Haima V70

Inside the Haima V70 presents a black and chocolate brown landscape. The black with sprinklings of red and silver accents on the steering wheel comes from the plastics while the chocolate brown comes from the faux leather on the seats. There are two in the front, two in the second row with a split in the middle and two in the third row. Except for some hard plastics, the quality of materials is plush. The seats are deep and comfortable. Fit and finish is also very precise. There is enough room in the first and second rows especially with the bucket seats in the second row. The third row is compact in terms of legroom but should still be able to seat children. The cargo space behind the third row is not the greatest but with fold flat seats in the third row, it can be extended if the need arises. The ambiance inside is great with a nice view of the outside and the sunroof bringing in a lot of light. The driver gets a plastic 4 spoke steering wheel and gets to look at a blue backlit instrument panel. Infotainment is handled by an 8” touchscreen that can also be operated by a control knob. There are 4 speakers with a whole host of connectivity options and controls on the steering wheel. There is ample storage space in the cabin along with armrests for the front and second rows and cup holders for the middle row as well. Automatic air conditioning is standard as well.

Every country that produces cars has its own take on car design. And it is high time we judge Chinese car design on its own merits instead of comparing them to cars from other countries. And elements of Chinese car design are what this car’s styling is all about. The front end is adorned by a wavy Buick like chrome waterfall grille that flows into the shape of the bonnet. The wavy design also extends to the headlights. Flanking the grille are the fog lights mounted in the lower bumper with LED DRLs below them. The rear gets a small roof-mounted spoiler and squarish tail lights that extend into the clamshell tailgate. The rest of the car including the flanks are largely featureless and clean, giving it an understated presence. Which is a good thing considering the dimensions of the MPV. At 4750 mm long, 1800 mm wide and 1695 mm high, it is slightly larger than the Innova. With just 110 mm of ground clearance, it is also lower. There are 16” aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in 205/60 tires on all corners. The color options available for the Haima V70 are diamond white, grace purple, and minette brown.

The Haima V70 is a large MPV weighing more than 2 tonnes and drives exactly like one. It does differ from many other MPVs by using a unibody construction instead of a ladder frame and independent suspension on all corners. This allows it to corner flatter and track better. But the suspension and tires are tuned to provide a soft and comfortable ride. The steering is light to the point of feeling over-assisted. So, the best way really is to drive this MPV like a comfortable mile muncher. Which is also a necessity because of its huge dimensions.  

The engine options for the Haima V70 are limited to just the one 1.5 L inline 4 16 V DOHC petrol engine. This is enhanced by iVVT and a turbocharger to provide 156 hp at 5500 rpm and 220 Nm of torque at 1800-4000 rpm. This engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The power delivery might not feel like a lot on paper but thanks to the smooth transmission it feels very responsive.  The mileage is around 10-11 kmpl on average and with a car with a gross weight of 2035 kg, it is expected.

There are disc brakes on all four ends which are further assisted by ABS, EBD, brake assist and override system. ESP is also standard on both variants along with traction control, hill start assist and hill descent control. Props to Haima for including 4 reversing sensors as standard considering how long this car is. As for airbags, it comes with two for the driver and the front passenger. Electronic cruise control is also provided as standard on both variants.

With the level of kit on offer here, there is no wonder the Haima V70 is quickly gaining popularity with buyers here. Combine that with Innova like space at a much lower price and the Haima seems like a bargain. While Haima needs to expand into the country more to offer a better service, they are making great strides in the direction. A solid purchase for the budget conscious family mover.