Toyota is very well established with its product line in the country. Nobody doubts that. But recently the Japanese brand gained a direct competitor to its medium SUV that is second in sales and leader among hybrid models: the Corolla Cross. On the other hand, Great Wall’s Haval H6 HEV debuts with the same engine solution, larger size and more generous list of equipment. Which one offers more?
COROLLA CROSS OR HAVAL H6 both hybrids for about the same price? See the video!
Anyone who thinks that Great Wall is “another” adventurous brand in our market is wrong. Its entry here is the result of an investment of BRL 10 billion, and in 2022 Great Wall reported a profit of more than USD 60 billion and has been growing with electrified products already present in Europe in countries such as England, Austria, France and with a structure as a technical center in Germany. Here it is a novelty, but the SUVs of the Haval line debuted with the famous cost-benefit ratio to conquer their place in the sun, as did the products of Caoa-Chery, now established throughout the country, being one of the most present brands in the segment of crossovers.
The Haval H6 HEV is a hybrid SUV that features the same system adopted by the Toyota Corolla Cross. It is the parallel hybrid system where the small electric motor works with the combustion engine with a small battery capable of dispensing with the engine on some occasions, but without electric autonomy as a plug-in hybrid for example. Thus, Corolla Cross and Haval H6 are on the same line. It is different from a light hybrid, for example, like the Tiggo 7 Pro, which has a “light hybrid” system where a larger alternator assists the combustion engine, reducing its power requirement when the car is at a stable speed. Let’s go to the numbers;
The Toyota Corolla Cross on the one hand is a successful brand product in the country. Of medium size it has…The Haval H6 is bigger. Visibly.
COROLLA CROSS 2021 – WANTS TO KILL COMPASS, EQUINOX, TERRITORY AND TAOS: See prices and review. See the video!
The Haval H6 brings a very generous equipment list. It has a good quality finish and good fittings although it visibly has some elements such as the steering wheel inspired by the Land Rover line as well as the raised central console. But it brings 12.3-inch multimedia and 10-inch digital panel and wide panoramic roof. There is also level 2+ of vehicle automation with adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go, automatic rear cross-traffic braking, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping system, door opening danger alert and automatic parking system. plus parking brake with electronic drive.
The Corolla Cross Hybrid XRX (top of the line) brings the maximum of medium crossover equipment. Its finish is good without changes in the 2024 line that is coming to stores. The multimedia is 10 inches and the digital panel is 8 inches. The Corolla Cross also has Adaptive Cruise Control with front and rear sensors, ramp start assistant and automatic braking within the Toyota Safety Sense package of driving assistants. However, it does not bring improved assistance items already present in the competitor and the sunroof is smaller.
Speaking of size, the Chinese SUV proposal is the famous more for less. The GWM Haval H6 measures 4.68 meters in length, 2.73 meters in wheelbase, 1.88 meters in width, 1.73 in height and can carry up to 560 liters. The Toyota Corolla Cross is a little smaller at 4.46 meters long, 2.64 meters wheelbase, 1.82 meters wide, 1.62 meters high and holds up to 440 liters. Does size matter? Not always, but the Haval’s advantage over the Corolla is great, unless the consumer doesn’t care about interior space and a larger trunk.
Motorization
Under the hood, the GWM Haval H6 HEV is equipped with a 171 hp combustion engine with 29 kgfm of torque and another 136 hp electric motor. Together, the two engines yield 243 hp with a torque of 54 kgfm. The rival Toyota Corolla Cross XRX has a 1.8 liter engine of up to 101 hp with a torque of 14.5 kgfm and another 72 liter electric engine with a torque of 16.6 kgfm. The combined power is 122 hp. Both have automatic transmission but in the Corolla it is the CVT system that simulates ten gears and in the HAVAL H6 HEV it is the DHT system suitable for hybrid models.
HAVAL H6 HEV Hybrid 2024: Does 13km/l and costs about the same as the Corolla Cross – details and price. See the video!
The Haval brings a more refined suspension with a Multilink set at the rear and the Toyota brings the old rigid axle system while the Corolla sedan itself uses an independent system. Although the HAVAL has room for improvement in terms of shock absorbers, the Chinese SUV stands out for its ride comfort.
According to the Chinese brand, the Haval H6 HEV can do zero to 100 km/h in just 7.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 175 km/h. The Toyota Corolla Cross is more conservative, as it goes from zero to 100 km/h in just 13 seconds and reaches a top speed of 170 km/h.
In terms of consumption, an advantage for the Toyota Corolla Cross, which can also run on ethanol, as it has a hybrid flex system. Even with ethanol it makes 11.8 km/l in the city and 9.7 km/l on the highway. With gasoline, consumption on the urban stretch is 17.8 km/l and on the road stretch is 14.7 km/l.
Regarding the GWM Haval H6 HEV, the hybrid SUV runs on gasoline only and does 13.8 km/l in the city and 12 km/l on the road. Being bigger and heavier, its consumption is not as good as in the national competitor.
Price List
The Toyota Corolla Cross XRX Hybrid, which is the top-of-the-line version, is sold for BRL 207,790 on the brand’s website. The GWM Haval H6 HEV is the entry option and costs BRL 209,000, that is, BRL 1,210 more expensive than the Japanese model.
The HAVAL H6 has a five-year warranty but the revision value has not yet been disclosed. The Corolla Cross is five years old and the first six revisions will cost approximately R$ 4,800.00.
Last year, the Toyota Corolla Cross had 42,506 units sold. In the first two months of this year, the model had 5,939 units registered. These numbers are good, since it leaves it behind only the darling Jeep Compass, which this year had 8,569 units licensed. It now remains to be seen whether the GWM Haval H6 will be able to steal customers from the traditional Toyota, which is known for the confidence of its products and mainly for the good after sales offered, which translates into good resale and low maintenance. Data are from Fenabrave.
The right for the uncertain? Not always. Haval’s set is notably superior but is lacking in the after-sales aspect, which will still be proven over time. The Corolla Cross is a traditional bet because it is already known how the brand is established here. However, long live free enterprise, where consumers will have more ways to decide which hybrid SUV to put in their garage.