If you like it big and bold, if you like it roomy and if you yearn to head off the road at some point during your driving life, then why not consider the Haval H9?  With a 2.8-metre wheelbase and seating for seven adults, this is a versatile SUV that can carry the luggage, the team or the shopping anywhere you want to go with ease.  Alternatively, with the second and third row of seats folded down, this could be all the accommodation you need if heading off by yourself or with one other person on a camping trip.  This is the largest of the Haval SUV lineup and it’s got a heart as big as its body.

Just as an example of its size, the Haval H9 has been carefully designed so that adults can fit into the third row of seats.  Let’s face it: if you’ve bought a brand new people-carrying vehicle, you will want to stick with it for a good long time.  This means that you’ll want your vehicle to do the job once the current small people have grown into leggy teenagers. What’s more, you’ll probably want to use your vehicle for transporting more than just children – you might want to cram in the all guys or girls for a great night out, for example.  In the Haval H9, there won’t be any squished people in the back seat, and 700 mm of legroom in the third row means that nobody gets knees in the kidneys.  Nevertheless, given the popularity of SUVs with growing families, it’s good to know that the Haval H9 comes with ISOFIX child seat preparation and everybody gets three-point seatbelts rather than silly dinky lap belts.

While we’re on the topic of seating, this is one of the areas where the Lux variant really takes it up a notch over the Premium.  Instead of fabric, the Haval H9 Lux has leather.  The Lux also has heated seats for the front and second row, a leg rest for the front seat, lumbar support for the driver, massaging front seats and powered third row seat access.

However, an SUV is not a lounge suite, so seats and their level of comfort (which is quite good) isn’t the only thing to be considered if you are trying to decide whether the Haval H9 is the right vehicle for you.  Most people like to start with the engine, the transmission and the drivetrain.  The Haval H9 has been built to go anywhere, so naturally, it’s got a 4×4 drivetrain.  If you like to play around with different ratios, the Premium is likely to be your pick of the two variants, as this has an “Intelligent Electric” drivetrain system, which you can set to Automatic, 2WD high-ratio, 4WD high ratio or 3WD low ratio.  The Lux variant, on the other hand, uses an All Terrain Control System, manipulated with a dial on the console, which allows the drive to set the traction and the brakeforce to suit a range of conditions: Automatic, 4-Low (that’s your 4×4 low ratio), Sport, Sand, Snow and Mud. This will allow the Haval H9 to surge forward no matter what the conditions are.  Other features that drivers of the Haval H9 will find very handy and fun include the full shebang of active safety features, which include the electronic differential lock, traction control, hill descent control, roll movement intervention, hill start assistance, ESP and ABS brakes with EBD and Brake Assistance. These stability and control will come in very handy if you suddenly need to dodge a stray roo or a pothole, which has a tendency to happen on the rural roads that the Haval H9 is designed to be driven on.

The engine that you’ll find inside the Haval H9 is a turbocharged petrol unit with a maximum displacement of 2.0 L.  This has a pretty reasonable maximum power output of 160 kW at 5500 rpm and a good amount of torque at pretty low levels: a maximum of 324 Nm in the 2000–4000 rpm range.  Admittedly, the Haval H9 is a bit of a thirsty beast, with a combined fuel economy figure of 12.1 L/100 km, but this isn’t too bad for an SUV of this size with an automatic transmission (it’s a six-speed automatic, by the way).  Nevertheless, the Haval H9 still meets EU V and EU V+ emissions standards.

If you are hoping to use the Haval H9 to carry the family, you probably want to do so without any undue fuss.  This means that you’ll need adequate comfort and entertainment features.  Comfort is taken care of with the three-zone climate control system, and probably with the stacks of storage compartments around the cabin, which are just right for keeping snacks within handy reach (the cupholders on the second-row arm rest are pretty handy, too).  In the entertainment department, the Haval H9 comes fitted with a nine-speaker sound system (the Lux variant throws in an Infinity speaker and a subwoofer) that takes CD, USB and auxiliary input, with the information displayed on the 8-inch LCD touch screen.  The audio system can be controlled by the driver via the steering wheel (you’ll also find paddle shifters for the gears on the steering wheel and there’s Bluetooth hands-free preparation).  The audio can also be controlled by the front passenger via the well-laid out central console – although there’ll be no need to turn the volume down all of a sudden when you hit a built up area, thanks to the speed-sensitive volume adjustment.  In the Lux variant, there’s also the option of having DVDs on the back of the seat for the viewing pleasure of the second and third row passengers.  Two power outlets (one 12-V and one 220-V) help keep everyone’s devices charged up and the atmosphere lamps allow you to set the colour of the interior ambient lighting to a shade that suits you from a choice of blue, red or orange.

The exterior styling of the Haval H9 has been designed with quite a bit of care.  The overall looks are rugged and straightforward, but avoid being bland and boring.  Side steps, carefully integrated roof rails and a few touches of chrome provide a few nice accessories (as standard), and the Xenon headlights (25 W in the Premium, 35 W in the Lux) are nicely complemented by the front and rear fog lamps and the daytime running lights.  The special Haval puddle lamp is another nice touch.  Four exterior colours are available (black, white, grey and olive green) and the Lux variant has three interior colour choices: Black/Grey (standard on the Premium), Black/Beige (optional in the Premium) and Black/Brown (exclusive to the Lux). It’s a vehicle that won’t look out of place in the supermarket carpark or on a back road meant for 4x4s.

Current model series include:

• Haval H9 Premium
• Haval H9 Lux

For any more information on the Haval H9, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quotes requests out to our national network of Haval dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!