What are the differences between China VI and China V vehicles?

[LuciaMarie]

The differences between China V and China VI emission standards are as follows: Different emission standards: China VI emission standards are more than 30% stricter than China V. Excluding the influence of operating conditions and testing, gasoline vehicles' carbon monoxide emissions are reduced by 50%, total hydrocarbons and non-methane hydrocarbons emissions are reduced by 50%, and nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by 42%. Different implementation times: China V standards were implemented nationwide on January 1, 2017. China VI standards have been implemented since July 1, 2019. Different principles: In China V, diesel and gasoline vehicles had different emission standards, but China VI adopts a fuel-neutral principle, meaning the emission limits are the same regardless of the fuel type. Different issuing departments: China V standards were issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. China VI standards were issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine. Different letter representations: China V is represented by "V," while China VI is represented by "VI." Different monitoring requirements for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs): Compared to China V, China VI has improved monitoring requirements for PHEVs, including energy storage systems, thermal management systems, brake regeneration, drive motors, generators, and other regulations. China V standards are as follows: Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 1,000 mg of carbon monoxide per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 68 mg of non-methane hydrocarbons per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 60 mg of nitrogen oxides per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 4.5 mg of PM (particulate matter) per kilometer driven. China VI has two standards: China VIa and China VIb, as follows: China VIa standards: Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 700 mg of carbon monoxide per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 68 mg of non-methane hydrocarbons per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 60 mg of nitrogen oxides per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 4.5 mg of PM per kilometer driven. China VIb standards: Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 500 mg of carbon monoxide per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 35 mg of non-methane hydrocarbons per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 35 mg of nitrogen oxides per kilometer driven. Gasoline vehicles must not emit more than 3 mg of PM per kilometer driven. Affected by China VI emission policies, although China V vehicles can still be used normally without travel or license plate restrictions, their resale value will be significantly impacted. For truck owners, if they purchase a truck on loan for cargo transport, the depreciation of the vehicle after repaying the loan is equivalent to the net profit earned during that period. A higher residual value means more profit for the owner. Therefore, from this perspective, China VI vehicles, which have a longer service life and more road rights, are more advantageous.

[MasonLynn]

The China VI emission standards are much stricter than China V, significantly lowering the limits for pollutants, especially particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). My old China V car often triggers the malfunction indicator light (MIL) during emissions testing, while China VI vehicles come equipped with a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) that acts like a mask to filter exhaust. They also feature real-time monitoring, transmitting emission data to regulatory platforms while driving. The biggest change is the stricter fuel requirements—92-octane gasoline is mostly out of the picture, and 95-octane or higher is mandatory. Additionally, maintenance costs have risen significantly, with repairs for the after-treatment system starting at thousands of yuan. The upside is that owning a China VI car is hassle-free in license-plate-restricted cities, while China V vehicles are gradually being phased out of the market.

[StMackenzie]

From my observations over the past few years, China VI vehicles show slightly softer power performance after hitting the road. The engine tuning has become more conservative, with noticeably less aggressive acceleration during cold starts compared to China V vehicles. Fuel consumption remains similar, but the aftertreatment system has become as complex as human blood vessels - the catalytic converters were upgraded and oxygen sensors were literally doubled. The most troublesome part is the reduced fuel tolerance. Once I tried saving money by filling up with 92-octane fuel from a small gas station, and the engine immediately threw a fault code. A friend at the repair shop told me even the spark plug specifications were upgraded for China VI vehicles, with parts costs increasing by 30%. The used car market shows even more obvious differences - China V vehicles are depreciating rapidly now, while China VI models still enjoy cross-province circulation privileges, demonstrating significant policy advantages.

[LeCecilia]

The China VI emission standard nearly halves tailpipe pollutants, with a 30% reduction in carbon monoxide limits compared to China V, and introduces real-world driving emission tests. Simply put, laboratory cheating won't work anymore – vehicles must be tested on actual roads for true pollution values. Fuel requirements become stricter too, with gasoline sulfur content standards dropping from 50ppm to 10ppm, aligning with European standards. Testing methods upgrade as well – the China VI onboard diagnostics system continuously monitors emissions, triggering warning lights immediately if issues arise. While new cars cost thousands more upfront, they gain more stable road access privileges, as China V vehicles consistently top urban traffic restriction lists. Long-term, this standard will govern for eight years, potentially making China V vehicles obsolete earlier due to policy changes.