By Donna Collins
WHEN a motorcar salesman tells you that you can get to Swakop and back on one tank, it is usually an exaggeration. Believe me; I’ve been through this before. So when Uwe Kessler (Dealer Principal Pupkewitz GWM) tossed me the keys to GWM’s flagship SUV, the latest H6 model – a gruff 2-litre turbo diesel, I didn’t waste a minute starting up.
Watching the needle of the petrol gauge with curiosity whilst the growl of a smooth diesel engine continued down towards the coast, it was all plain sailing. Settling back into the comfortable leather seats, the spacious cabin is equipped with all the mod cons, colour touch-screen with radio, CD, DVD and, USB and auxiliary ports are in the storage box between the front seats for the driver’s convenience, as well as Bluetooth and reversing camera.
A six speed manual gear shift is tailor made for a long drive, bringing economic fuel consumption into equation. Driving at an average speed of 120 kays, with some intermittent power surges for overtaking, and some dragged out sections whilst stuck behind trucks, the road was thankfully not too busy. Although there are still some scary, dangerous, lunatic drivers out there who take chances with other people’s lives by screaming past you on blind rises and double white lines.
So back to the petrol gauge. Once in Swakopmund the needle hadn’t budged and still showed full. I was now perplexed, and even starting to become worried , thinking that there was a technical problem, and since I had an appointment in Walvis Bay didn’t relish the thought of running out of gas. So I gingerly I crept into Walvisbay, and dropped by the Pupkewitz GWM showroom to see if all was ok, and was assured that I could not only get back to Swakop but Windhoek, and beyond on the tank.
Relieved and super impressed, it was only by this stage that I started noticing the needle drop ever so slightly. With some driving up and down here and there, I was all set to return to Windhoek with well over a half a tank in the kitty. Now I know why GWM is boasting the H6 has a low fuel consumption figure of 6.7 litres/100 km, is not ‘fiddle dee foo’. Because when I returned the vehicle back to the dealership, I had well over a quarter of a tank left.
This is probably why GWM H6 has been a great success for the automaker in China, reportedly selling 20 000 units a month. And since its launch sales are being clocked up in South Africa and Namibia with more to come, as diesel heads that look to spare themselves some dollars at the pump find out what a treat this solid SUV is.
The H6 is also handsome and comes with 17″ alloy rims, full colour-coding and chromed detail, roof rails, fog lights front and rear and privacy glass. Standard colours are white, silver, blue red, grey and black. The H6 is 4.6m long, has a 2.6mm wheelbase and 180mm ground clearance. It has a huge load space which can be doubled with rear seats that tumble forward to provide maximum cargo carrying ability.
Standard kit includes aircon, power steering, cruise control, power windows and external mirrors and auto wipers and head lights. The leather trimmed steering wheel, upmarket black and silver accents which add to a sophisticated ambience, with leather trim and luxury yet practical feel all round.
GWM sys the H6 achieved the maximum five-star rating in Chinese NCAP crash tests. The SUV has two front airbags, anti-lock disc brakes, electronic brake pressure distribution and emergency braking assistance. IsoFix child seat anchors are standard, as are tyre-pressure monitors.
The GWM H6 2.0 TCI 4×2 is priced at N$380 000 which includes a service plan of 5 years/60 000 kilometres, and every GWM H6 is sold with a five year or 100 000km warranty
In conclusion the vehicle travelled 901 km return trip Windhoek/Swakopmund/Walvis on a full 58-litre tank, costing just over N$800 to fill up. Driving an average speed of 120 kays, I could have easily made another 100 kilometres before the fuel gauge light came on and wouldn’t say it was an exaggeration to drive to Oshakati without stopping once to fill up.