GWM Haval Jolion – What you need to know

Since its debut in 2021, GWM Australia’s Haval Jolion has carved out a big slice of the increasingly competitive small SUV segment for itself.

Six models complete the Haval Jolion small SUV range: four petrol-engined models – Premium, Lux, Ultra and S – and a pair of hybrids, Lux and Ultra.

Drive-away prices range from $28,490 to $40,990.

All have a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The hybrids are supplemented by an electric motor and the non-hybrids get their power boost from a turbocharger. All have an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

Kicking off at $28,490 drive-away is the Premium that has the following standard features:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• 10.25-inch infotainment touch-screen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Single-zone air-conditioning
• Reversing camera
• Adaptive cruise control
• Cloth trim

The only option for the GWM Haval Jolion is paint colour. Six colours make up the palette, with white the only standard shade; all others add $495 to the cost.

The GWM Haval Jolion’s standard safety equipment across all models includes seven airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic traction and stability control, along with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with front vehicle, cyclist, pedestrian and crossing detection.

There’s also rear cross traffic alert and braking, intelligent cornering control – which brakes the Jolion through corners if the speed is detected as excessive – and intelligent dodge, ensuring the Jolion keeps a safe distance from the vehicle it is overtaking.

There’s plenty more too. Every Jolion variant has hill start and hill descent control, roll movement intervention, forward and rear collision warnings, traffic jam assist, driver monitoring, auto wipers, secondary collision mitigation, tyre pressure monitoring, rear parking assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, traffic sign (speed) recognition, blind spot detection and lane departure, lane keep, lane centring and lane change assists.

While the Premium has rear-view camera and all variants have rear parking sensors, stepping up to the Lux as a minimum adds a 360-degree monitor.

All variants of the GWM Haval Jolion have a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted under 2022 protocols.

The GWM Haval Jolion Premium, Lux and Lux Hybrid models are fitted with a 10.25-inch central infotainment screen.

Through this you can access Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, AM/FM radio, Bluetooth music and phone streaming, all played through four speakers.

Most functions are also controlled via the multi-function steering wheel.

The Jolion Ultra, Ultra Hybrid and S models feature a larger 12.3-inch infotainment screen, head-up display, six speaker stereo and wireless smartphone charging.

Every Haval Jolion variant comes with front and rear USB ports, the front one including data transmission.

Within the instrument binnacle, the Premium has a 3.5-inch display, while all other models have a larger 7.0-inch digital display.

All GWM Haval Jolion SUVs come with a multi-function steering wheel, and on every model except the entry-level Premium it’s covered in faux leather.

Only the Premium misses out on a light and a vanity mirror at the back of the sun shades, but all models do have a handy 12V power outlet up front.

In the Premium and Lux models the driver window is powered and has a one-touch, auto up/down function, while this feature is on all doors in the Ultra pair and S models.

The door mirrors on the Premium are power-adjustable but manually folding, with the other models having powered and heated auto-folding door mirrors and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Do you want privacy glass? Sidestep the Premium and head to the Lux as a minimum.

Every Haval Jolion has air-conditioning with second-row air vents. In the entry-model Premium it’s a single-zone unit while the Ultra, Lux and S models have dual-zone climate control and auto window defogging.

Are heated seats on the wish list? While the entry-level Premium and its cloth-trimmed, manually adjustable seats miss out on this feature, a step up to the Lux as a minimum snares Comfort-Tek faux leather seats, with the front pews being heated and power-adjustable – six-way for the driver and four-way for the passenger.

The rear seat in all models has a 60/40 split-fold function.

Carrying longer items in the Haval Jolion is also aided by the standard fitment of roof rails across the range, but if you want to let the sun and the stars in, head to the Ultra at least, for its panoramic sunroof.

What about sporty touches like paddle shifts, steering and driving modes? The good news is all petrol-powered Jolion models come with flappy paddles, three steering modes and five driving modes.

Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are found on the two Ultra models and the S, whereas the Premium and Lux variants wear 17-inch alloys. All petrol models come with a full-size spare, too, whereas the hybrid models make do with a tyre repair kit.

Lighting the roads in the Premium are halogen headlights, with better-performing LED headlights reserved for the Lux, Ultra and S models. All models have rear fog lights, daytime running lights, as well as a follow-me-home function.

A 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is found in all GWM Haval Jolion variants.

In the Premium, Lux and Ultra, the turbocharged petrol engine produces 110kW of power and 220Nm of torque. In the Jolion S, which has a 1499cc (versus 1497cc) direct-injection unit, the output increases to 130kW and 270Nm.

The hybrid pair of Jolion, Lux and Ultra, have the same four-cylinder engine as the regular petrol models (without a turbo), providing 70kW/125Nm, but when added to the electric motor (110kW/250Nm) the combined output is 139kW and 375Nm.

The hybrids have their own dedicated automatic transmission and non-hybrids have a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. All are front-wheel drive.

As you’d expect, the hybrids have economy on their side, returning 5.0L/100km on the official combined-cycle fuel consumption test, compared to 7.5L/100km for the direct-injection S and 8.1L/100km for the regular petrol models. All take 91RON standard unleaded.

The GWM Haval Jolion measures 4472mm long, 1841mm wide and 1574mm tall. Its wheelbase is 2700mm and its ground clearance is 168mm.

Gross vehicle mass ranges from 1905kg to 2075kg, depending on the variant, while kerb weight similarly spans a 1370-1530kg range.

Also variant-dependent is the maximum braked towing capacity of up to 1500kg (hybrids are rated at 1300kg), with unbraked up to 750kg.

Cargo capacity in the five-seater Haval Jolion with the 60/40-split folding rear seat upright is 390 litres (hybrids) or 430 litres (petrol models), increasing to 1069 and 1133L respectively when folded.

For the money, there’s a lot to like about the GWM Haval Jolion.

It has a comfortable ride, good equipment levels, decent safety features and a spacious interior.

Trying to drive the infotainment system drove me mad, but getting a teenager to set it up should see you right.

Now, which one to buy?

If the budget was the primary driver, I’d head for the Lux petrol. You do get quite a bit more kit than the entry-level Premium and the financial step isn’t too big.

After diving into the spec sheet, the Ultra model is where you see a host of extra standard features and I reckon you get a good bang for your buck.

So it is the GWM Haval Jolion Ultra model for me, in petrol form.

How much does the 2024 GWM Haval Jolion cost?
Premium– $28,490
Lux – $30,990
Ultra – $33,990
S – $36,990
Lux Hybrid – $36,990
Ultras Hybrid – $40,990
*All prices are drive-away (including on-road costs)