What Do China V and China VI Vehicles Mean?

[DiRose]

China V and China VI vehicles refer to the automotive emission standards, which regulate the content of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter emitted from vehicle exhaust. The China V standard sets the nitrogen oxide emission limit at 0.18 grams per kilometer, particulate matter concentration at 0.0045 grams per kilometer, and non-methane hydrocarbon emissions at 0.23 grams per kilometer. The China VI standard reduces the nitrogen oxide emission limit to 0.16 grams per kilometer, particulate matter concentration to 0.022 grams per kilometer, and non-methane hydrocarbon emissions to 0.18 grams per kilometer.

[MichaelAnn]

I did quite a bit of research on China 5 and China 6 emission standards when I changed my car. Simply put, these are national vehicle emission standards - the higher the number, the stricter the requirements. China 5 is the fifth-phase standard implemented nationwide in 2017, while China 6 is the sixth-phase standard introduced in two stages (a and b) starting from 2019. The main differences lie in exhaust emission limits - China 6's nitrogen oxide limits are over 40% lower than China 5's, plus it added real-world driving emission testing. I personally chose a China 6 compliant car. Although it cost a few thousand yuan more, I considered better resale value in the future. Many major cities have already started restricting China 4 and China 5 vehicles, so I was concerned about potential driving restrictions if I bought a China 5 car. However, China 6 vehicles are more particular about fuel quality and require gasoline from certified gas stations.

[MelanieFitz]

A few days ago, my neighbor asked me what China 5 and China 6 standards mean. I explained it's like a mobile operating system upgrade. China 5 is the older version standard used in 2017, while China 6 represents a major system update - most new cars sold now are China 6b compliant. The key improvement is the significant upgrade in exhaust treatment technology, such as adding particulate filters, which has reduced vehicles emitting black smoke from tailpipes. Some friends did buy China 5 inventory cars at much lower prices, but I don't recommend this approach. With increasingly strict environmental policies, these vehicles might face difficulties with second-hand transfers in a couple years, not to mention some urban core areas have already begun restricting China 5 vehicle access.

[AdrielAnn]

Last week, I accompanied a friend to the car market, and the salesperson kept pushing for China VI vehicles. Simply put, China VI is the latest national emission standard, much stricter than the old China V. The factory standard for China V vehicles only required compliance within 300,000 kilometers, while China VI directly raises the requirement to key components not failing within 240,000 kilometers. In actual driving, there isn't much difference, but China VI vehicles generally consume a bit more fuel, especially models equipped with particulate filters. It's recommended to prioritize China VI when buying a new car, otherwise, you might face trouble with annual exhaust emission tests. Owners in big cities should pay extra attention, as places like Shenzhen and Shanghai have already designated environmental protection zones that prohibit the passage of vehicles with older emission standards.