The Great Wall X240, aka Great Wall Haval H3 or Great Wall Hover, is a compact SUV built by Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motors. It was produced from 2005 to 2012 and was widely exported to European countries and also Australia. It is the first-ever Chinese-built car to be mass exported to Western Europe, having gained popularity due to its affordability.
Design and Mechanics
The X240 was undoubtedly lower priced than any of its competitors. Great Wall was able to drive its price down because it was based on old-model cars of other more established manufacturers. Its exterior takes a leaf off the Isuzu Axion with its entry-level engine, the Mitsubishi-sourced 2.4L 4G69 inline-four petrol engine. Earlier reports suggested that the chassis was from the Toyota 4Runner, but this was not the case. Its chassis is similar to that of the Isuzu MU, with either a rear-wheel or four-wheel drivetrain and a wheelbase length of 2,700 mm.
Powertrains
The engine used by the X240 was a 2.4L 4G69 4-cylinder petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox (100 kW, 200 N.m). There were additional engine options available for the Chinese market, including a 2.0L petrol engine and 2.5L and 2.8L diesel units.
Standard Equipment
Only a 4x4 base model was ever sold in Australia from 2009 to 2013. Its standard equipment included dual front airbags, ABS, air conditioning, 17-inch alloy wheels, central locking, EBD, engine immobiliser, leather seats, rear parking distance control, power driver’s seat, power steering, power windows, and radio CD with eight speakers. The 2011 model year gained a DVD player, rain-sensing wipers, and a reversing camera.
Environmental and Safety Tests
The European safety and environmental regulations were some of the main hindrances to Chinese automotive exports. But the X240 test results were rather satisfactory. It received a four-star rating from the Australian New Car Assessment Program for crash tests undertaken in 2010. It also complied with the Euro-III emissions standard and received a three-star rating for the C-NCAP crash test.
Limousine Version
There is a limousine version, though not available in Australia, called the Great Wall Hover Pi. It still used the same 2.4L engine that powered the regular X240 paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. It has been a bestselling export vehicle in Italy, France, Russia and Japan.
If you have a Great Wall X240 and need spare parts for it, Carpart.com.au should be your go-to website. With our experience in the Australian automotive industry, we know where to source original spare parts. On the other hand, if you need assistance in selling an old-model car, our classified section would be the best place to advertise it. Visit us today!
Eric Anyega