Haval H9 – soft power: part 1, asphalt. Test drive by Sergey Mishin

2023-07-23 14:56:44

Haval H9 in comes across much less frequently than its more modern brothers – Jolion, F7 (x) and Dargo. And it is located apart from crossovers, as befits a frame SUV. Nevertheless, the “nine” is also in demand. Let’s try to find out what it fascinates the people.

Eclectic functionality

The appearance of this car against the backdrop of the latest products from the Celestial Empire cannot be called modern. Soft, blurred contours make you remember cars of the 10-15s. A large chrome grille, classic for those times, grille imitators on the hood and on the front fenders.

However, on the A-pillars (windshield) you can find dirt traps that protect the side windows from water streams flowing down from the windshield at speed – a rarity for Chinese cars. Fog lights are inscribed in the lower part of the bumper – elements useful for difficult road conditions.

When viewed from the side, slightly swollen arches are striking. These are designed to protect the sidewalls of the car from lumps of dirt flying from under the wheels on the roads. The footrests are very well made. Even a fleeting glance is enough to understand that in any dirt, in snowdrifts, their supporting surface will remain clean. The 265/60R18 wheels look quite small here.

Large vertical taillights are located high, which means they will be less splashed with dirt. The picture is complemented by a wide hinged tailgate and a ribbed “step” in the entire width of the body.

Alas, the scheme for opening the fifth door is copied from the right-handed Japanese. In order to get into the trunk of a car parked along the sidewalk, you will have to go out onto the roadway. Not to mention the trailer, which, in order to load or unload luggage, will have to bypass practically “under the wheels” of neighbors downstream.

Massage in front and two extra seats in the back

Getting into the cabin through the front and rear doors is equally convenient. Contribute to this large handrails with a rubberized non-slip surface that provides a reliable, confident grip.

The front seats of Haval H9 boast not only heating and ventilation, but also massage

The front seats are very comfortable, with a full range of traditional adjustments, complemented by the ability to choose the length of the pillows, and memory. True, the lumbar support adjustment buttons are “hidden” on the main screen. Find them and be surprised – from here you can also control the heating, ventilation and massage function of both front seats.

The second row seats allow you to choose a comfortable backrest angle

The rear seats are spacious. Their backs can be adjusted to the angle of inclination (or folded back to carry large luggage). In addition, the seats can be moved in the longitudinal direction in parts (40/60 percent).

In the area of ​​​​the rear sofa there is a control panel for the third climatic zone (in the rear of the body)

Between the front seats on a small console there are not only ventilation deflectors, but also a “remote control” for the “third climate zone” that extends to the back of the elephant, as well as heated rear seats. Air is supplied to them through ceiling vents above the heads of passengers sitting in both the second and third rows.

The third row of seats is sure to be the most favorite place for children.

You can get to the “gallery” by rolling the right rear “saddle” forward. This opens access to a double sofa. The backrests of the cramped seats (perfect for kids, but adults can only handle a short trip) are servo-mounted for tilt and fold to a horizontal position. Control keys are duplicated on two blocks. The first is located on the right side of the cabin, accessible to those sitting.

The second one is on the left wall of the trunk, closer to its door. The latter is convenient to use if you need to fold the backrests to get a huge luggage space.

Either the trunk or a couple of extra passengers

In a huge trunk, you can probably take a small elephant away

With the backs of the third row of seats folded down, the trunk volume is simply huge. By the way, in this state it can be covered with a removable roll-up shelf. Sidewalls – working, plastic. On the starboard side you can find a 220 volt outlet. There are lashing loops for fixing the transported cargo.

Under the floor of the trunk, truncated by the third row of seats, there is a place for a tool

However, with the backs of the “gallery” reclined, the trunk practically evaporates. There remains a narrow strip on which you can place a couple of portfolios, no more. A hatch in the floor hides a niche for a jack and tools. The spare wheel is located under the body in the rear overhang.

The spare wheel is suspended under the body in the rear overhang

Many scold this decision, considering the location under the trunk floor to be better. Like, the bottom of the spare tire will be dirty. Yes, but if you have to change a tire in the rain, remember this decision with a kind word for two reasons. The first – to remove the spare tire, you do not have to unload the trunk. The second is that a dirty damaged wheel will not have to be dragged inside.

“Button” salon

The H9 instrument panel differs from more recent models not in the most modern design, but in terms of functionality it is very good

A dashboard with a complex design that matches the appearance of the car and small wood-like inserts is not the most modern look. Although the functionality will give odds to any modern SUV. Huge deflectors do not allow to doubt the effectiveness of ventilation.

Physical controls for music and climate allow you to control them in a cold car without taking off your gloves

What is especially pleasing is the myriad of “live” physical buttons. Under the central screen of modest size are the music controls, with sound knobs and frequency settings. Below them is the climate. At the very bottom is a row of “off-road” buttons, which we will return to later.

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A convenient “light” control unit is located to the left of the steering wheel

To the left of the steering wheel is a block of knobs for controlling lighting devices, adjusting the angle of inclination of the headlights, and the brightness of the instrument illumination. Here is the activation key for the automatic switching of the dipped-high beam.

Attached above the screen is an “embrasure” with a set of navigational instruments: an altimeter, a barometer, a compass, and a vehicle pitch gauge.

Of the minuses, I note the lack of wireless charging. Chinese cars have already taught us that almost everyone has one. It is not here, although far from the roads it is clearly more needed.

Red lights on the inside of the front doors provide safety in the dark and illuminate the area around the car

On the driver’s door, in the very place where we are used to seeing the trunk release button, there is an 80-liter fuel tank hatch unlocker. And on the lower edge of the door card, a red safety flashlight lurked, besides shining in the dark under your feet.

Edem

The motor pulls, almost like an aspirated engine with a working volume of three liters. Any sudden movement of the accelerator causes a gentle but sufficient acceleration. The car picks up speed majestically and comfortably.

On a suburban highway, the cruising speed of the H9 is 100-110 km / h. You just don’t want to go faster, although he holds 140-150 without tension.

At high speed, in ruts that have gnawed through the studded tires, the “nine” scours a little. But the main thing here is not to start fighting it, but to understand that she will not go anywhere.

The steering is not informative enough, but not critical, you quickly get used to it because of good stabilization. Confidence is given by the fact that when the “steering wheel” grip is loosened at the exit of the turn, the front wheels actively return to the straight position even at low speed.

The car responds to a jerk of the steering wheel with a surprisingly adequate reaction, without frightening the driver with excessive rolls. And it begins to roll when the rudder is shifted, that is, when moving from one turning arc to another. With such a significant mass, this phenomenon can be called natural. I am glad that in this case there are no encroachments to deviate from the given direction.

The brakes for such a heavy car are quite decent. In any case, for 250 test kilometers there was no lack of their effectiveness. Unless when braking “to the floor” from a speed of 130 km / h.

When you turn on the “sport” mode, the H9 transforms and literally starts to “shoot” from a place, pushing the driver and passengers into the seat backs. And in traffic light races, it provides an opportunity for neighbors downstream to study its stern at a distance of several bodies. Surprisingly, it seems that the impressiveness of the entire car is changing to composure. There is even a feeling that the brakes have become better, although this is definitely only a psychological effect.

Soft and silent

On asphalt, the car sails majestically like a cruise ship. On a long “wave” it does not sway, on a short one it does not bounce. He only dislikes small bumps that make heavy wheels jump up and down.

The cabin is quiet at any speed. Even at “cruising” 110 km / h, you can only hear how the air hisses in … the ceiling ventilation ducts. This hiss is slightly diluted with a slight rustle of tires.

Slightly whispering high-quality music (there is no noise in the cockpit, nothing needs to be turned off) to the accompaniment of slightly whistling air from the ventilation evokes the feeling of being in the cabin of an aircraft.

Not the best dipped headlights are compensated by powerful foglights

The dipped beam is a little weak both in brightness and in the width of the light spot. Far is good, but I want it to shine a little wider. But the fog lights illuminate the road in front of the car perfectly, almost replacing the dipped one. Of the features, it is worth noting the failure of the low / high beam “machine” to operate when the foglights are on. But this seems to be a national Chinese feature.

Flashlights in the rear doors perfectly illuminate both the footboard and the place where passengers have to step

In the dark, the “safety” door lights and the running board are illuminated, and the area around the car is illuminated.

And let the whole world wait!

Haval H9 is a roomy family SUV with not the most modern, eclectic appearance and the same, but highly functional interior. Its driving characteristics play in unison with its cloud-like appearance. This car is for those who are not in a hurry, preferring to move comfortably in space – “and let the whole world wait!”

The main features of the H9 on asphalt are capacity and comfort. Now is the time to evaluate it off-road.

Continued in preparation

Text, photo: Sergey MISHIN (Protector-Team)

Thank you for the technical supportAUTOLEADER» in Tolyatti

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