What is the difference between China V and China VI?
4 Answers
The difference between China V and China VI can be summarized in one sentence: China VI has higher tailpipe emission standards than China V. Of course, China VI is further divided into China VI a and China VI b. The transition from China V to China VI a in terms of emission standards only involves a difference in carbon monoxide emissions, which decreased from 1000mg/km to 700mg/km, a reduction rate of 30%. As for the China VI B standard, carbon monoxide emissions are reduced by 50% compared to China V, and other pollutants have also been significantly reduced.
I remember when the China VI emission standards were implemented, as someone who frequently follows auto shows, I felt the changes were quite noticeable. China V was like the old threshold, with relatively lenient pollutant limits, mainly controlling carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, while China VI is much stricter. For example, it added particulate filters to exhaust systems, which can help reduce smog. From a technical perspective, China VI-compliant vehicles require both software and hardware upgrades, making them less prone to issues compared to China V vehicles and resulting in cleaner emissions during operation. Nowadays, when buying a new car, the China VIb phase even tests real driving emissions, which better reflects actual road conditions, unlike China V, which was only tested in labs. If you live in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, where license plate policies are stricter, China V vehicles might not be eligible for direct registration, so opting for a China VI-compliant car would save you trouble and likely offer better resale value in the future. Personally, I think this change is good for the environment. Although it puts pressure on automakers, the long-term benefit is cleaner air.
From my twenty years of driving experience, I deeply understand the difference between China V and China VI emission standards. In the China V era, my old car often had exhaust issues, which were simple to fix, but pollutant control was less strict, with higher carbon monoxide emissions. When China VI was introduced, the standards became twice as stringent, adding new devices like particulate filters. Driving a new car, I immediately noticed the exhaust fumes were much lighter. The key impact is on vehicle registration—in cities like Shenzhen, transferring ownership of China V cars is difficult, and their resale value drops quickly. Maintenance for China VI cars is slightly more expensive, but reliability and environmental protection are significantly better. When it comes to upgrading, I prioritize China VI to avoid policy-related inconveniences. The government also offers subsidies to encourage buying eco-friendly cars, which is quite practical.
As an environmental enthusiast, the difference between China 5 and China 6 emission standards is quite clear. China 5 only controls basic pollutants with higher emission levels, which easily pollutes the air; China 6 significantly reduces nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, and also adds particulate matter restrictions, achieving a reduction of over 50%. Driving a China 6-compliant vehicle makes me feel like I'm contributing more to improving urban smog, and the vehicle design is greener. In big cities like Shanghai, where enforcement is strict, China 5 vehicles face more restrictions, so choosing China 6 is supporting the Blue Sky Initiative. It also helps promote the development of electric vehicles in the future. When buying a car, choosing China 6 is definitely the right move.
