GWM Haval H9: Is it priced right?

MANILA: Great Wall Motor (GWM) Philippines rolled out the Haval H9 not too long ago, looking to compete with other sport utility vehicles (SUV) in the market, such as the Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, and Nissan Terra. 

But with a retail price of P1.998 million, is it priced right? Before we discuss the features of the GWM Haval H9 and find out if the appointment merits the sticker price, here are the SUV model we can get for a hair under P2 million.

GWM Haval H9	P1.998 million
Toyota Fortuner 2.4 G 4x2 AT	P1.867 million
Mitsubishi Montero Sport GLS 2.4D 2WD AT	P1.927 million
Nissan Terra 2.5 VE AT 4x2	P1.969 million

Now that we’ve seen our choices, let’s look at what the GWM Haval H9 has to offer. 

Classic looks

SUV model with classic styling usually come with a premium price. Think about the Toyota Land Cruiser, which commands a P5.758 million price tag. Similarly, the sleek and timeless-looking Nissan Patrol is slapped with a P5.335 sticker. 

On that note, the GWM Haval H9 offers would-be owners a retro-looking vehicle without the premium price. 

 At the fore is a gunmetal gray grille flanked by circular automatic LED headlamps. Within the same cluster are its daytime running lights, while the front fog lamps sit low, close to the bumper and skid plate. 

 Clean lines permeate the side profile of the SUV with body-colored wheel arches, squarish side mirrors, blacked-out roof rails, and a set of two-tone 18-inch wheels with 265/60-series tires. 

 Other notable features include body-colored door handles, power-adjustable and power-folding side mirrors with turn signals, and wide running boards. 

 The boxy profile of the GWM Haval H9 continues to the rear end with a swing-out door that has mounting for the spare tire, combination taillamps that are similarly squarish in fashion, and a chunky bumper with reflectors on each side. 

 Dimension-wise, the GWM Haval H9 has the following measurements:  

Overall length, width, height (in millimeters [mm>)	4,950 x 1,976 x 1,930
Ground clearance (in mm)	220
Wheelbase (in mm)	2,850

 With that being said, the SUV comes with decent appointments that not only allow owners to enjoy a classic-looking SUV, but also one that has modern and functional amenities. 

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Comfortable interior

The cabin of the GWM Haval H9 offers would-be owners a comfortable cabin that would keep them snug even in rough conditions. 

 Welcoming the occupants are leather-style seats coupled with a leather steering wheel with multi-functional controls. Past it is a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster that offers good visibility, even in broad daylight. 

 A little over at the center of the dashboard is the 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen display that also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. In addition, audio is dispersed via an eight-piece speaker set. 

 Other amenities come in the form of a sunroof, rear air conditioning vent, a 50-watt wireless charging pad for smartphones, Type A and C ports for added charging ports, and a voice command feature. 

 In general, the GWM Haval H9 has a decent interior. Maybe it cannot rival those with above P5 million price points, but it is good enough for daily drives and even for long trips on the weekend. 

Capable powertrain

Under the hood of the GWM Haval H9 is a 2.4-liter inline-four, turbocharged diesel engine mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The said setup makes 183 horsepower and 480 Newton-meters of torque. 

 In addition, P1.998 million will get buyers a torque-on-demand four-by-four system with a dedicated “Off-road Expert mode.” It also has various drive modes like economy, sport, normal, mud, and sand; and a dedicated four-low system designed for more challenging terrain. 

 Stopping power is facilitated by disc brakes, front and back. Its suspension system is made up of a double-wishbone setup at the front and a multi-link suspension system at the rear. 

Passable safety

When it comes to safety, the GWM Haval H9 has the following features:  

• Airbags 
• Seatbelts 
• Anti-lock braking 
• Electronic brake-force distribution 
• Brake assist system 
• Brake override system 
• Electronic stability control 
• Hill descent control 
• Hill start assist control 
• Roll movement intervention 
• Traction control system 
• Around-view camera monitor 
• Cruise control with off-road cruise control
• Automatic crash unlock 
• Automatic fuel cut-off 

 The GWM Haval H9 does have a decent list of safety technologies, but others might find a sub-P2 million SUV lacking without the usual suspects like lane keep assist, cross-traffic alert, and automatic braking, among the suite of driving nannies that Chinese cars spoil us with. 

Verdict

So, with the abovementioned, it appears that the GWM Haval H9 has a capable powertrain and classic looks, but has passable interior and safety features. On that note, it seems that the SUV is priced just right.

Also read:

GWM PH strengthens presence with new dealer partners

GWM PH highlights Cannon in CDO

A close look into GWM’s facilities in China

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