The Haval Cool Dog costs between 120,000 and 150,000 Chinese Yuan and is already available to preorder; shipments will begin later in the third quarter of the year.
The car is 4,520 mm long, 1,875 mm wide and 1,745 mm tall with 2,710 mm between the axles, making it 100 mm shorter than the Big Dog/Dargo model, but still longer than the Jolion. It utilizes an architecture known as L.E.M.O.N. and comes equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine rated at 184 PS (181 hp / 136 kW) and 275 Nm (203 lb-ft) of torque. A DCT with preselection drives the wheels, but all-wheel drive is restricted to top trim levels. There are also no alternative engines available.
Opting for the top trim nets you an 18-channel JVC audio system with speakers built into the front seat headrests, which is a rarity even by premium car market standards. By default, the interior features yellow accents, an unusual transmission lever, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a virtual dashboard with selectable skins. You can pay extra for power-adjustable front seats, adaptive cruise control, power-assisted tailgate and all-around view cameras.
Much like the cabin, the boxy exterior of the Haval Cool Dog tries hard to provide the impression of a serious off-road vehicle. This is all just for show, however, because the car has a unitized body without a frame. Furthermore, the spare wheel cover at the back is fake: there is a space saver hidden beneath the trunk compartment floor, but that’s it.