Brilliance H530: which version to buy
The Brilliance H530 is a Sedan sold from 2011-08-01 to 2018-12-31 as one generation with a restyling. If you are choosing a car, not reading a brochure, the useful split is pre-restyling 1.6 (2011-08-01–2016-09-30) versus restyling 1.5 turbo and 1.6 (2016-10-01–2018-12-31).
The Brilliance H530 is a Sedan sold from 2011-08-01 to 2018-12-31 as one generation with a restyling. If you are choosing a car, not reading a brochure, the useful split is pre-restyling 1.6 (2011-08-01–2016-09-30) versus restyling 1.5 turbo and 1.6 (2016-10-01–2018-12-31). All six named versions are front-wheel drive, Gasoline, 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), 5-speed, 55 L tank. Fuel consumption is not measured on every version. The restyling does not add a second generation; it changes the engine list, ground clearance, and some weights.
Brilliance H530 specs that decide the purchase
What actually differs, using only the catalogue numbers:
| Version | Years | hp | kW | rpm | Nm @ rpm | cc | Boost | Gearbox | 0–100 | Top speed | Kerb / gross | Clearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 MT (pre) | 2011-08-01–2016-09-30 | 110 | 81 | 5800 | 151 @ 4000 | 1590 | No | Manual | 11.3 s | 176 km/h | 1365 / 1835 kg | 120 mm |
| 1.6 AT (pre) | 2011-08-01–2016-09-30 | 110 | 81 | 5800 | 151 @ 4000 | 1590 | No | Automatic | 13.1 s | 175 km/h | 1415 / 1865 kg | 120 mm |
| 1.5 MT | 2016-10-01–2018-12-31 | 110 | 150 | 5500 | 220 @ 2000 | 1498 | Turbo | Manual | 11.3 s | 190 km/h | not measured / not measured | 160 mm |
| 1.5 AT | 2016-10-01–2018-12-31 | 110 | 150 | 5500 | 220 @ 2000 | 1498 | Turbo | Automatic | 13.1 s | 180 km/h | not measured / not measured | 160 mm |
| 1.6 MT (restyling) | 2016-10-01–2018-12-31 | 118 | 87 | 5800 | 151 @ 4000 | 1590 | No | Manual | 12.6 s | 176 km/h | not measured / not measured | 160 mm |
| 1.6 AT (restyling) | 2016-10-01–2018-12-31 | 118 | 87 | 5800 | 151 @ 4000 | 1590 | No | Automatic | 11.3 s | 176 km/h | not measured / not measured | 160 mm |
Wheel sizes: restyling 205/55 R16 and 195/65 R15; pre-restyling wheels not measured. Compression ratio 10 on all 1.6 versions; not measured on both 1.5 versions. Eco class Euro 4 on pre-restyling 1.6 AT and 1.6 MT; not measured after restyling. Front brakes Disc, rear Disc, independent spring front, semi-independent spring rear on every version. Fuel label 95.
Which generation changed what
The first generation (keys 599 then 598 in the catalogue) stays a Sedan. Pre-restyling offers 2 versions; the restyling offers 4.
Ground clearance is the clearest generation jump: 120 mm on both 2011–2016 versions versus 160 mm on all four restyling versions — +40 mm. If the search is “H530 for bad roads,” the restyling is the only group with that figure.
Peak power on the 1.6 line rises from 110 hp (81 kW) to 118 hp (87 kW): +8 hp / +6 kW, still 151 Nm at 4000 rpm, still 1590 cc, still No boost, still compression 10. Specific output of the 1.6 engine is 110 / 1.590 ≈ 69.2 hp per litre before restyling and 118 / 1.590 ≈ 74.2 hp per litre after.
The restyling also adds a second engine: 1498 cc Turbo, 110 hp at 5500 rpm (catalogue kW 150), 220 Nm at 2000 rpm. That is 69 Nm more than any 1.6, and the torque peak is 2000 rpm instead of 4000 rpm. Specific output of the 1.5 is 110 / 1.498 ≈ 73.4 hp per litre — close to the restyled 1.6 on power-per-litre, far ahead on torque.
Kerb and gross mass are measured only on the pre-restyling pair. Restyling mass is not measured, so you cannot compute kg-per-hp for 2016–2018 cars from this dataset.
Engine: 1.5 Turbo versus 1.6, version by version
Buy 1.5 if the number that matters is torque and top speed. 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT share 220 Nm. Relative to 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT in either generation, that is 220 − 151 = 69 Nm, or about 46% more peak torque, available 2000 rpm earlier.
1.5 MT matches the fastest 0–100 in the whole model: 11.3 s, same as pre-restyling 1.6 MT and restyling 1.6 AT. Its top speed 190 km/h is the catalogue maximum: +14 km/h versus restyling 1.6 (176), +10 km/h versus 1.5 AT (180), +14 / +15 km/h versus pre-restyling 1.6 MT (176) and 1.6 AT (175).
Do not buy 1.5 AT if 0–100 is the test. 1.5 AT needs 13.1 s — +1.8 s versus 1.5 MT. That is the same 13.1 s as pre-restyling 1.6 AT. You keep 220 Nm and 180 km/h, but you give back the acceleration the turbo manual has.
Buy restyling 1.6 AT if you want Automatic and the short sprint. This is the odd pairing in the data: restyling 1.6 AT is 11.3 s to 100, while restyling 1.6 MT is 12.6 s. The Automatic is 1.3 s quicker than the Manual on the same 118 hp / 151 Nm engine. Pre-restyling it was the opposite: 1.6 MT 11.3 s, 1.6 AT 13.1 s — Automatic 1.8 s slower. So “Automatic costs time” is true for 1.5 AT and for pre-restyling 1.6 AT, and false for restyling 1.6 AT.
Buy restyling 1.6 MT only if you want Manual and 118 hp, not the sprint. It is the peak-power 1.6 Manual, but 12.6 s is 1.3 s slower than 1.5 MT and 1.3 s slower than restyling 1.6 AT. Top speed stays 176 km/h. You gain 8 hp over pre-restyling 1.6 MT and lose 1.3 s on 0–100 versus that older Manual.
Buy pre-restyling 1.6 MT if you want the lightest measured H530 and a fast Manual. Kerb 1365 kg, 12.41 kg per hp (1365 / 110), 0–100 11.3 s, top 176 km/h, clearance 120 mm. Versus pre-restyling 1.6 AT: 50 kg less kerb (1415 − 1365), 30 kg less gross (1865 − 1835), 1.8 s quicker, +1 km/h top speed. The Automatic’s kg-per-hp is 1415 / 110 = 12.86.
Buy pre-restyling 1.6 AT only if you need Automatic and Euro 4 in the 2011–2016 window. It is the slowest-tied 0–100 (13.1 s) and the lowest top speed (175 km/h). Euro 4 is stated here; restyling eco class is not measured.
Performance, mpg, and what is not measured
0–100 cluster: 11.3 s on pre 1.6 MT, restyling 1.5 MT, restyling 1.6 AT; 12.6 s on restyling 1.6 MT; 13.1 s on pre 1.6 AT and restyling 1.5 AT. Spread across the model: 13.1 − 11.3 = 1.8 s.
Top speed cluster: 190 (1.5 MT), 180 (1.5 AT), 176 (all 1.6 except pre AT), 175 (pre 1.6 AT). Spread: 15 km/h.
City, highway, and mixed consumption: not measured on all six versions. There is no mpg ranking in this dataset. CO2: not measured on all six. Tank is 55 L on all six, so range cannot be ranked without consumption.
Dimensions, weight, interior packaging numbers we have
Interior search terms do not come with cabin millimetres in this file. What is measured:
- Ground clearance: 120 mm (both pre versions) vs 160 mm (all restyling) — +33%.
- Kerb: 1365 kg (1.6 MT pre), 1415 kg (1.6 AT pre); restyling not measured.
- Gross: 1835 kg and 1865 kg on those two; restyling not measured. Payload from the two measured cars: 1835 − 1365 = 470 kg on pre 1.6 MT, 1865 − 1415 = 450 kg on pre 1.6 AT.
- Wheels only on restyling: 205/55 R16 and 195/65 R15.
- Tank 55 L everywhere.
If you need a published kerb weight, only the 2011-08-01–2016-09-30 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT qualify.
Brilliance H530 review of the six named versions (which to choose)
1. Restyling 1.5 MT — first pick when you want the highest top speed (190 km/h), the torque peak at 2000 rpm (220 Nm), 11.3 s, Manual, 160 mm clearance. Same 110 hp as the old 1.6, more torque, more speed.
2. Restyling 1.6 AT — first pick when you want Automatic without the 13.1 s penalty: 118 hp, 11.3 s, 176 km/h, 160 mm. This is the only Automatic that matches the fastest 0–100.
3. Pre-restyling 1.6 MT — first pick when you want the only fully weighed light Manual: 1365 kg, 11.3 s, Euro 4. You accept 120 mm clearance and no 1.5 Turbo.
4. Restyling 1.6 MT — take it for 118 hp Manual and 160 mm, knowing 0–100 is 12.6 s, slower than both 1.5 MT and restyling 1.6 AT.
5. Restyling 1.5 AT — take it only for Turbo torque plus Automatic. You keep 220 Nm and 180 km/h, and you accept 13.1 s.
6. Pre-restyling 1.6 AT — last among the six on speed (175 km/h, 13.1 s), heaviest measured kerb (1415 kg), 120 mm. Choose it when the requirement is Automatic + Euro 4 + 2011–2016 production, not when the requirement is performance.
Searches for “H530 Brilliance 2022” do not match this production window: the restyling stop is 2018-12-31. “H530 Brilliance 2015” maps to pre-restyling 1.6 MT or 1.6 AT only. Price in Egypt, precio, and gold-trim asking prices are not measured here; compare the six mechanical rows above, not a list price.