Haval H6 review: Haval's best argument against buying a RAV4
motorssouq Editorial Team
The H6 is where Haval stops being a curiosity and starts being a genuine consideration next to a RAV4 or Tucson. The equipment list, safety score and price all favour the Haval; what it cannot yet match is the Japanese brands' decade-plus track record on Bahraini roads and the certainty that buys in resale. If you plan to keep the car rather than flip it in three years, the H6 is a rational, well-argued choice.
Pros
- 5-star ANCAP-tested safety structure with driver-assist tech standard on most trims
- Undercuts the RAV4 and Tucson on price with comparable equipment
- Well-finished cabin that does not feel cost-reduced
- 1.5-turbo and dual-clutch box are refined once rolling
Cons
- Dual-clutch hesitation off the line before it warms up
- Firm ride is less forgiving on Manama's patched back streets
- No decade-long Bahraini resale track record like the Japanese rivals
- 150 hp is adequate rather than strong for the car's size
The third-generation H6 is the car that made Gulf motoring press start taking Haval seriously. It carries a 5-star ANCAP-tested body structure, a full suite of driver assistance systems as standard on most grades, and a cabin that does not feel like it was cost-engineered down to compete on price alone. Against a comparably specced Toyota RAV4 in Bahrain, the H6 undercuts it meaningfully while matching or beating it on equipment.
How it drives
The 1.5-litre turbo's 150 hp is adequate rather than strong, and the 7-speed wet dual-clutch gearbox needs a moment off the line before it wakes up — a trait shared with most dual-clutch crossovers, and one that disappears once you are rolling. The ride leans firm, which suits Bahrain's better-surfaced roads and feels less composed on the patched back streets away from the highways.
Where it earns its keep
The safety kit is the standout: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control are standard on most trims, features that cost extra on several Japanese and Korean rivals at this price point. For a family buyer cross-shopping on safety scores as much as badge, that is a genuine point in Haval's favour.
The honest caveat
What the H6 cannot yet offer is time. Toyota and Nissan have decades of Bahraini resale data behind them; Haval has a few years. Buyers should go in expecting to keep the car through its ownership cycle rather than assuming it will hold value the way a RAV4 does — and should price that uncertainty into the negotiation.