On the road, the vehicle presents itself as a rugged SUV with a framed silhouette, responding slowly to steering and tolerating rough pavement. Even though its suspension feels refined enough for city streets, the ride leans toward a more rugged character rather than the overly automated feel of traditional hydromechanical systems. The cabin design, featuring sturdy handrails and thick A-pillars, clearly signals an off-road intent rather than a refined urban lifestyle.
The remote engine start and various hot features can be accessed through the My Haval app. A caveat exists, though: the Dargo tested here is among the early units still assembled in Tula. Today, many models are produced in a Chinese facility and lack a T-Box telematics module, which means smartphone control may be unavailable on those versions.
Haval Dargo
The turbo engine reaches operating temperature promptly, and the heating system is comprehensive. The front seats, however, move slowly and with some irregularity. Immediately after a cold start, the seat heaters can take a moment to engage since the media system loads for a noticeable period of time—around a 20-second delay.
Winter arrived early, and the Dargo showed readiness. The side windows and mirrors remained free from reagent slurry, a small but appreciated detail. It would be preferable to remove the top-of-the-line Tech Plus footpegs for their narrow, cumbersome design, which often dirties clothing and becomes inconvenient during daily use.
Ordinary wiper blades produce a creak, yet their performance remains acceptable for now. Given the complex shape of the windshield, it is likely the Dargo will demand higher-quality blades and more frequent replacements in the future.
One question raised is why some heating controls are hidden behind the touch screen. While the screen is loading, the vehicle can feel unusable, and responsiveness decreases when wearing gloves.
Determining the presence of a T-Box telematics unit is done by tapping the “room connection” button. If the option is absent, connecting to the My Haval app is not possible.
The headlights appear substantial, but only four LEDs illuminate a small area. The beam strength is not particularly powerful and tends to dim quickly when the glass is dirty. The fog lights serve more as cosmetic elements than practical lighting.
At a frost of 10 degrees, 10–15 minutes of remote engine operation suffices to warm the windows. However, the windscreen heating cannot be activated from the smartphone interface in use, which is a notable limitation.
The windshield washer reservoir was increased to 4.5 liters for added winter practicality, though a level sensor remains absent. The glove compartment lighting remains a surprise feature, especially considering the car’s price range of 3.0–3.7 million rubles.
Beyond the obvious electronics, the Dargo is packed with personalization options and driving assistants. These capabilities promise a future opportunity to explore their performance under Russian winter conditions more thoroughly, though reliability may vary in practice. Fuel efficiency also becomes a talking point. With a combined-cycle consumption around 12 l per 100 km, the Dargo seems to position itself alongside larger, more capable SUVs. Highway cruising may push consumption down, yet single-digit figures remain elusive. Using regular 92-octane gasoline in the turbocharged engine with a 12.0 compression ratio does not outright disallow it, though optimizing behavior is likely beneficial. Overall impressions suggest room for improvement in efficiency, rather than a fundamental shortcoming of the model.
Haval Dargo, 2.0T (192 hp), P7
- Manufacturer – Havale Motor Rus LLC
- Year of issue – 2022
- Mileage at the time of review – 8000 km
- In operation “Behind the Wheel” – since November 2022
Operating and maintenance costs (6000–8000 km), ₽
- Maintenance costs (6000–8000 km) – 12,475
- Of these gasoline (AI-95, average consumption 11.95 l / 100 km) – 12,475
- Cost of running 1 km – 6.23
* Excluding OSAGO and hull insurance.
Vote – support Lada!
Participants are invited to take part in the Behind the Wheel Grand Prix to help select the top car novelties of the year. As a token of appreciation, three prizes are raffled among survey respondents who complete the questionnaire by the stated deadline. The promotion extends to all qualifying entries submitted before the closing date.
COMPLETE THE 2023 DRIVING GRAND PRIX QUESTIONNAIRE