The cheapest hot SUV you can buy in South Africa

The cheapest hot SUV that you can buy in South Africa is the Haval H6 GT.

SUVs are the most popular vehicle type in the world right now, but there’s still a contingent of the population who want a sporty experience from these larger models.

Enter the hot SUV, which like its hatchback equivalent, is a high-performance derivative with a more powerful engine and other enhancements that make it better suited for a track day than your ordinary set of wheels.

It’s a relatively sparse segment in South Africa, with the Haval H6 GT currently setting the price floor at a rate of R662,250, so it’s worth taking a look at what this category has to offer to petrolheads in 2024.

High-octane transport

The main draw of the GT is its bespoke powerplant, taking the form of a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 155kW and 325Nm.

This is enough to give the SUV a 0-100km/h acceleration time of roughly 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 200km/h, despite having a gross weight of 2.1 tonnes.

The drivetrain is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which sends power down to all four wheels, leading to an average fuel consumption of 8.4l/100km.

Adding to the experience are seven driving modes for Standard, Eco, Snow, Sand, Off-Road, and the all-important Sport and Race settings for when you want to get serious.

Admittedly, these stats are not enough to classify the H6 as a “true” hot SUV on par with something like the Tiguan R, but it’s as close as consumers are able to get to the real thing without spending R1 million.

Befitting its athletic nature, the H6 is kitted out with unique side skirts, faux-carbon fibre inserts, black wheel-arch claddings, black wing mirrors, gloss black 19-inch alloy wheels, a sports rear diffuser, and dual rear spoilers.

This is in addition to standard features such as automatic LED headlights and daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers, roof rails, auto-folding side mirrors, and a hands-free tailgate.

It’s also worth pointing out that the Haval badge at the back was recently replaced with that of its parent company – GWM – as part of an ongoing rebranding campaign.

The final piece of the exterior puzzle is the paint selection, as buyers can opt for an Atlantis Blue, G7 Red, Hamilton White, KU Grey, or Sun Black finish.

Looking inside, the spec sheet includes keyless entry and start, electronically adjustable heated Sports seats with lumbar support, a synthetic leather steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, a wireless charger, front and rear 12V sockets and USB ports, a dashcam power outlet, eight speakers, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a heads-up display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Since this is the GT, you’ll also see a few sporty inclusions like paddle shifters, Alcantara and carbon fibre cabin inserts, and artificial leather and Alcantara upholstery.

Last but not least is the Haval’s safety and assistance items, comprising six airbags, traction control, electronic stability control, ABS, cornering brake control, hill assist, tyre-pressure monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, a panoramic camera system, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, pre-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring.

Each purchase also comes with a 5-year/100,000km warranty, a 5-year/60,000km service plan, and 5-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance.