What are the differences between China 5 and China 6 standards?
3 Answers
China 5 and China 6 vehicles differ in that China 6 imposes stricter requirements on various vehicle emissions. Below is a partial introduction to China 5 and China 6 standards: 1. The meaning of China 5 and China 6: China 5 and China 6 emission standards are the abbreviated terms for the fifth and sixth stages of national motor vehicle pollutant emission standards, simply put, they require the content of gaseous pollutants emitted by vehicles to meet a certain standard. 1. The requirements of China 6: The China 6 emission standard is an upgraded version of the current China 5 emission standard, divided into two phases: China 6a and China 6b, implemented gradually. It imposes more stringent requirements on vehicle tailpipe emissions of pollutants such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons compared to China 5, aiming to achieve environmental protection goals.
I just researched this a couple of days ago, and the differences between China 5 and China 6 standards are quite significant. The most obvious change is that China 6 has tightened pollutant limits by 40%-50%. For the first time, gasoline vehicles are required to control particulate emissions, and after installing a Gasoline Particulate Filter (GPF), the exhaust is indeed much cleaner. China 6 also introduces Real Driving Emissions (RDE) testing, meaning lab tests alone aren't sufficient. The fuel standard requires China 6 vehicles to use China 6 gasoline, with sulfur content reduced to below 10ppm, which is better for the three-way catalytic converter. Friends buying used cars should note that China 6b models come with remote monitoring functionality—if there's an exhaust issue, the manufacturer will know immediately, making odometer tampering basically impossible. Urban traffic restriction policies also favor China 6 vehicles more, so in the long run, China 6 cars are definitely more value-retaining.
I work in vehicle inspection lines, and there are significant differences between China 5 and China 6 standards during annual inspections. For China 6 vehicles, real-time OBD data must be uploaded via internet connection, and a lit malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) directly results in failure. The testing methods are also completely different: China 5 uses the steady-state test cycle, while China 6 adopts the transient test cycle which better simulates real driving conditions. The emission limits under China 6 are much stricter, for example, carbon monoxide limits are reduced from 1g/km to 0.5g/km. A special reminder to vehicle owners: most light-duty gasoline vehicles produced after July 2019 comply with China 6a standards, and vehicles manufactured after July 2023 must meet China 6b standards - the vehicle conformity certificate provides the most accurate information. Owners of older China 5 vehicles don't need to worry, as most regions in China haven't implemented China 6 traffic restrictions yet.
