Haval’s baby H2 SUV gets Aussie green light

HAVAL’S H2 compact SUV has been granted Australian design rule (ADR) approval, clearing the way for the Chinese SUV specialist to launch in Australia with a full complement of three models.

The entry level H2 can now join the full-sized H9 and Ford Territory sized H8 in showrooms when Haval, a sub-brand of Great Wall Motors, opens its Australian network.

The new brand had hoped to kick off its Australian sales this month, but the challenge of starting from scratch in this market has pushed the launch out a few months.

The 1.5-litre H2 has shot to number four on the SUV best-seller list in China where Haval is the number one SUV manufacturer.

According to ADR documents, the smallest of the Haval models was approved under the code MSZ, but will be marketed as H2.

Two variants have been approved – a two-wheel drive and a four-wheel drive – both powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 105kW of power, mated with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Standard equipment includes air-conditioning, power windows, power mirrors, central locking and fog-lights.

Head-protecting side airbags will be standard on one variant and optional on another.

The 18-inch wheels will be shod with 235/55 tyres.

As GoAuto reported in April, the H2 will be pitched at the likes of Nissan’s Qashqai, Subaru’s XV and Honda’s HR-V, with prices expected to start in the $23,000-$24,000 zone.

Customers will be offered a multitude of no-cost personalisation choices, such as two-tone colour schemes and different grilles and wheels, in 10,000 combinations.

At 4335mm long and 1814 wide, the H2 is in the size ballpark against these vehicles in the small-SUV segment – the fastest-growing portion of the Australian motor vehicle market with sales gains of 28.5 per cent this year.

While no automatic transmission was mentioned in the ADR approval document, a six-speed dual-clutch unit is said to be in the pipeline for H2.

The H2 is expected to be joined at launch by the H8 and flagship H9, giving Haval Australia’s fledgling dealer network a three-pronged attack.

The 2.0-litre turbo H8, which received ADR approval in May, will also get 4x2 and 4x4 variants, with both in a choice of standard or luxury trim.

The ladder-chassis H9 got its ADR tick in April with three variants listed – standard, luxury and super-luxury.

Like the H8, the H9 will get the 155kW 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

Haval’s newest addition in China, the Toyota RAV4-sized Haval H6 Coupe, is also earmarked for Australian launch at some point, probably late this year or early 2016.