Haval Big Dog HEV: price, power, fuel economy and range

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A hybrid version of the Haval Big Dog has gone on sale in China. The SUV, known to Russian buyers as the Dargo, is offered as an HEV with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Both versions deliver 182 kW, or about 248 hp, while maximum torque is 535 Nm for the Hi2 and 670 Nm for the Hi4. The all-wheel-drive version accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds.

Chinese pricing ranges from 119,900 to 137,900 yuan. Under a temporary trade-in program, the price drops to 105,900-123,900 yuan.

The HEV does not need to be plugged in. Both systems use a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine rated at 115 kW, but they differ in layout and the number of electric motors. The Hi2 is rated at 5.2 l/100 km on the WLTC cycle with a total range of 1,115 km, while the all-wheel-drive Hi4 is listed at 5.65 l/100 km and 946 km. Separate energy-efficiency tests produced lower figures of 4.6 and 4.94 l/100 km respectively, so those results should not be mixed directly with the certified WLTC values.

The Hi4 also gets an electronically controlled mechanical rear differential lock, iTVC torque distribution and seven driving modes. Coffee Pilot 3 Lite uses 26 sensors and supports both urban and highway NOA. The cabin features a 15.6-inch central display, a 10.25-inch instrument screen and a 9-inch head-up display.

The new HEV is not confirmation of an export version, and Haval has announced no such plans. Instead, it shows the next development step for the Big Dog/Dargo family: the model can now combine all-wheel drive and 670 Nm with fuel consumption well below that of a conventional petrol-only version.