2018 Haval H1

Haval H1

Haval’s H1 once sat at the very bottom rung of the small SUV ladder, trying to tempt price-savvy South Africans who wanted a bit of extra ground clearance without emptying their bank accounts. On paper at least, it squared off against the Suzuki S-Presso, Renault Kwid, and Chery Tiggo 2 – all vying for the same wallet. A 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine under the bonnet, manual gearbox only, and not a whiff of an auto option in sight. If you’re trawling for one, you’ll notice there’s next to nothing on the used market. Right now, just one example is listed at R109,500, which tells you all you need to know about how rarely these change hands. That lone survivor is a 2018 H1 1.5 VVT with a frankly daunting 192,337 km on the odometer – which matters, because if you’re even half-serious, you’re budgeting for a full mechanical once-over (and probably a few prayers). No trim choices, no confusing lineup: what you see is what you get. What drew locals in was obvious – it was cheap, did the city runabout thing, and parts weren’t a nightmare to source thanks to Haval’s growing dealership footprint. Compared to the S-Presso or Kwid, it actually looked a bit more like a proper SUV, which counts for something at this price. All new stock is long gone, so if you’re hunting for one, patience and a sharp-eyed mechanic are your best friends.