last month) that missed the cut for our mid-size SUV mega-test but, at first glance, appears to be an outstanding entrant.

It looks unbeatable in value for money, and will not only show us just how far the Chinese brand has progressed in only a short period, but could turn out to be the surprise packet of the year.

Here, we’re pitching the mid-range Haval H6 Lux against the entry-level Hyundai Tucson 2.0-litre petrol. Both are priced under $35,000, and drive the front wheels via a petrol engine.

Let’s get to it.

Value equation

There’s only one winner in terms of value here. The Haval H6 Lux and the Hyundai Tucson G2.0 are separated by about $3500 in price once you drive out of the showroom, and it’s all in favour of the Haval – $33,990 drive-away versus $34,500 plus on-road costs for the Tucson.

That’s despite the fact the H6 Lux is a mid-grade proposition and the Tucson an entry-level model.

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Let’s begin with the lesser-equipped 2021 Hyundai Tucson first, which is driven here in its most basic 2.0-litre petrol grade. Hyundai will offer a turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel option in all future Tucson deliveries; however, those won’t come on line until at least July.

As it stands, the new Tucson that landed in showrooms in May is an eye-watering $4860 more expensive at the entry level compared to its predecessor.

There is more equipment to match, however, with standard features on the entry model comprising 17-inch alloy wheels with full-size spare, LED daytime running lights (DRLs), cloth seats, halogen headlights, single-zone air-conditioning and a leather-clad steering wheel and gear shifter.

Infotainment is controlled via an 8.0-inch centre touch-screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and combined with four USB ports (two front, two rear). There’s also a separate 4.2-inch digital display within the instrument cluster flanked by analogue gauges.

Over in the blue corner, the 2021 Haval H6 Lux is even more generous with its equipment levels, despite the lower price tag.

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It offers as standard 18-inch alloy wheels (with a space-saver spare), leather-look seats, LED headlights and daytime running lights, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The H6 matches the Hyundai with front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, but goes a step further with an overhead 360-degree camera, keyless entry (front two doors only), push-button start, front seat warmers, dual-zone climate control and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

The Haval’s infotainment is facilitated by larger twin 10.25-inch digital screens with corded Apple CarPlay (no Android Auto). It’s accessed via four USB ports – two front and two rear.

The dashboard design is decidedly minimalist, with only seven physical buttons on the centre fascia, and no volume control knob (more on that in a moment).

Importantly, neither vehicle here has native satellite navigation systems, but offer sat-nav by proxy courtesy of Apple CarPlay and, for the Hyundai, Android Auto.

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As for warranty and aftersales, it is the H6 again with a distinct advantage. Whereas Hyundai offers a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and 12 months’ roadside assistance, Haval provides a seven-year/unlimited warranty and five years’ roadside assist.

According to each manufacturer, the Tucson costs $1600 to service over the first five years/60,000km of ownership, while the H6 costs $1560. Servicing intervals are spaced 12 months/15,000km respectively.

Up to the minute

Both the 2021 Haval H6 Lux and Hyundai Tucson G2.0 are up to the minute on safety equipment – as they would want to be given they’re new-generation models.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson scores seven airbags (including centre airbag), autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with junction and turn assist, blind spot collision avoidance, forward collision avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, rear-view monitor with guide lines, park distance warning, and more.

The Haval H6 also gets seven airbags along with AEB that matches the Tucson with vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian detection but doesn’t get junction and turn assist.

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Five cameras and 14 sensors are used for the Haval’s Mobile Eye Q4 autonomous driving processor, which is said to bring ‘Level 2+’ autonomous driving capability.

The translation is a vehicle with similar levels of driver assistance to the Tucson: front and rear parking sensors and a configurable 360-degree parking camera, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning, driver fatigue monitoring, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

Both the new Tucson and the H6 are yet to go through the rigours of an independent ANCAP safety test. But their respective manufacturers expect a strong performance.

Turbo versus atmo

There’s a little more divergence in this comparison test between the new 2021 Haval H6 and Hyundai Tucson where engines are concerned.

Both models employ a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels, but whereas the H6’s engine is turbocharged, the Tucson’s is naturally aspirated.

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The result is considerably more power and torque for the H6, which produces 150kW and 320Nm, comfortably outmuscling the Tucson’s 115kW and 192Nm counts.

Similarly, the Hyundai uses a more traditional six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission while the Haval gets a more modern seven-speed dual-clutch unit.

It means, on paper, the Haval boasts a distinct advantage in terms of its engine performance.

And on the official combined-cycle fuel economy ratings, the H6 is the more efficient of these two as well, consuming a claimed 7.4L/100km versus 8.1L/100km for the Tucson.

However, our testing tells a slightly different story.

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Beyond the brochure

If this comparison test was based purely on equipment, the new 2021 Haval H6 would win hands down.

On first impressions, the H6 imparts more of a luxury vibe with leather-look seats and a minimalist theme to its interior and dashboard layout.

However, the devil is in the detail.

Closer inspection reveals there are multiple steps in activating a simple function such as the recirculated air – a virtue of its minimal layout of seven hard-wired buttons.

If you want to engage the heated front seats, that in itself is a four-stage process. There’s also no volume knob for passengers to make adjustments.

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It makes for an overly convoluted interface, one that is compounded by instrumentation clearly designed for younger eyes, so small and almost illegible are the numbers.

Smaller rear door openings are another gripe with the Haval; it makes it a bit trickier to get small children in and out of the back seat.

That said, the H6 gets many of the basics right. Its 600-litre boot (aided by a space-saver spare) will meet the expectations of most prospective buyers looking at a mid-size SUV, and incidental storage is strong, underlined by a large open cubby area under the centre binnacle and console – ultimately trumping the Tucson on that front.

The cabin of the 2021 Hyundai Tucson is much more contemporary, with clear, legible readouts, ample switchgear and useful and easy-to-access buttons including a volume dial.

Although the layout is a tad busier – complete with a gear lever that eats into space – it is an altogether more cohesive and practical environment, underlined by more comfortable seats and soft-touch contact points.

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What’s more, the Tucson’s infotainment system is much more intuitive and familiar to your correspondent’s eyes.

From the lower-slung driver’s seat, the Tucson feels better thought-out as well, with much more comfortable seating, additional rearward vision and thinner front pillars that provide a better view of the surrounds.

Family buyers will also appreciate the Hyundai’s considered proportions. Its roomier seat space is a boon for families, while larger door openings are more kid-friendly.

While the Tucson’s 539-litre cargo volume is officially lower than in the H6, it offers a larger space with the split-fold rear seats stowed and is elevated by the advantage of a rear 12-volt power socket for portable devices like a fridge.

Quick-access levers in the Hyundai’s boot allow you to stow the rear seats remotely – another small victory that everyday users will no doubt appreciate.

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Hitting the road

The 2021 Haval H6 puts up an admirable fight in this comparison with its attractive pricing and high level of standard safety, technology and creature comforts, but it’s simply no measure for the new 2021 Hyundai Tucson on the road.

Initially, the H6 feels good on smooth roads, but it isn’t long before we exceed its dynamic comfort zone.

Inferior body control in this company and an inherent floatiness are the biggest crosses against the H6’s dynamic scorecard.

Rougher pockmarked surfaces also manage to unseat the H6’s on-road poise, inflicting its cabin with a strange shimmying sensation that is hard to overlook.

With that said, the H6’s turbo-petrol engine has much more to offer than the Hyundai’s in terms of performance and useability.

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Other than an occasional scramble for traction, the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol performs well across urban, rural and open-road duties alike, and is suitably matched to its seven-speed cog-swapper, save for some hesitation from the transmission at times.

The Haval’s turbocharged petrol engine also proves to be more efficient in this comparison, consuming 8.7L/100km in a mix of testing conditions against 9.4L/100km for the Tucson.

The Haval’s engine acoustics are marginally better than the Hyundai’s, however road noise and wind noise isn’t as well suppressed – especially on coarse-chip surfaces.

The Tucson delivers a more convincing drive across all conditions. It feels planted and composed in regular conveyance but also lends a more involving and confident driving experience when pushed.

Nicely weighted steering and an air of composure through changes in direction and over rough bitumen alike help instil the Tucson with a more confident drive experience.

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In terms of performance, however, the Hyundai’s engine feels languid in this comparison. It lacks the low-down torque of the H6’s forced-induction unit – reaffirmed by an official maximum torque figure that materialises at 4500rpm, 3000rpm higher than the H6 – and verges on becoming thrashy at higher revs.

Where application of the safety systems are concerned, Hyundai’s lane keep assist program almost bullies you on the road, such is the aggressiveness of its ‘interventions’.

However, that doesn’t even begin to prepare you for the H6’s safety suite.

There are more audible alerts on the Haval than a wind chime in a storm! The tuning of the driver aids is overzealous – the speed limiter warning (which makes 10 individual chimes every time you near the set speed), the lane keep assist, the forward collision assist and the tuning of the adaptive cruise control are simply frustrating and distracting.

To be sure, settings can be adjusted via the H6’s on-board computer, but on face value we found many of them excruciating to live with.

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The winner’s circle

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson wins this comparison in what is a relatively clear-cut decision in practice – despite so much being in favour of the new Haval H6 on paper.

Although dearer and less generously equipped in this entry form, the Hyundai Tucson truly trumps the Haval H6 where it matters – a result that will only be sweetened by more attractive turbocharged engine options, which arrive in Australian showrooms in a matter of weeks.

How much does the 2021 Haval H6 Lux 2WD cost?
Price: $33,990 (drive-away)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 150kW/320Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 169g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

How much does the 2021 Hyundai Tucson G2.0 FWD cost?
Price: $34,500 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 115kW/192Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 184g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

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