What are the differences between China 6 and China 5 vehicles?
2 Answers
The differences between China 5 and China 6 vehicles are: 1. Different emission limits: The China 6a standard requires a carbon monoxide limit of 700 milligrams per kilometer, while the China 6b standard is only 500 milligrams per kilometer; the China 5 standard requires a carbon monoxide limit of 1000 milligrams per kilometer. 2. Different release dates: The China 6 standard was released on June 22, 2018; the China 5 standard was released on September 17, 2013. 3. Different issuing departments: The China 6 standard was issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine; the China 5 standard was issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. 4. Different requirements: China 6 adopts a fuel-neutral principle, meaning that regardless of the fuel type, the emission limits are the same; China 5 had different emission standards for diesel and gasoline vehicles during the original China 5 phase.
When I was changing cars, I specifically compared China 5 and China 6 standards. The toughest part of China 6 is the addition of RDE real driving emissions testing—cars have to be tested while driving in urban areas, and particulate matter in the exhaust must be reduced by 87%. For example, the new SUV I bought has a GPF (Gasoline Particulate Filter) stuffed into its engine, while my father-in-law’s China 5 car barely passed the emissions test after three years, with the readings right on the edge of the acceptable limit. For China 6 cars, you need to keep a close eye on the three-way catalytic converter during maintenance and choose low-ash cleaning agents. However, China 5 cars now face transfer restrictions, with some provinces and cities even refusing to allow cross-registration. If you plan to keep the car for over ten years, going straight for China 6b is the more worry-free option.
