What are the differences between China National V and China National VI vehicle emission standards?
3 Answers
There are five main differences between China National V and China National VI vehicles. The following is an introduction to the differences between China National V and China National VI vehicles: 1. The China National VI standard has stricter limit requirements. The limit requirements of the China National VI standard are about 40% to 50% stricter than those of China National V. 2. China National VI adopts a fuel-neutral principle. This means that regardless of the fuel type used, the emission limits are the same. In the previous China National V stage, the emission standards for diesel and gasoline vehicles were different. 3. Compared to China National V, the China National VI standard reduces nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 77% and particulate matter (PM) by 67%. It introduces a limit requirement for particle number (PN) and tightens the requirements for emission control device durability and on-board diagnostics (OBD). 4. China National VI has higher compliance and regulatory requirements. These include type inspection and information disclosure, production consistency checks, new vehicle inspections, in-use vehicle compliance checks, and simplified compliance determination methods. 5. China National VI represents the strictest values within the China National V emission requirements.
The most obvious difference between China 5 and China 6 vehicles is the significantly stricter emission standards. China 6 slashes nitrogen oxide limits by nearly half (China 5: 180mg/km, China 6b: 35mg/km) and introduces Real Driving Emissions (RDE) testing, requiring vehicles to meet standards even during urban driving. Additionally, China 6 mandates Gasoline Particulate Filters (GPF), virtually eliminating visible black smoke from exhaust pipes. Cities like Shanghai enforced China 6B standards two years early – now buyers of used China 5 vehicles must check local policies first, as some cities won't even allow registration. Fuel quality matters too: China 6 vehicles easily trigger warning lights with low-grade gasoline, and a clogged GPF can cost thousands to clean.
When I was selling cars before, I noticed many customers were torn over whether the price difference between China 5 and China 6 emission standards was worth it. To be honest, besides being more environmentally friendly, China 6 vehicles also quietly upgraded the OBD system—excessive exhaust emissions will directly lock the engine's power. However, maintenance costs have also increased. When the GPF gets clogged, the system automatically injects fuel to burn off the deposits, which severely dilutes the engine oil, requiring the maintenance cycle to be shortened to 5,000 kilometers. The gap in used car residual value is even bigger: for the same 2019 model, a China 6 version can fetch 8,000 to 10,000 yuan more, especially turbocharged models. Now, in places like Beijing, it's even difficult to relocate a China 5 vehicle. If you plan to keep the car for over ten years, I’d recommend going straight for China 6.
