Haval Dargo 2023 Review
Chinese luxury brand hatches a tougher, bigger brother for the Haval Jolion and H6Chinese SUV specialist Haval – which sits alongside the GWM ute, Tank off-road and Ora EV brands Down Under – has been quietly expanding its model range, with the Jolion replacing the H2 small SUV, the GT fastback joining the H6 mid-size SUV and hybrid versions of both model lines now available. Likely to be next on the agenda for Australia is the Haval Dargo, which is the Pinyin pronunciation of ‘Big Dog’, rather than being a reference to the alpine town in Victoria. Although it’s underpinned by a monocoque chassis – unlike the body-on-frame Tank 300 – the mid-size ‘off-road’ SUV nevertheless comes equipped (at least in the UAE, where we tested the vehicle) with locking centre and rear differentials, plus various off-road drive modes that include Sand, Mud and Snow.
How much does the Haval Dargo cost?
We tested the mid-size 2023 Haval Dargo in the United Arab Emirates, where pricing starts at the equivalent of $52,890 for the all-wheel drive High Deluxe 4WD spec. In Australia, where the Dargo could be launched by the end of 2023, it would come with the same seven-year, unlimited-km warranty and five-year roadside assistance coverage as all GWM, Haval, Ora and Tank models.
What equipment comes with the Haval Dargo?
The 2023 Haval Dargo High Deluxe 4WD comes with Nappa leather seat trim, 19-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, roof luggage carrier, front and rear fog lights, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.3-inch infotainment touch-screen, head-up display, Apple CarPlay, eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, four-way adjustable passenger seat, massage seats with heating and ventilation (front only) and dual-zone air-conditioning.
How safe is the Haval Dargo?
The 2023 Haval Dargo is equipped with a comprehensive quota of safety kit, including autonomous emergency braking with Intersection Assist, Traffic Jam Assistance and both pedestrian and cyclist detection, plus Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Centre Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Change Assist, Cross Traffic Alert and Traffic Sign Recognition.
There’s also a 360-degree camera, six airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, adaptive cruise control, electronic brake-force distribution, Brake Assist, Cornering Brake Control Hill Descent Control and front and rear parking sensors.
The Dargo is said to have achieved a maximum five-star score in the C-NCAP safety ratings system in its home market of China.
What technology does the Haval Dargo feature?
The 2023 Haval Dargo adheres to a familiar formula for mid-size SUVs. Despite being the successor of the body-on-frame Haval H5, the Dargo is underpinned by the unibody ‘LEMON’ (Lightweight, Electrification, Multi-purpose, Omni-protection and Network) platform that’s also used by the Jolion and third-generation Haval H6.
There’s nothing unconventional about the Dargo’s mechanical layout as it features a transversely mounted engine, and it rides on MacPherson suspension at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear.
The centre differential is lockable and there’s also a mechanical locking diff at the rear, plus various off-road drive modes that include Sand, Mud and Snow.
What powers the Haval Dargo?
The 2023 Haval Dargo’s propulsion comes from a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, which in UAE-spec ekes out 140kW of power at 5600rpm and 320Nm of torque over 1500-4000rpm.
Drive is relayed to front and rear axles via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddleshifts.
How fuel-efficient is the Haval Dargo?
The 2023 Haval Dargo has a combined consumption figure of 10.9L/100km, which is about what we recorded during our two-day test of the car in a variety of conditions.
What is the Haval Dargo like to drive?
The 2023 Haval Dargo is a mixed bag, as in some areas it stacks up quite well and, in others, not so much.
The bluff boxy shape has elements of Land Rover Defender, Kia Telluride and Ford Bronco, so it’s more wannabe than innovator in the design department.
In terms of size, the Dargo sits in the same ballpark as the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited four-door and is slightly longer than the 4600mm Toyota RAV4 and Haval H6, measuring 4620mm long, 1890mm wide and 1780mm tall.
The wheelbase is a lengthy 2,738mm, which makes for generous space inside the cabin (more on this later).
The Dargo drives OK, but it’s let down in a few areas. For starters, its 2.0-litre turbo motor has a distinct flat spot down low, so it feels sluggish off the mark and doesn’t really get going until you have a few revs on board.
There’s also ample wind noise from around the A-pillars, and this gets tiresome when you’re cruising at the highway speed limit.
The Dargo rides and handles acceptably up to a point, but it feels distinctly soggy and roly-poly if you try and hustle it. This is partly a consequence of its high centre of gravity, and partly down to soft spring/damper settings.
How good is the Haval Dargo off-road?
The 2023 Haval Dargo’s all-terrain credentials appear legit on paper as it comes armed with various off-road drive modes, as well as a pair of locking diffs.
Ground clearance is also reasonable at 200mm, but the approach and departure angles (24 degrees and 30 degrees respectively) are nothing special.
It’s clear Haval didn’t conceive this vehicle to genuinely go off-road as the road-biased, standard-issue 235/60 R19 tyres are an immediate giveaway to the vehicle’s true orientation. The Dargo is meant to look like it can conquer towering sand dunes… not actually do so.
Even the drive mode selector is fiddly and confusing to use, so we weren’t game to venture too far off the beaten track in the Dargo.
What is the Haval Dargo like inside?
The 2023 Haval Dargo cabin is decently spacious and it’s clear that thought has gone into its layout, which is neat and attractive at first glance. Look and poke around a bit, though, and you’ll discover most surfaces are made of cheap-feeling hard plastic.
There’s clear mimicry of Land Rover in the steering wheel and rotary transmission knob, and the same goes for many of the exterior design cues, including the lettering that spells out the vehicle’s identity on the bonnet, as well as the badge on the tailgate.
On the plus side, the leather seats look and feel nice, and they do a good job of cossetting your torso. There’s ample knee and head room in the rear, so the Dargo can transport four occupants (or even five if one of them is a junior) in decent comfort.
Luggage capacity isn’t quoted in the spec sheet, but the Dargo’s luggage bay is decently spacious and has a flat floor. Naturally, there’s the option of folding down the rear seats to increase load space to what we imagine is somewhere over 1500 litres.
Should I buy a Haval Dargo?
The question you have to ask yourself is: why are you interested in buying the 2023 Haval Dargo?
If the answer is to cruise around in a vehicle that looks like a budget Land Rover Defender with off-roading pretensions, then perhaps it’s worth considering.
However, if your priorities are focused on more tangible aspects such as driving dynamics and refinement, then we’d encourage you to look elsewhere.
Perhaps even at Haval’s own H6, which is a decent mid-size SUV that’s attainable at a keen price.
2023 Haval Dargo 4WD at a glance:
Price: Equivalent of $52,890 (retail price in UAE)
Available: Late 2023 (TBC)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 140kW/320Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 10.9L/100km (WLTP)
CO2: NA
Safety rating: NA
Tags
- Land Rover-mimicking looks may strike a chord with some
- Off-road modes and centre and rear diff locks give it all-terrain cred… at least on paper
- Decently spacious and comfortable inside; cockpit layout is also tidy
- Excessive wind noise from around A-pillars becomes tiresome on the highway
- Roly-poly handling, yet without the payoff of genuine off-road ability
- Distinct lag at low revs and when pulling away from standstill
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