Japanese gasoline engines 4G63S4M, 4G64S4M, 4G69S4N, installed on Mitsubishi, have found their application on Hover. The diesel GW4D20 is a proprietary engine, as is the transmission. The advantages and disadvantages of this machine are quite subjective. “What is good for a German is death for a Russian.” For those who are used to driving with the breeze, the Hover is clearly not suitable. Well, it doesn’t accelerate, it doesn’t have enough power, it’s rather weak.

But is this characteristic a disadvantage? We will look for the answer in the operating and maintenance instructions, where it is indicated that the maximum speed for gasoline is 100 km/h, and for diesel - 90 km/h. So needless to say, it doesn’t work. He who is forewarned is forearmed. The frame design of an SUV with an engine capacity of 2.0 and 2.4 does not provide for cross-country racing.

The transmission of our own production is designed to work in tandem with the engine. When trying to accelerate and ask for more horsepower than is available, the gearbox experiences serious loads, which leads to premature wear of both the gearbox itself and the power unit. When commissioning the new Great Wall Hover, it is necessary to observe the break-in regime, which is 1000 km for gasoline 4G63S4M, 4G64S4M, 4G69S4N, and 1500 km for diesel GW4D20. The same requirement also applies to engines that have undergone major overhauls. When all-wheel drive is engaged, the permissible driving speed is: 4H-40 km/h, 4L-30 km/h. However, the use of 4WD is only allowed on slippery roads and in a straight line. Failure to comply and ignorance of these rules leads to problems in the gearbox, axles and transfer case.

The life of the Hover engine and transmission can be increased

To increase service life and resource, it is necessary to follow the maintenance regulations and operating rules:

• Observe the speed limit.
• Check the oil level daily.
• Change the engine oil every 8,000 km. mileage
• In winter, start driving after warming up.
• Do not idle the diesel engine for more than 20 minutes and avoid traffic jams.
• Use only high-quality fuel.
• After long trips, do not turn off immediately, let it cool down with the engine running.
• Do not use the machine to transport heavy items.

All rules are stated in the instruction manual. And unfortunately, some of them are simply impossible to implement due to subjective and objective reasons.

You can extend your life with the help of RVS Master tribotechnical compounds. Due to their properties and principle of action, which is based on the chemical reaction of replacing iron atoms with magnesium atoms, they are rightly called repair and restoration compounds. The reaction is possible only if there is: a cast iron block - for the engine, from which the Hover is made; ferrous metals used in the manufacture of bearings, gears and transmission shafts. As a result of the use of the tribotechnical composition RVS-Master, a metal-ceramic layer is formed on friction surfaces that are subject to wear. And this is not a temporary film, as is the case with oil additives. In addition, it does not require constant presence in the oil. One or two treatments are sufficient, depending on the degree of wear, to increase the service life to 120 thousand km. mileage Repair and restoration compositions allow:

• Restore compression
• Reduce oil consumption
• Increase power and throttle response
• Stabilize idle speed
• Restore the contact patch on the gear teeth
• Protect against wear
• Make it easier to start in cold weather
• Reduce noise and vibration levels in both the engine and transmission
• Easy and smooth gear shifting without “kicks” or bumps

The capabilities of tribological compositions are determined by the characteristics of the newly formed metal-ceramic layer, which has an abnormally low coefficient of friction, is resistant to shock loads and is plastic, and protects against oxidation and corrosion. As the layer wears out, it can be restored by repeated treatments.

For gasoline engines 4G63S4M, 4G64S4M, 4G69S4N, a composition designed for 4 liters of oil is suitable.

For diesel GW4D20 - a composition designed for 6 liters of oil.

Despite the fact that the volume of transmission oil in the gearbox is 3.0 liters, the front axle is 1.8 liters, and the rear axle is 2.7 liters, we recommend using the above compounds.

Great Wall Hover fuel and consumption.

It is recommended to use gasoline not lower than AI-93 and only good quality diesel fuel. Such requirements are specified in the technical characteristics of the vehicle. The use of fuel with a low octane and cetane number leads to detonation, the power of already low-torque engines is reduced, and consumption increases. In addition, the content of impurities in low-quality fuel accelerates the process of mechanical wear of power unit parts. The GW4D20, which is equipped with a common rail injection system, is especially sensitive.

The use of low-quality diesel fuel leads to incomplete combustion, which in turn makes it difficult to start a diesel engine in cold weather, the formation of carbon deposits in the combustion chamber, on rings and injectors, and as a result, the appearance of black smoke from the exhaust pipe. The high sulfur content in diesel fuel, together with condensate, forms sulfuric acid, which causes chemical corrosion of the Hover engine cylinder walls and pistons. Ultimately, the above reasons lead to failure of the fuel pump, fittings, and the power unit itself.

For gasoline 4G63S4M, 4G64S4M, 4G69S4N

For diesel GW4D20

Their use allows:

• Restore spray pattern
• Normalize idle speed
• Eliminate dips and jerks during acceleration
• Normalize acceleration dynamics
• Reduce consumption
• Compensate for the lack of lubricants in the fuel
• Clean carbon deposits from the injector
• Restore pressure in the line

The compositions do not contain chemical solvents and do not lift dirt from the tank, do not change the composition and properties of the fuel.

Gur on Hover H3 and H5

The operating principle and maintenance are no different from hydraulic boosters of other car brands. But the quality of the assembly and seals leaves much to be desired. In case of leakage and fluid leakage through seals and oil seals, which can occur on a new car, it may be enough to cause the power steering pump to whistle and hum. What to do if warranty repairs are refused? Timely use to restore the power steering pump will allow you to restore the linear dimensions of the parts, reduce the gaps on the friction pairs, as a result, remove the hum and howl, and make the steering light.

Repair and restoration compounds are a new technology in repair, reliable protection against wear and increase the service life of units and machines.

I present a universal recipe for enlivening a conversation in a bored group of motorists. Just ask: “How do you like the ‘Chinese’?” I guarantee that the debate about the merits and demerits of cars from the Middle Kingdom will drag on for a long time. And even more so when it comes to buying a used car!

OLD NEW YEAR

In the June 2010 issue of ZR, Yuri Timkin tested the new Great Wall Hover N5 in its historical homeland. Well, like new... Structurally, this is an Isuzu from the early 2000s. Yuri then noted that the desire of the Chinese to stylistically embellish the body and interior of the Japanese donor prevailed over the desire to address driving performance. However, in its native Chinese market, the Hover H5 remained in the top 25 most popular all-terrain vehicles, and this, as the author suggested, was a good bid to not get lost in our country.

Later, “Khovryusha,” as it was affectionately nicknamed in Rus', in addition to gasoline engines, acquired a 2-liter turbodiesel, and in addition to a manual transmission, they began to offer a five-speed “automatic” in tandem with the diesel engine. And since 2011, the H5 has been assembled here, and the Chinese are not looking for easy ways: previously the body was welded and painted in Cherkessk, and now in the Lipetsk region, assembly - in Gzhel, near Moscow.

SECOND WIND

To get acquainted, I found a silver Great Wall, born in 2011, with a 150-horsepower 2-liter turbodiesel and an automatic transmission. For a Russian-assembled car with a mileage of 42,000 km, they asked for 698,000 rubles. Expensive? Perhaps adequate for the market. Prices for the restyled H5 of 2011 start at 500,000 rubles - this is what they ask for for the basic petrol version with a manual transmission. But the diesel-automatic version is significantly more expensive, and many are looking for it - it’s more convenient to live with an “automatic”!

If at first the Great Wall company developed its engines from licensed Mitsubishi engines, then the Chinese announced this turbodiesel as a product of their own design. Although they do not hide the fact that they were helped by Bosch engineers.

The turbodiesel is mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic transmission. The combination of a diesel engine and an automatic transmission is a rare occurrence for Chinese cars, which is why we have our eye on this H5. The “Automatic” 5R35 is adaptive, it is supplied by the Hyundai Mobis company (a subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor concern), although many sellers do not think about it.

The interior sports pseudo-leather, on which you quickly sweat. The front seats are heated.

A few words about appearance. Mazda motifs are felt in the design of the front part. Such a face is more fun than the dull chrome strips of the pre-restyling Hover H3, a la the old Logan. The taillights have LEDs, which is fashionable now.

Another plus of this example is the 17-inch alloy wheels and almost new all-season tires, including a spare tire. If you consider how much a tire of this size costs, you can consider that the seller is giving a gift.

The car has no visible external flaws. The body is not galvanized, but in the three years it has lived, the car has not become covered with red sores. The car that I liked was spared the corrosion problem also because the former owner took care of the anti-corrosion agent: here they are, thick streaks of Movil.

The austere interior is perfectly preserved, not even abrasions can be seen. The driver's seat is adjustable by servo drives - beautiful! But the landing may scare off a potential buyer. Like most framed all-terrain vehicles from Asia, it comes from the eighties: the legs are extended, as if you are sitting in a coupe. This is because the height of the seat cushion is minimal. Same problem with the back seat. At the same time, there is no special reserve over your head. Tall people will not be happy with such seats.

In the orderly ranks of all-terrain vehicles in the secondary car market, cars from China are increasingly coming across. Are they worth the money they are asking for? We decided to take a closer look at the Great Wall Hover H5.

The touch screen of the audio system monitor also shows the camera image when reversing. Climate control? Eat. It is no frills, but still it is a “climate”, and not a workers’ and peasants’ air conditioner. But there is no cabin filter: is the atmosphere in China cleaner than in Russia?

And most importantly: over the years, the persistent chemical smell, which, I remember, Yuri complained about, disappeared from the car.

Twist the ox

When buying a used SUV, an inspection from below will tell you a lot about its general technical condition. We drove the H5 onto the lift, and an almost virgin bottom was revealed to our eyes - without dried pieces of clay and grass in the open cavities of the frame. This means that the car was driven mainly around the city; it did not see any serious off-road conditions. And this is understandable: the diesel modification does not have a full-fledged transfer case with a reduction range.

Transferring torque to the front wheels is a single-speed chain-driven Borg-Warner transfer case - a lightweight TOD (Torque-On-Demand) all-wheel drive system. Depending on the selected mode, the car can be either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive “on demand” - when the distribution of torque between the axles is controlled by an electromagnetic clutch. Moreover, the main pairs in the axles are longer, highway ones: the gear ratio is 3.9 versus 4.22 for cars with a manual transmission. All this moves this H5 from the rank of uncompromising all-terrain vehicles to the category of crossovers.

Is the power unit problem-free? There are no special complaints from the servicemen regarding the GW 4D20 motor. It has a common rail battery injection (model CRS 3.2) and a Borg-Warner BV43 turbocharger with variable performance - like modern European diesel engines. As for turbo lag in the range from 1800 to 2000 rpm, which is well known to owners of diesel hover cars, I didn’t notice it on this car. It is possible that the engine control unit was reflashed by the owner.

The general inspection was pleasing. Perhaps this is the first time I have come across a car on the secondary market that is completely ready for use and does not require any financial investment. A short test drive confirmed this: neither the suspension nor the body made any extraneous noise (in case anyone has forgotten, it rests on a powerful spar frame). The Hover crossed asphalt unevenness with savory tire slaps. Even when empty, it tried to prance around the most innocent turns, throwing its stern like an unbroken horse. However, our people have learned to deal with this too, choosing shock absorbers with different characteristics. But in general, riding habits are no worse and no better than those of other frame tribesmen.

TOTAL

A completely new Chinese all-terrain vehicle for 700,000 rubles is not for nothing, but I am ready to call the price adequate. Turbodiesel, automatic, excellent condition. It looks like the initial build issues have been mostly ironed out. One of the obvious advantages is the modest consumption of diesel fuel: if you don’t drive it, you get about 9 liters per hundred.

The target audience of the used diesel Hover is summer residents who have moved from domestic all-terrain vehicles. They are the ones who will appreciate the high-torque diesel engine, automatic transmission, extremely simple control of all-wheel drive, solid ground clearance (almost 240 mm), front torsion bar suspension with a high safety margin, climate control and a decent trunk volume. There are enough spare parts and service stations for the Hover, but the “Chinese” breaks down much less often than its Russian colleagues. The main thing is that the work must be within his capabilities.

We thank the Formula 91 supercar market for their help in preparing the material.

The Great Wall Hover H5 is a compact SUV of Chinese origin, its predecessor was an SUV with the model index, which turned out to be the first Chinese off-road vehicle supplied to the Russian market. Many car enthusiasts confuse it with its predecessor, but if you look closely, you can find many differences in these different models. To a lesser extent they will be present in the exterior of the car and to a large extent in the interior and technical components of the car.

Story

The Chinese brand GWM is warmly perceived by both Russian and foreign consumers. The history of the model’s appearance on the Russian market began back in 2005-2006, when the Great Wall Hover H3 SUV was shown to a wide range of people. The model was not in great demand, because at that time both Great Wall Motor and other Chinese brands were completely “damp” for consumers from the CIS countries. The principles of automobile manufacturing also differed. But over the years, GWM changed its approach, aimed its cars at certain markets, and as a result, it was able to achieve success.

The presentation for Russia took place in 2011. It is worth noting that in Russia the show took place earlier than in other countries. Today Hover N5 is selling well in many CIS countries. Moreover, it turned out to be the first Chinese SUV to be certified to meet the requirements of the European Union, which means that the car can be officially sold in 22 countries of the European Union.

In the early years, car enthusiasts accepted the model without much enthusiasm, but positive reviews from owners quickly spread throughout the country, which led to an increase in sales. The new owners couldn't be happier with their purchase. And it is incorrect to consider the car completely Chinese, since the Great Wall Hover H5 is assembled in Russia, in the Moscow region. The Chinese manufacturer “took” the CIS automobile markets with something it had never tried before – quality, relevance and low price. “Hover” is so equipped that it is impossible to distinguish it from Japanese business class models in terms of its set of functions and various “amenities”.

The company's engineers retreated from the unsuccessful copying of well-known models and incorporated into their car all the best from Japanese and German cars of the last decade, adding their own modern and unique developments. The official donor for the model was the Japanese Isuzu Axiom, which was produced from 2001 to 2004.

Design Great Wall Hover N5

During production, the car underwent minor design changes. The changes are not radical, but noticeable. Externally, it is impossible to immediately determine whether it belongs to the Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motor. Rather, Hover got lost in the lineup of Japanese representatives. Everything looks restrained, concise and relevant at the time of the car’s release and sales. This is caused by the company's decision to take a difficult path, refusing to copy the style of well-known manufacturers and create its own. Now this is not an ugly copy of famous cars, but a unique and attractive model.

In the production of the body, engineers use only high-quality metals that have high strength. And their welding is carried out using high-tech and high-quality equipment. Analogues of equipment are found in the assembly of Japanese cars. The manufacturer offers the Great Wall Hover H5 in various colors, which definitely adds solidity.

In the front of the car, most critics note the optics from. The optics perfectly complement the car's design. The false radiator grille has acquired a square shape. Its largest part is covered with plastic covers on top between the headlights and a wide plastic cross member from the bumper at the bottom. In the center of the upper part of the grille is the company logo, from which traditional “wings” extend.

Restyling

In the Hover restyling, the manufacturer replaced the optics and grille. The second one began to look more solid. The reason is the chrome finish. The bumper is quite massive and in the lower part there is a stamping reminiscent of underbody protection. At the corners of the bumper there are small niches filled with round fog lights and rectangular turn signals. Even the hood has a slight muscularity in the form of a longitudinal rise in the center.

The first thing that catches your eye when looking at the side is its wide and high wheel arches with 17-inch wheels. The discs have a simple and sophisticated design. As befits real SUVs, Hover has acquired solid thresholds that do not cause fear of deformation under pressure. Chrome handles and a chrome sill line add solidity. The nameplate located on the front door is also chrome-plated. The roof has an arched shape, and roof rails run along its entire length. Just above the threshold there is a wide molding.

The stern of the Chinese SUV combines simplicity and sophistication. Lanterns consisting of two continuous parts deserve special attention. The main block has a rectangular shape and extends strongly onto the side of the car, and from the main block along the side pillar, the vertical part of the headlight rises right up to the roof. Immediately from the lights, the glazing of the trunk lid begins, adding some sophistication to the design of the car. Above the license plate is a thin chrome strip. The rear bumper of the Great Wall Hover H5 repeats the front bumper with its stamping at the bottom, and rectangular fog lights are located at its corners.

As for the dimensions, they have the following values:

• length – 4620 mm;
• width – 1800 mm;
• height – 1715 mm;
• ground clearance - 200 mm;
• weight – 1830 kg.

Salon

The interior of the Chinese SUV is in many ways reminiscent of the interior of its younger brother in the line - H3. In the fifth Hover, the interior began to look restrained and collected. Nothing is too noticeable, and the lighting tones are driver-friendly. In front of the driver is a four-spoke steering wheel with a small set of buttons. Fans of Japanese and top-spec models with a multi-steering wheel will recognize this steering wheel at first sight; the only difference is in the central emblem. The steering wheel fits the interior perfectly. Behind the steering wheel is a simple and uncomplicated dashboard.

Four round air ducts are integrated into the dashboard, two air ducts are located in the corners of the Great Wall Hover H5 cabin, and the remaining two are integrated next to each other in the center console. Below them is a block of a multimedia system, air conditioning and other car systems. There are no complaints about all of the above. Owners make complaints about ergonomics, namely shapeless seats with no lateral support. A fully equipped car with leather seats will surprise everyone with how slippery the seats are.

There are no complaints about free space. Three people can easily sit in the rear seats without crowding each other. Individually adjustable head restraints are available for each passenger. You will also be pleased with the size of the luggage compartment, the volume of which is 810 liters. With the seats folded down, its volume is two cubes.

The company's management decided to abandon the old navigation system in the updated version, the use of which brought little pleasure to the owners. Now Great Wall Hover H5 has normal navigation. The crossover is equipped with various safety systems, two front airbags, and the expensive version has full power accessories and a reverse camera.

Specifications

The car has updated its line of power units and boasts Euro-4 certification. In 2015, the company pleased connoisseurs of the brand with diesel engines, the volume of which was 2.0 and 2.4 liters. The torque of these power plants is transmitted to 4 wheels, and the car also has a low gear.

1. The gasoline engine with code 4G69 S4N Mivec and a displacement of 2.4 liters is capable of developing 136 horsepower, which allows the car to accelerate to 170 km/h. At the same time, consumption in the combined cycle is 9.6 liters per 100 km. This engine is already familiar to Russian consumers from previous models.
2. The 2.0-liter diesel four develops 143 hp. The maximum speed available with this engine is the same 170 km/h, but the average consumption of the Great Wall Hover H5 in the combined cycle is only 8.4 liters. This is an excellent fuel consumption indicator for a frame SUV.
3. The lineup also includes a 2.5 liter turbodiesel. This power plant turned out to be the most powerful engine for the fifth Hover. Its power is 150 horsepower and torque is 310 Nm. Fuel consumption – 9.2 liters. Maximum speed – 175 km/h.

Also updated was the introduction of a five-speed automatic gearbox. Previously, it was available only with a five-speed manual transmission.

This is a frame SUV with a rigid suspension, represented at the front by two torsion arms, and at the rear it is based on an independent spring.

Price

The cost of Great Wall Hover H5 on the Russian market varies greatly, new models are available from 1,100,000 to 1,400,000 rubles, and if you look at the secondary market, you can easily find “live” copies up to 500,000 rubles.

The car contains:

• climate control;
• Cruise control;
• tire pressure sensor;
• rear parking sensors;
• electrically adjustable seats;
• Rear View Camera;
• heated seats.

It became popular for a reason; by moving away from the principle of copying, it was possible to create a relatively high-quality car for a small price tag. That is why success in the Russian market is what it is. Is it worth taking a closer look at it? Yes, if you wanted something like this, the only serious problem awaiting you is the lack of spare parts on the market.

Video

The review of the Great Wall Hover H5 was written solely for the purpose of identifying the weak ones, which is so similar to its brother with the H3 index that you wouldn’t even guess it right away. Perhaps only on closer approach, when you look at the lights, the Great Wall Hover trunk door, the stamp for the license plate and the location of the emblem. And then, like a scientist who came across an ancient historical manuscript or a hunter who smelled game, you impatiently wait, which will allow you to either enjoy all the benefits of a new car engine, or be disappointed by another stamp from the manufacturer.

A thorough analysis of the Great Wall Hover model

And the first thing you need to strive for when analyzing a new modification of a certain car is a comparison with a previous and similar model. In any case, there are clearly more artifacts on the front of the new Great Wall Hover. Unlike its brother with a deliberately brutal face, the Wall Hover H5 crossover has a much softer and modern disguise, similar to the Mazda CX-7, and, of course, the engine of the new Great Wall Hover deserves a separate discussion.

As for the interior, the twins are indistinguishable.

Everything is virtually identical. Neither the chaotic universal combination of plastics of different textures, nor the frightening appearance of the manual transmission poker, nor the absence of hooks for clothes can be hidden from the gaze of the driver and passengers. Although all these are small things, an unpleasant aftertaste is already beginning to accumulate. But still, after several days of living together with the Great Wall Hover, you begin to understand that the Chinese managed to give the interior some solidity.

Let's look under the hood. There is a 2.4-liter engine from Mitsubishi, familiar to all owners of Eitreks and Outlanders, with 136 hp. With.

But the developers of the new crossover added 10 Nm of torque, and the Great Wall SUV, along with the engine, automatically complied with Euro 4 standards. But whether a green collar, as some skeptics call the new environmental standards, will allow such a colossus weighing two tons to be safely transported is still unknown.

Even the assembly of all the parts: small, medium and large is very good. Nothing creaks anywhere, which is very pleasing.

No rattling or so-called crickets were also noticed during the ride.

In a word, the salon meets all requirements. The review looks great due to the high seating position. But, however, the rear view camera does not have a distance scale, and this is a minus. But the instrument panel is very convenient, with fairly large and easy-to-read icons.

The ergonomics of the car are also excellent, which we add to the list of advantages. Various “twists”, buttons and always at hand.

On video - review of Great Wall Hover H5:

Upholstery

In addition to textile upholstery, the Great Wall Hover H5 also has a leather version. This is done not just for the sake of prestige, as the designers claim, but in terms of banal practicality. The Chinese are thoughtful people, and they realized before the Europeans that children, when getting into a car, stain the fabric upholstery. After all family members’ favorite outings into nature, such upholstery goes straight to the dry cleaner, because velor, for example, is not so easy to wash on your own. So the developers from the Middle Kingdom decided to produce leather interiors. Wipe it with a cloth - and that's it!

The technical characteristics of the Great Wall Hover H5, which are given above, do not include in the description the high comfort of the seats of the Chinese SUV. They are as well made as they are comfortable. All the necessary adjustments work easily, but there is still a small minus. The seats, even those that are raised all the way, are placed low to the floor. But the Chinese cannot be blamed for this. They probably didn’t count on tall people, whose legs would often become numb when sitting like that.

But the uncomfortable seats in this regard on the Great Wall Hover H5 are only in the front, and in the back everything is still spacious, just like on the H3. And even with the front seats pushed all the way back. All this, along with the high ceiling, makes the car and driving it a comfortable pastime for people taller than 180 cm.

Still, the Chinese took into account the growth of Europeans.

As for the trunk of the car, it is quite full - 810 liters, and a mat with a curtain is included.

Chassis of Great Wall Hover H5

Well, now the most important thing is the chassis of the SUV, which is finally reserved like dessert.

Engine

Unlike its younger brother H3, which is equipped with an outdated and nondescript two-liter gasoline engine from Mitsubishi, the Hover H5 has a completely different engine.

They are installed on Great Wall Hover H5 SUVs as a turbodiesel two-liter engine with 150 hp. With. with automatic and manual transmission, and a 2.4-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 136 hp. With. with mechanical transmission.

If everything is more or less clear with the gasoline version, after all, many reviews have been written on the Hover H3, let’s focus on diesel versions with automatic transmission.

Great Wall Hover H5 is equipped with a modern four-cylinder engine of the latest GW4D20 series. It can be stated openly that an engine of such power is entirely GW's own development. So, with a working volume of two liters, like the Hover H3, the engine is capable of squeezing out 150 horsepower at four thousand revolutions per minute! But that's not all. The design of the motor itself, although familiar to many, has a number of nuances. And the price of the Great Wall Hover H5 is much higher than that of the H3, because of this too.

For example, a four-valve engine with a variable-length intake manifold deserves special attention. The Delphi Common-Rail fuel supply system has an injection operating pressure of 1800 bar, which is very good. And an excellent turbocharger manufactured by BorgWarner allows the new Chinese SUV to achieve a slight advantage over some European and Japanese models. And if we add here the new torque capabilities of 310 Nm at 2800 rpm, everything becomes clear. These figures are as much as 110 Nm higher than the petrol equivalent, which has an engine capacity of 2.4 liters and a power of 136 hp. With. Agree, not bad, right?

In addition to the turbodiesel, the H5 is equipped with a new automatic transmission with the index 5R35. It was not developed by the Chinese themselves and was copied completely from the version of the Korean product Hyndai Powertech - a five-speed hydromechanical unit that allows you to change gears manually.

The Chinese also had to change the gear ratios in the main pairs of axles for the automatic transmission. For gasoline engines, as is known, they were 4.22 and were low-speed, but for diesel engines it is already necessary to install high-speed pairs with a number of 3.9. And accordingly, the maximum speed increased from 160 km/h to 170 km/h.

Not bad either. For all cycles, the gasoline version showed 10.7; 8.2 and 9.4 liters, respectively, for urban, suburban and mixed traffic. For a diesel engine, the same indicators are 8.9; 7.6; 8.4. Impressive, right?!

Although in real races the average consumption was not so low - almost 12 liters per 100 km. But the driver also needs to get used to the new engine.

Great Wall Hover H5 - new, diesel - also introduces a very controversial conceptual solution. So, it does not have a low gear and, what is very strange, the Chinese do not say anything about this. For any SUV, the presence of a “lowering” is a mandatory condition, but in this particular case it is, of course, a minus.

Another surprise is the handout. Instead of the usual part-time scheme, already respected by all motorists, the Chinese resorted to the help of BorgWarner. such a modification is very controversial for use, especially in Russian conditions. In this case, a rigidly connected front axle is preferable. As for the transfer case housing, it is aluminum and very flimsy. Torque is transmitted to the rear wheels not directly, but through an electromechanical clutch. In a word, the Chinese developers have clearly gone too far here.

The video shows the Great Wall Hover H5 test:

Maybe for frameless cars, for which even a dirty little puddle seems like an obstacle, this is quite suitable, but for a brutal and powerful SUV, which the Great Wall Hover H5 should, in fact, become, it’s nonsense.

Let's sum up the advantages:

• the appearance of the Great Wall Hover SUV, which has become much better;
• full compliance with Euro-4 standards;
• high technical characteristics of the diesel engine and automatic transmission;
• power and easy overcoming of off-road obstacles.

And the cons:

• chaotic placement of plastic throughout the cabin;
• unattractive manual transmission gear knob;
• inconvenient seat adjustment, especially the driver's seat;
• poor agility from a standstill.

In conclusion, the summary is that the SUV is quite acceptable as a new product. It has many modern parts and systems. But still, the Chinese have not yet achieved perfection in terms of the overall compliance of all parameters.

On the suburban highway, another feature emerged. When moving evenly, sometimes the question arose: “We don’t seem to be dragging along, but everyone is overtaking. Where are they going?." We compared the readings of the standard speedometer with those on the GPS receiver we took with us. It turned out that the error on the larger side is large, especially at high speeds. In numbers, this is expressed as follows - 80 km/h in reality turns out to be 71-72 km/h, 100 km/h - 90 km/h, and 110 km/h - 95 km/h.

The 2.48 gear ratio makes downshifting very efficient, and the “short” first stage in the gearbox further enhances this feature. You can crawl uphill at a snail's pace at idle without touching the accelerator.

On the battlefield

Hover H5 is an SUV that has a Part Time all-wheel drive scheme, that is, the torque is constantly transmitted only to the rear axle. Driving in all-wheel drive on hard surfaces is undesirable; this will lead to accelerated wear of the tires, main pairs and transfer case. At the same time, remembering that it is advisable to switch to a 4x4 scheme in advance, when entering the training ground, the first thing we do is turn on the all-wheel drive with the corresponding button on the dashboard. Although many modern SUVs allow all-wheel drive to be engaged when driving at low speeds, we did this at a complete stop. This avoids additional loads on the switching mechanisms.

During the descents and ascents of the training ground, the “lower” also attracted special attention. Its connection is only permissible in advance and when the car is completely stopped. The 2.48 gear ratio makes downshifting in the Hover H5 very efficient, and the “short” first stage in the gearbox further enhances this feature. You can crawl at a snail's pace at idle without touching the accelerator, and the engine will not stall even when driving up a decent hill. Naturally, this same property allows for effective engine braking on descents.

You can immediately feel the beauty of a long-travel gas pedal: with its help you can very accurately dose the torque on the wheels, preventing them from slipping. This SUV really knows how to drive hard, and this is a very valuable quality for someone who often drives off the asphalt.

The suspension is also traditional for this type of car - at the front is an independent double wishbone with longitudinal torsion bars, at the rear is a continuous axle with springs and rods. In addition to the already mentioned energy intensity, this scheme also has good moves. Obviously, the front torsion bar design does not imply a large “span”, however, it has a number of other valuable characteristics: low weight and number of component parts, reliability and unpretentiousness. It is not for nothing that a similar design is used even on armored personnel carriers. But the rear spring suspension on the H5 demonstrates good travel. Even though the concrete “waves” of the landfill are suitable for trucks, the car tenaciously clings to the surface with all four wheels. The Hover does not have a cross-axle differential lock in the rear axle, but we were unable to achieve diagonal suspension. All this allows us to hope that the H5 will not suddenly be immobilized on difficult terrain.

On the “correct” tires (even All Terrain class) the car’s capabilities will increase significantly.

However, with geometric cross-country ability, not everything is as good as we would like. The approach angle is limited by a plastic bumper protruding forward (28 degrees), at the rear by a “spare spare” hanging under the bottom of the trunk and a long overhang (16 degrees), and the ground clearance is not so outstanding 190 mm. When storming slopes, you must also remember about the long wheelbase: the ramp angle is small (19 degrees) and you can “sit on your belly” at breaks in the terrain. However, even in such a situation it will be difficult to damage anything; most of the units from below are “recessed” inside the frame, or covered with thick cross members.

In our case, the ability to test the H5 on slippery soils was limited to tires with a completely road tread pattern. As soon as we drove onto the damp soil after the rain, Hover began to wag its stern and try to slide into any rut, even the smallest one. At the same time, he made no attempts to get stuck and generally behaved predictably. We believe that on the “correct” tires (even All Terrain class) the car’s capabilities will increase significantly.

Here we were able to check the operation of the ABS system. It does not come into operation too late, but provides quite a good and predictable slowdown. At low speeds, the system allows a slight locking of the wheels, thereby reducing braking distances on surfaces such as sand or fine gravel.

Average fuel consumption for the entire time of the almost 700-kilometer test drive was about 11 l/100 km. So Hover also proved to be quite an economical car for its class. The volume of the fuel tank is 70 liters, which with such indicators promises a cruising range of about 600 km on a single fill-up.

The attitude towards cars from China in our country is still wary. However, this Great Wall is quite capable of shaking “public opinion” - in terms of quality and ease of use, it has already gone far ahead of its predecessors. Let the Hover H5 not be a “Chinese revolution” yet. This is still a car for a connoisseur of design simplicity and the classic canons of real frame SUVs. But the next and very significant step in winning a “place in the sun” has been taken.

After all, “Koreans” were also once feared...