Haval H3 Owner’s Honest Take: Quirks, Clicks, and a Tough Ride

ru, sharing both praise and frustration. First up: seat covers. He couldn’t find any with a cutout for the rear armrest, so he settled for a set costing about 10,000 rubles. “The look and quality are mediocre, but there’s no choice. I hope they last at least a couple of years, then I won’t feel bad selling the car,” he wrote.

The familiar robotic gearbox, carried over from the Jolion, still lags when shifting into reverse. At speeds between 48 and 55 km/h in fifth gear, the owner reports repeated clicking and light jerking, whether in Eco or Standard mode. The issue shows up during steady cruising with minimal throttle input, and engine RPMs stay steady.

It vanishes above 60 km/h. On cruise control, the jerks get sharper. He suspects the engine, transmission, or all-wheel-drive software is misbehaving. On rough forest roads, the suspension feels harsh, you either crawl or brace for jolts. He’d already soundproofed the wheel arches and trunk, based on his Jolion experience, and plans to do the doors, roof, and hood next.

Taking apart the cabin wasn’t easy. The front pillar trims are held by brittle plastic clips; remove them and you risk not getting them back together. A replacement part costs 700 to 1,000 rubles and takes up to a month to order. The trunk, he says, is too small, so he spent about 64,000 rubles on gear from a well-known brand.

The multimedia system, however, impressed him with wireless Apple CarPlay and solid functionality. “Put all daily comfort controls on the quick-access screen, or you’ll waste time hunting while driving,” he advised. One last oddity: the turn signals sometimes just ignored the stalk.

“No idea why,” he shrugged.