Given that I see H3s and H5s here daily, I admit the frontal appearance of my favorite, the H3, is beginning to look a little tired. It has been around for a while now. But having said that, the front of the H5 Euro looks boring, without any exciting design expression (It looks like the grille copied Mazda). And the front fascia of the H5 Extreme is just downright ugly.

The 2.0VGT's turbo lag is bad. Ironically, a variable geometry turbo is supposed to minimize the lag and improve driveability. But that certainly isn't the case with GW's 2.0VGT.

The 2.5TCi flys. You have power all the time. (I still think all the versions would benefit with a 4.10 axle ratio over the current 3.90).

You're right, the 2.0VGT's AWD system is for women in the city. Ford began using this system, Borg-Warner TOD (Torque-on-demand) in 1996. Ford calls it Control Trac. Isuzu uses it too. BUT, their TOD system includes 2wd, Auto, 4-high and 4-low. Great Wall went the CHEAP route and cancelled the 4-high and 4-low modes. So to get a "real" 4wd system, you really have to buy the H3.

Just some FYI. I read today that the Australian version of the H3 2.4L (called X240 in Australia) was recalled this year in May. All global H3 owners should take a moment to check their trucks.

(Incidently, I see Australia is now receiving the H5 2.0VGT (called X200). It comes with Bosch's Electonic Stability Program (ESP), an option only available with the H5 and the Kia 2.0VGT/Hyundai 5-speed automatic powertrain combination.
__________________________________________________ ____

Great Wall Motors has recalled 922 examples of the X240 compact SUV because the steering column may come into contact with the car’s brake pipe.

The recall notice placed on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website states that “it is possible that the lower section of the steering column may come into contact with the front-right hydraulic brake pipe due to the small clearance between the two.

“The column may rub against the pipe during operation resulting in a leak in the hydraulic brake pipe.”’

Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted and advised to see their local dealer for an inspection and, if necessary, a replacement brake pipe.

Public affairs consultant for Ateco Automotive – the distributor of Great Wall Motors in Australia - Daniel Cotterill, told GoAuto: “There has been an issue noted on one X240 concerning the incorrect fitment of a brake pipe in the factory.

“This has led to the recall of 922 potentially affected 2010 model X240s for inspection and rectification if necessary. None of the facelifted models (H5/X200) are included,” he said.

You are right. The 2.0VGT we saw yesterday is very well suited for the city woman. It was funny... The 2.0 we were checking out was from a couple waiting for its delivery. They were installing an alarm to it, therefore the wait but looking at the color choice and her excitement I could tell she had a lot to do with the pick:)

Anyways, later, while talking to sales director, they came to check the H3, and the husband was all over that SUV :) Thankfully, in my case, the wife disapproves the look of the Euro H5 so with the addition of engine issue was not a hard decision!

Thanks for the recall update, that is nothing that a plastic tie can't fix to give enough clearance to the hydraulic brake pipe ;)

Also Chinesecars,
I was given a price quote of $26,500 for Haval H3 2.5TCI 4X4 Super Luxury (CC6460KM65). Is this the same vehicle you say sells for $22,500 in China? If not, can you check actual price of this one?

I need to confirm asap so next week when I go to dealer I can discuss the extra fees involved. Thank you very much for double checking and have a good weekend!

Yes, that's the same high-spec H3 2.5TCI 4wd as in China.

Thanks for conformation, I will find out the difference tomorrow based on transport, import taxes, etc

Chinesecars,
I signed the contract for 2012 H3 2.5TCI 4x4 today. It will be here around mid February they estimate. I will post pictures once it arrives. I ordered the Pearl Black exterior with Coffee interior combo which both the wife and I agreed on :)

In China, the metallic gray is the best seller. And it does look good. But, I'm planning to order white, because scratches are much harder to see with white paint (no matter how hard I try, it's going to get scratched in China).

I wish they had a good looking red, blue or green. Unfortunately, most of their colors are ugly.

I see, we changed interior to Black + Beige (still Black exterior) after not liking that much the seats configuration (2 colors) on the Coffee. Now, this is the final look we all agree on :)

GW's website doesn't say, but there are 3 available interior color choices (at least with the leather interior) including black, beige, and a strange looking yellowish brown color. I plan to get beige.

So yours will be White with Beige interior, while ours will be Black with Beige interior. Once we get it in mid February, I will post some pictures. When do you plan to get yours? :) Also, I read somewhere that the 2.5TCI has the same or better diesel consumption than the 2.0VGT automatic? Is this about right?

China copied the U.S. law that requires carmakers to place a label on the car window with the fuel economy figures. I'm not sure how much I trust it. I need to stop by the dealer and look again - I don't quite remember the numbers. I think the 6-speed 2.0VGT was around 7.8L/100km, and the auto 2.0VGT's fuel economy much higher than I expected (with a modern 5-speed overdrive automatic), perhaps 8.8L/100km. And the H3 2.5TCI is 8.2L/100km? I'll confirm.

Traffic is TERRIBLE here. The morning drive is acceptable (though not as easy as 5 years go), but the evening drive home is horrible. I really wish they'd fix the 2.0VGT's reliability problems because the auto transmission would be very nice to have under these conditions. Or, make the Hyundai auto transmission available behind the 2.5TCi (although, that would mean they'd use the Borg-Warner TOD 4wd system since that's what the Hyundai auto is set up for, instead of the H3's traditional low range-equipped transfer case).

http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/7030305/640/7030305.jpg
this is the label which i find on the internet for at diesel version

China copied the U.S. law that requires carmakers to place a label on the car window with the fuel economy figures. I'm not sure how much I trust it. I need to stop by the dealer and look again - I don't quite remember the numbers. I think the 6-speed 2.0VGT was around 7.8L/100km, and the auto 2.0VGT's fuel economy much higher than I expected (with a modern 5-speed overdrive automatic), perhaps 8.8L/100km. And the H3 2.5TCI is 8.2L/100km? I'll confirm.

Traffic is TERRIBLE here. The morning drive is acceptable (though not as easy as 5 years go), but the evening drive home is horrible. I really wish they'd fix the 2.0VGT's reliability problems because the auto transmission would be very nice to have under these conditions. Or, make the Hyundai auto transmission available behind the 2.5TCi (although, that would mean they'd use the Borg-Warner TOD 4wd system since that's what the Hyundai auto is set up for, instead of the H3's traditional low range-equipped transfer case).

interesting, thanks for the info

Mico, as a GW representative, I'd think you would know your product better. That label clearly states the transmission is "AT" (automatic transmission). This is not the fuel economy label for 6-speed manual transmission model as you state. If it was the 6-speed manual, the engine model would be GW4D20B rated at 100kW, not the listed GW4D20 rated at 110kW.

Dieselhover, I was originally told wrong (by the dealer) that the 2.5TCi originated from Nissan. Actually GW acquired the turbocharged 2.8L 4JB1 engine design from Isuzu, forming the basis for the GW 2.8TC. Later they paid Bosch to update it, resulting in the higher performance 2.5TCi.

I think the Isuzu 4JB1-T (turbocharged) was introduced way back in 1987, but it's a proven engine. More important, I have to assume that it received significant re-engineering under Bosch's management to result in the 2.5TCi.

In the back of my mind, I've also been paying attention to the Kia Sorento with the 2.2L diesel. This new engine represents cutting edge technology. Fuel economy is impressive at 10.9L-highway, 6.8L-city, and 8.1L combined, considering the 1790kg curb weight. It's very spacious and it comes standard with many features (including low range 4wd). It's more money, but not that much more. And, this is a car built to last. You should be able to drive it 10+ years (Where will our H3/H5 be in 10 years). And, it has a fuel heater.

FYI, the cheaper Kia Sportage isn't available with the 2.0CRDi diesel in China. Otherwise, that would probably compete with the 2012 H5 in price, and no doubt the design and quality are better.

Chinesecars,
The Kia Sorento 2.2 Diesel is available here from the same dealer company, but in terms of looks vs. base price I prefer the Haval H3 2.5TCI for its features. I am confident this model of Hover will last more than 10K, in fact, that should be just the loose up time for its new condition, as I have read from other owners. Sure there maybe issues coming up early, but with the local 5 Year Warranty on engine and transmission, I don't expect any mayors, while crossing fingers :)

My friend, I didn't say 10K. I said 10 years.

Kia (and Hyundai) have improved very quickly. Their very latest models are very impressive looking, and the engine/transmission technology is now rivaling the Japanese brands.

Yes, I know you meant 10 years, I was just joking that would be like 10K for me here compared to what the hovers get driven in China :) but anyways I know Kia and Hyundai are very good now, I just like the Hover better in terms of size and price and the value you get for what you pay, that's all.

Test og GW H5 at wheels24.co.za:
http://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModels/Driven-GWMs-new-H5-diesel-20111124

Conclusion
The H5 is a tolerable SUV and an affordable offering, despite its rough edges.

Mico, as a GW representative, I'd think you would know your product better. That label clearly states the transmission is "AT" (automatic transmission). This is not the fuel economy label for 6-speed manual transmission model as you state. If it was the 6-speed manual, the engine model would be GW4D20B rated at 100kW, not the listed GW4D20 rated at 110kW.

don't worry about my knowlegde about gw products :D, you will see many new models in upcoming three years, some of them are amazing and really good looking one :thumb:

i download photo from the autohome car portal and didn't notice AT label, but it's similar and only which was avalaible at photo gallery, personaly i don't thrust any labels or even ece certificates, because for such results engines are tested under lab-conditions

personaly i think that most important is the driver and how he drive the car, also you must take care about tire pressure, weather conditions and to make normal service of the car,for now i had experience with 2.8 tc and 2.5 tci engines, even in town conditions it did not spend over 10 liters of diesel fuel, on open road it was between 8 liters

also for us in europe hover diesel is still not avalaible as it will be replaced with new hover h6 version, only pick up is avalaible with diesel engine, however it's nice to see that great wall update it's model with ESP:
http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/7036557/640/7036557.jpg
http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/7036560/640/7036560.jpg

From: http://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModels/Driven-GWMs-new-H5-diesel-20111124

"The 2.0 turbo-diesel engine is capable of 110kW at 4000rpm and 310Nm from 1800 to 2800rpm, drives through either a six-speed manual or five-speed auto and has a claimed fuel consumption seven litres/100km.

The engine, though technologically advanced, leaves a lot to be desired. The manual is stodgy, the auto adequate in terms of gear changes and the H5 presents driving characteristics that wouldn’t be out of place in a typical bakkie; a little harsh on the road, noisy engine and a general feeling that it’s built for the rough-and-tumble of farm life."

"it’s built for the rough-and-tumble of farm life."

"The H5...............the overall experience behind the wheel is underwhelming."

Not a glowing review. It seems the writer struggled to find anything good to say about it. Of course he was wrong on the power, the 6-speed manual's engine is only 100kW. The 5-speed manual is horribly notchy (stodgy as he puts it) in 1st and 2nd gears (a WW2 Willys MB Jeep shifts better).

I didn't think the 2.5TCi and 2.0VGT were very noisy (except perhaps, at highway cruising speeds). But the Toyota and Kia diesel SUVs probably do have lower interior noise levels.

Kia had had to work on their shifters for a long while, too, and many still find them unacceptable. I owned a 1999 Kia Sephia sedan and a 2001 Kia Sportage 4X4 and both had 5-speed standard transmissions. I found them both acceptable, though.

micodelija is right, how you drive, how you maintain and stay aware of your rig and what it needs is very, very important. I mean, sometimes you're just struck by a untimely recall or a technical service bulletin, but refinement takes time, and, like I said, some still don't feel like their shifters on their '12 Kia's are smooth enough. A poster on a Kia blogsite I go to all the time just bought a 2012 Kia Rio hatchback with a 5-speed and he said his 2011 Ford Fiesta shifts smoother than the new Rio. So there ya go. They may never get it right.

But what I'm saying is I still loved both my '99 Kia Sephia and my '01 Kia Sportage 4X4. I took good care of them and they treated me right. They were built with solid powertrains and the build quality of the interior was forthright...it held up to my dog's abuse and daily grind of carrying things, never a tear anywhere. Loved my Kia's!

Great Wall and Hover will get better with time but I'll bet they're pretty close to decent right now, though. I'm just sayin'.

I respect your thoughts. However, what is probably America's most professional car magazine, Car & Driver, has been very impressed with all the current Kia products including the shifting of their manual transmissions. No complaints (and they are a very particular bunch). I drove a manual Sportage here and thought the shiftability was fine (not a Honda, but few equal Honda's shiftability).

At any rate, I'm a customer. I'm not a guinea pig subject being paid to participate in an automobile experiment. GW needs to resolve refinement issues, within reason, before placing a vehicle on the market. It's not only in the best interest of the customer, but obviously also in the best interest of GW. They clearly launched 2.0VGT H5 before resolving all its issues. This regretable situation was self-inflicted.

Dieselhover, I stopped by the GW dealer this weekend. They still don’t know when the 2012 models will be available for order. GW has improved the plastic color of the H5 automatic’s shift knob, from a cheap looking silver to a nicer looking gray.

I also noticed that while the H3 and H5 “Extreme” have a full size rear spoiler over the rear window, the H5 “Euro” has a smaller (shorter) spoiler. I prefer the normal (full) size spoiler.

I saw the VERY rare 2.5TCi-equipped H5 "Euro". I’ve never seen one before. Most 2.5TCi’s go into H3s, and a few into the ugly H5 “Extreme”. The 2.5TCi H5 “Extreme” has an intercooler hood scoop (the intercooler is mounted on top of the engine like the H3). But the 2.5TCi-equipped H5 Euro is different, using the same intercooler behind the bumper as the 2.0VGT version (which is okay, but the engine compartment is more crowded than the H3, because of the intercooler piping going to and from the lower bumper area mounted intercooler).

Here’s the fuel economy listings, based on the trucks they had in stock.

H5 2.0VGT (100kW) 6MT 2wd 7.4L/100km
H5 2.0VGT (110kW) Auto 2wd 8.8L/100km
H5 2.5TCi 5MT 2wd 7.5L/100km
H3 2.5TCi 5MT 4wd 7.7L/100km
H5 2.0 (gas) 5MT 2wd 9.6L/100km
H5 2.4 (gas) 5MT 4wd 10.3L/100km

(They didn’t have a single 4wd H5 diesel in stock – very strange)

For comparison:
Kia Sportage 4wd 2.0CRDi 6-speed auto - 7.5L/100km
Kia Sorento 4wd 2.2CRDi 6-speed auto - 8.1L/100km


I can tolerate the 2.0VGT’s crooked oil fill tube on the valve cover. It’s because when Kia produced this engine, it was mounted transversely rather than in-line, slightly tilted back. So in the Kia, the oil fill tube would be straight, rather than crooked. However, GW’s inability to make even a small adaptation, such as this oil fill tube, when putting the Kia engine into the H5 proves how weak GW’s R&D capabilities are.

But I can’t accept GW’s inability to relocate the 2.0VGT’s oil filter. In the Kia, because the engine was transversely mounted, the oil filter was conveniently located in the front of the engine compartment. But in the H5, located on the right side of the truck due to the engine’s inline mounting, it is barely visible and nearly impossible to reach. It’s a mechanic’s worst nightmare. It is squeezed between the power steering pump and intercooler piping. You would have to remove the all the air cleaner piping, skin the knuckles on your hand, and spill oil all over the right side of the engine because there’s no space to flip over the filter. Any intelligent engineer would have chosen a remotely-mounted oil filter design.

An oil filter is the most commonly replaced item in a vehicle’s service history. For this obvious reason, global automakers make the oil filter easily accessible. BUT NOT GW. I prefer an in-line engine configuration. But when you take a transverse design engine and mount it in-line, many items need to be changed!

In contrast, the 2.5TCi’s oil filter located at the lower right side of the engine is VERY easy to reach. You can change it in 2 minutes.

Chisinecars,
I feel like my future H3 2.5TCi 5MT 4wd 7.7L/100km is one of the most, if not the best fuel efficient model GW has made based on features so far according to these numbers :)

Dieselhover, I stopped by the GW dealer this weekend. They still don’t know when the 2012 models will be available for order. GW has improved the plastic color of the H5 automatic’s shift knob, from a cheap looking silver to a nicer looking gray.

I also noticed that while the H3 and H5 “Extreme” have a full size rear spoiler over the rear window, the H5 “Euro” has a smaller (shorter) spoiler. I prefer the normal (full) size spoiler.

I saw the VERY rare 2.5TCi-equipped H5 "Euro". I’ve never seen one before. Most 2.5TCi’s go into H3s, and a few into the ugly H5 “Extreme”. The 2.5TCi H5 “Extreme” has an intercooler hood scoop (the intercooler is mounted on top of the engine like the H3). But the 2.5TCi-equipped H5 Euro is different, using the same intercooler behind the bumper as the 2.0VGT version (which is okay, but the engine compartment is more crowded than the H3, because of the intercooler piping going to and from the lower bumper area mounted intercooler).

Here’s the fuel economy listings, based on the trucks they had in stock.

H5 2.0VGT (100kW) 6MT 2wd 7.4L/100km
H5 2.0VGT (110kW) Auto 2wd 8.8L/100km
H5 2.5TCi 5MT 2wd 7.5L/100km
H3 2.5TCi 5MT 4wd 7.7L/100km
H5 2.4 (gas) 5MT 4wd 10.3L/100km

(They didn’t have a single 4wd H5 diesel in stock – very strange)


I can tolerate the 2.0VGT’s crooked oil fill tube on the valve cover. It’s because when Kia produced this engine, it was mounted transversely rather than in-line, slightly tilted back. So in the Kia, the oil fill tube would be straight, rather than crooked. However, GW’s inability to make even a small adaptation, such as this oil fill tube, when putting the Kia engine into the H5 proves how weak GW’s R&D capabilities are.

But I can’t accept GW’s inability to relocate the 2.0VGT’s oil filter. In the Kia, because the engine was transversely mounted, the oil filter was conveniently located in the front of the engine compartment. But in the H5, located on the right side of the truck due to the engine’s inline mounting, it is barely visible and nearly impossible to reach. It’s a mechanic’s worst nightmare. It is squeezed between the power steering pump and intercooler piping. You would have to remove the all the air cleaner piping, skin the knuckles on your hand, and spill oil all over the right side of the engine because there’s no space to flip over the filter. Any intelligent engineer would have chosen a remotely-mounted oil filter design.

An oil filter is the most commonly replaced item in a vehicle’s service history. For this obvious reason, global automakers make the oil filter easily accessible. BUT NOT GW. I prefer an in-line engine configuration. But when you take a transverse design engine and mount it in-line, many items need to be changed!

In contrast, the 2.5TCi’s oil filter located at the lower right side of the engine is VERY easy to reach. You can change it in 2 minutes.

Remote Oil Filter Relocation Kit
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TRD-1122/?rtype=10

I like how the H3's grille is attached to the hood. From an engine servicing perspective, when you open the hood, the engine compartment is more open with the grille out of the way.

I'm very disappointed with GW. As much as I like the H3, I admit that its frontal styling is beginning to look old. This is true.

The H5 Euro with AWD (Borg-Warner TOD) and a reasonable new style appearance was GW's chance to get into the high volume city SUV market. But it seems at every step of the design process, they took shortcuts which led to an embarassingly bad result. In its current form of refinement, the H5 is more like an advanced prototype than a production model. They spent a lot of money to acquire the 2.0VGT from Kia, but because of the truck's lack of refinement and reliability issues, sales are poor. Most customers here buy the 2.0 and 2.4 gasoline models because they are afraid of the 2.0VGT. If they buy diesel, they buy the H3/2.5TCi.

Why can't they also offer the Hyundai 5-speed auto with the 2.5TCi and 2.4 Mitsubishi gas in all H3 and H5 models. They only need to design 2 more flywheel housings. All the SUVs here (except the old Nissan Paladin) are offering automatic transmissions now. GW is cutting their sales potential in half because they don't offer an automatic.

This weekend was the first time I ever saw an H5 Euro with the 2.5TCi. But the engine compartment seemed "crowded", unlike the H3. Because they build very few of this version, I'd be scared about the build quality.

Funny, maybe in China, but here the H3 front is not boring here yet :) Also, local dealer says they sold 3 of the H3 2.5TCIs but I have only seen 2.4 Gas so far... Maybe they are all crawling along the country off-roads and not in the city :)

I like diesel, but in China, the car buyers are afraid of them because of the country's reputation for poor diesel quality (high sulfur content, 500 to 2000ppm). Also, like other countries, they don't like the loud sound and smell (of course the newer diesels have largely solved those problems).

Of course the commercial trucks in China are diesel. Fortunately, the diesel quality situation is changing now. Because China's commercial trucks are switching to Euro-4, the country is being forced to finally improve the fuel quality, which will benefit the diesel cars and SUVs. Volkswagen has sold 1.9L Jetta diesel taxis here for years. The drivers learned, if they add a bottle of Volkswagen brand diesel additive every 2500km, their engines are okay. I plan to do the same (even with the improving fuel quality).

At the dealer, I was looking at a new H3 2.5TCi parked next to an H5 2.0VGT. I reluctantly must admit, the H3's frontal styling was fresh in 2005, but is becoming tired looking 8 years later as we approach 2012. But I'm not saying the H5's frontal appearance is great. It's just okay.

The real question is, when will GW design a replacement for the H3/H5 range? Who will they oursource the design work to? Hopefully a reputable global design team (GW doesn't have the ability to design an "all-new" SUV by themselves).

The H3/H5 chassis is an old obsolete copy of the second generation Toyota 4-Runner's chassis (1989-1995). The body is a copy of the Isuzu Axiom (only produced from 2002 thru 2004 due to terrible sales, it was based on the Isuzu ZXS concept from the 1999 Tokyo Int'l Motor Show). The H3/H5's outdated body and chassis are proving to not be adaptable to the powertrains and customer demands of today. When you consider the high-spec 2012 H5 has a USD $27,000 price tag, these are real issues.

Chinesecars,
How does the 2.5TCI Haval H3 compares to the Haval H5 2.0 VGT in terms of maintenance frequency and cost, like filters, oil change, etc? Thanks in advance for any info!

The operating conditions in China are what most global carmakers call "severe", because of the dust and fuel quality. So I change my engine oil and filter, engine air filter, fuel filter and air conditioning intake air filter every 5,000 km. I'm sure the costs of these spare parts, 2.5TCi vs 2.0VGT is close. (plus, I add a bottle of fuel additive every 2,500km)

I drove a new 2.2 CRDi Sorento last weekend. Very impressive. Plenty of power.

According to: http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsHistory/Kia-Sorento-2.2-CRDi-KX-3-4WD/248021/

For: Smart looks, class-leading performance, space-efficient cabin, economical

Against: Overly ambitious price, cheap interior materials, ride could be better

I read that too. The only problem I saw was on the front door panels. I thought the flat panel which has the window control switches looked very cheap. It was obvious in the beige color, but not as bad looking in the black interior. The rest of the car's architecture and fit & finish was fine. I really liked the huge amount of stowage under the rear lift-up floor cover (the spare tire is outside the car, under the rear like the H5). The diesel Sorento was very quick with no noticeable turbo lag (a properly designed VGT powertrain), and was reasonably quiet.

In China and the US, Kia seems to be priced competitively, similar to the Honda CRV. But in the UK and elsewhere, apparently it has a high price.

I've looked at the CRV too. The interior design and refinement is certainly the envy of every global carmaker. Everything is located exactly where it should be. You have to respect Honda. And if I buy the gas CRV (the diesel CRV isn't available here), I don't need to add diesel anti-gel fuel additive all winter. That's a cost savings.

I asked the 4S dealer again about any news on the 2012 model launch. They still haven't heard anything. I sat in a high-end 2wd H5. The leather seats "looked" very nice, but the seat bottom was very hard. Very poor cushioning. Any journey over one hour could be uncomfortable.

If I could import it to China, I'd love to have a 4-door Jeep Wrangler conversion by AEC (with Jeep's European market 2.8L CRDi diesel engine).

http://www.aev-conversions.com/vehicles/jk_wrangler.php

Chinesecars,
How comfortable did you feel when you test drove the H3 2.5TCI? I mean the seats, bumps on the road, anything else you can add to your experience? Thanks in advance!

http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/7121429/640/7121429.jpg
here it is...after 5 month usage, first 50.000 km with new hover h5 :thumb::eek:
i make two services, oil + filter and spark plugs, also just two week before i replace front and rear brake pads, now i must make a service of GPL installation and put new winter tires

When I drove the H3 2.5TCi, well, its hard to say. You really need to drive a car for a week to get a feeling for it. When I drove the H3, the first thing I noticed was the transmission's horrible synchronizers in 1st and 2nd gear. Of course I was paying a lot of attention to engine performance (acceleration), which was very good. So all this distracted me from the seats. Plus, I was listening for squeaks and rattles (didn't hear any but my wife and the salesman were talking), trying to feel the suspension's handling characteristics (seemed reasonable). The leather seats in the H5 last weekend reminded me of the earlier Korean cars with thinner hard cushions. Hard seat cushions of course don't help to dampen the ride over bumps on city streets, and cause your bottom to go to sleep due to lack of blood flow over long highway journeys.

I live in north China where our winters include lots of snow and ice. However, 90 percent of the H3s and H5s at the dealer last weekend were 2wd (why but a 2wd SUV?). The cheap people buy the H3 2.0L gas, and the big spenders buy the H3 2.4L gas (the 2.4L is actually more economical than the 2.0L). In recent months, I rarely see any H3 2.5TCi's (it's easy to spot the hood scoop). I also don't see many H5s (Euro or Extreme), and if I do, it usually has a 2.4L gas engine (so I don't bother asking them about their ownership experience, since I'm only interested in the diesel models).

China's car sales are slowing down fast, and the Chinese carmakers are feeling it (the global brands will be the last here to see sales fall).

Nice mark micodelija.

I dont drive as much as you my old h3 2.8 diesel is still 70.000 kms going strong.

so far the local record is for a wingle 2.8 tc with over 130.000 kms

As for smaller units one peri with 60.000 kms.

so far no major repairs in this cars

Dieselhover, I had some time this weekend to stop by the Great Wall store and evaluate the front seating. The low-spec of course is cloth. The mid-spec is perforated synthetic leather, and the high-spec is leather without any perforations (small breathing holes). Usually, for example the Kia Sportage, the mid-spec has cheaper quality leather without perforations, and the high-spec has better quality leather with the perforations. The perforations (small holes) allow the bottom seat cushion to breath for a more comfortable (cooler) seating experience. Leave it to GW to do things backwards.

It’s odd that the mid-spec has the much better looking perforated leather seating. BUT, there’s another problem. Only the high-spec truck has a power-adjustable driver’s seat which allows you to tilt the bottom cushion. And note, GW did it the cheap way. Only the rear of the seat adjusts up and down. The front of the seat cushion only pivots (On most power seats, the front and rear adjust up and down, so you can adjust seat height, and then adjust the angle. But not the H5’s power adjustable driver’s seat.

Anyway, the problem I noticed is, I feel the bottom seat cushion angle of the non-adjustable mid-spec perforated leather seating is too low at the rear. I felt like I was sitting in a hole. It hurt my back. Tolerable for a short drive, but it would definitely hurt my back over a longer journey. With the not-as-good-looking but power adjustable high-spec leather seat, I could at least adjust the bottom cushion seat angle (raise the rear) and achieve a comfortable position.

The bottom seat cushion padding for all trim levels is rather hard. There simply isn't much "cushioning". Let's call it a "lack of refinement". This was accepted 15 years ago, but not today. I recall some Korean cars 8-10 years ago had hard seats (compared to US and Japanese brands).

The rear seating, like the Nissan Paladin (Xterra) is a knees-in-you-face situation because they didn’t design a footwell (recessed left and right flooring for your feet) for the rear seat passengers. You feel like your almost sitting on the floor with your knees in your face (not comfortable, tolerable for short rides only). Most SUVs nowadays have footwells for the rear passengers, for a more natural and comfortable seating position.

Chinesecars,
Thanks for the update on the seats. I saw what you describe on the H5 when I was at the local dealer. The H3 looked more comfortable than the H5, and I am hoping the super luxury offers the best option. Anyways, thank you for the info :)

Nice mark micodelija.

I dont drive as much as you my old h3 2.8 diesel is still 70.000 kms going strong.

so far the local record is for a wingle 2.8 tc with over 130.000 kms

As for smaller units one peri with 60.000 kms.

so far no major repairs in this cars

i have here several cars with over 100.000 km, mainly without problems...such small warranty repairs that i can really be satisfied :thumb:

I forgot to tell you, the 2012 H5 "Euro" model are available for order now. They don't have any trucks, only a poster with information about them. No big changes, but some of the changes are nice.

http://news.cheshi.com/20111205/460059.shtml

I'm undecided about the meaningless new chrome trim on the front bumper. In a way, it looks tacky, rather than tasteful and refined.

The H5 Euro's rear spoiler is larger (it was too small, much shorter than the other H3/H5 versions)

The Bosch-style bracketless wiper blades will be appreciated.

One can only hope the electric motors within the new retractable mirrors are good quality.

The chrome trim ring around the speaker bezel in the rear side doors has no special meaning to me.

The Volkswagen-style flip-out key is convenient, IF the quality is good.

The wood-grain door trim might look nice with the beige interior, if the quality is good. (I might suggest brushed aluminim trim for black interiors)


Also, GW has a promotion now on the H5. Euro 836 (US$1101) off the suggested retail price.

Thanks for the link. I really like the H3 look better... I hope GW doesn't stop producing the Full SUV style of the Haval H3 in the future :)

I wish you all members of this forum a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
May 2012 be a great year for Great Wall vehicles improvement and sales too :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR_BLhsFOK4
amazing winter driving

http://video.nedoma.ru/viewprofile/Dreamkins/
more videos from russia :thumb:

http://video.nedoma.ru/viewprofile/Dreamkins/
more videos from russia :thumb:

Can you recommend another website for me to read about Greatwall cars?

Sorry to be out of topic.


...

I welcome all participants of the forum!
My name is Ivan, I'm from Moscow.
Recently acquired Hover 2,0 TD AT. In 2010 I had a Hover H2 4G64. Unfortunately, it was stolen.
I decided to ask here on your forum: Do we know that a self-locking differentials in the 2,0 TD AT? Whether coming from China these cars? We have yet no one knows anything. We only know that the differential differs from the gasoline version of the H5.


Who cares - the report on our trip to the Mediterranean in 2010 ... In Russian :)
http://web.me.com/ivan.ostrovski/Travels

I welcome all participants of the forum!
My name is Ivan, I'm from Moscow. Recently acquired Hover 2,0 TD AT. In 2010 I had a Hover H2 4G64. Unfortunately, it was stolen.
I decided to ask here on your forum: Do we know that a self-locking differentials in the 2,0 TD AT? Whether coming from China these cars? We have yet no one knows anything. We only know that the differential differs from the gasoline version of the H5.


Who cares - the report on our trip to the Mediterranean in 2010 ... In Russian :)
http://web.me.com/ivan.ostrovski/Travels

The Eaton M-Locker locking rear axle differential is not available in the H3/H5 diesel models (2.0VGT or 2.5TCi). Only the gasoline engine models offer it.

I contacted GW last year. They told me the diesel models would soon offer it, but almost a year later, you still can't buy a diesel with the M-Locker. So, I gave up.

Evidently, the M-Locker designed for their old Toyota-copy rear axle can't handle the torque output of the diesels.

...I contacted GW last year. They told me the diesel models would soon offer it, but almost a year later...

Well, it's understandable ... The same thing that we have.
Must be booked at the Russian plant. For the 4.55 and 4.88 gear is made​​. Just wait for the production of a new model of 4-8 months and you must provide a sample of the original factory gear (700 euro)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG_Q0HEUc4I
:D:D

Ivan,
My 2012 H3 2.5TCI, that I should receive anytime now, comes with Rear axle differential lock as listed in the Super Luxury version features.

Ivan,
My 2012 H3 2.5TCI, that I should receive anytime now, comes with Rear axle differential lock as listed in the Super Luxury version features.

- It is very interesting!
In the enumeration of the technical characteristics of the model must be specified gear ratio rear axle. I've got this number is equal to 3.9. That is why the self-locking differentials on the petrol versions will not work.
If the car is new, then the rear axle housing will be a sticker with a number. I would be grateful if you can read it.

To Micodelija:

And I also want the plastic for wheel arches! :thumb:
Where is it available?

To Micodelija:

And I also want the plastic for wheel arches! :thumb:
Where is it available?

Only in Italy. I think soon I will be able to provide them.

Ivan,
As soon as I get the vehicle I will get the diff number and post it here for you np :)

Thanks! I'll be waiting! :)

Only in Italy. I think soon I will be able to provide them.

Thanks! I'll be waiting! :)

Me too! :)

http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/7707775/img/7707775.jpg
here is my new hover 5,this time in universe blue :thumb:
i already put GPL sistem in the car

micodelija

Color beautiful!
And this is my car after 30 minutes of buying from a dealer :)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2506557/IMAG0008-2.jpg

very nice color also, i also had chance tu buy this one...but i got older model in this color, this is noble gray color right?

Nice color micodelija!

I love the universe blue myself.

Can ou post more pictures from another angles?

Thanks.

I still keep my old Hover, now its over 4 years and runs great