Haval Jolion 2021 Review

The 2021 Haval Jolion replaces the underwhelming Haval H2 and is pronounced ‘Chulian’ in Mandarin (meaning ‘first love’) – and it has the credentials to really put Haval on the map in Australia.

On paper, the Jolion delivers a compelling sales pitch with sharp drive-away pricing starting at $25,490 for the entry-level Premium model grade that has a comprehensive equipment list to match.

Indeed, Haval is now looking to land a few king hits on the top sellers in the fast-growing small SUV segment, such as the MG ZS, Mitsubishi ASX and carsales’ Best Small SUV for 2021, the Hyundai Kona.

It’s also no surprise that the Jolion is expected to be Haval’s biggest-selling SUV in short order, with three eminently affordable model grades that are rounded out by the mid-range Lux ($27,990 drive-away) and the range-topping Ultra ($30,990 drive-away) that we’re testing here.

The Haval Jolion is backed by a strong seven-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty and all models are fitted as standard with alloy wheels, roof rails, rear parking sensors and camera, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, plus a high-definition 10.25-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

You can check out the full list of Jolion standard equipment in our news story, but the big-ticket items included on the top-spec Ultra include bigger 18-inch alloys (up from 17s), LED headlights, daytime running lights and fog lights, heated pleather front seats – power-adjustable for the driver – plus a huge wireless phone charger, panoramic glass sunroof, a head-up display and an ultra-wide 12.3-inch central touch-screen.

It’s all presented in a fairly upmarket, modern manner complete with touch-sensitive controls for the dual-zone automatic climate system, a rotator-type gear selector and an impressive amount of incidental storage.

Cabin space in general is very good for both front and rear occupants, the latter also provided with air vents and USB ports, while boot space of 430 litres (with the rear seats upright) is impressive too.

But it’s not surprising when you look at the Jolion’s measurements. For example, it’s considerably longer than the Hyundai Kona at 4472mm versus 4205mm, while its 2700mm wheelbase matches that of the Mazda CX-5, which is a larger mid-size SUV.

In terms of equipment levels, space and value for money, the Haval Jolion is almost without peer in the segment, although annual capped-price service costs are far from class-leading. Across the first five years, service prices are set at $210, $250, $350, $450 and $290 respectively.

Five years’ roadside assistance is also part of the Jolion package.

Every 2021 Haval Jolion model is fitted with an extremely high level of advanced driving and safety systems.

These include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with car, cyclist and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with an effective traffic sign recognition system, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and an impressive lane keeping assistant.

There’s also a lane centre keeping system, which has several settings accessible through the detailed safety menu on the touch-screen display. On the most aggressive mode, it rivals Volkswagen Group systems in terms of proactive lane keeping, steering the car through mild bends with ease without getting too close to the lane markings.

A camera-based driver fatigue monitoring system and rear cross traffic alert are part of the package too, the latter helping to avoid slow-speed collisions when backing out of tight car parks.

The 360-degree parking camera is crystal clear and even features a 3D mode that helps take some of the stress out of parking.

Seven airbags are fitted as standard, including a centre front airbag, and Haval is confident the Jolion will snag a five-star ANCAP safety rating when it gets tested later in the year.

Other tech highlights include the big 12.3-inch touch-screen, which is a sight to behold and features full-screen Apple CarPlay when plugged in with a USB cable.

But it’s not all smooth sailing on the tech front, as the USB ports are hidden in a storage area underneath the gear selector dial, on the passenger side, which is hard to reach if you’re driving solo.

The steering wheel only has tilt adjust, not reach, which can be problematic for taller, longer-legged drivers, and among the high-quality cabin materials there’s some low-quality plastics too.

The other bugbear is the 7.0-inch digital instrument panel, which has a small speed display and a numeric engine rev counter that can be hard to read.

Adjusting the settings on the digital display and trip computer requires a long hold of the ‘OK’ steering wheel button, making it about as intuitive as quantum mechanics. For the first day of the test I assumed the whole system was kaput, with the up and down arrows doing nothing.

Driving the front wheels only, the 2021 Haval Jolion is propelled by a conventional combustion engine – 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder – which hooks up to Haval’s second-generation seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

In terms of power delivery there’s some engine and gearbox lag at lower speeds, but the 110kW of power and 220Nm of torque provide adequate thrust for the small SUV once moving, both around town and on the freeway.

It offers similar power but more torque than some of its non-turbocharged small SUV rivals and is generally unobtrusive and refined in most situations, but when the engine reaches high revs it can get a little raspy.

In terms of fuel consumption it’s a little off the pace and not as efficient as some competitor SUVs, with a claimed 8.1L/100km on the official combined cycle.

Our best result at the end of the test was 9.5L/100km. However, those on a budget will be pleased to note the Jolion will accept lower-quality 91 RON regular unleaded petrol.

The 2021 Haval Jolion is easy to drive for the most part, the light steering making short work of tight car parks and urban environs.

It’s a good cruiser on the freeway as well, and while it doesn’t have the cushy ride comfort of its bigger sibling, the Haval H6, it feels more confident through corners and when navigating roundabouts.

There’s far less wallowing and body roll that’s found in the softly-sprung H6, but by the same token the Jolion is not quite a match for the likes of the Mazda CX-30 and Kia Seltos, the latter featuring locally-tuned suspension that provides impressive road-holding.

Ride comfort is best described as above-average for the segment, the Jolion riding smoothly over speed bumps and feeling settled and generally untroubled on rougher roads.

It doesn’t really deliver much in the way of driver engagement, but few small SUVs do. And given that these city-savvy vehicles are essentially replacing small hatchbacks, the Jolion’s A-to-B transit abilities are more than satisfactory.

The 2021 Haval Jolion hadn’t hit the streets in time for our Best Small SUV 2021 mega-test, but it’s fair to say it would have made a strong impression in a field that saw the Hyundai Kona come out on top.

The fundamentals of the new Jolion are solid – engine, chassis, cabin comfort and refinement levels – and the safety, tech and standard equipment list is class-leading.

It delivers unquestionable value and that alone will get bums on seats. But our first drive has also made it clear that the new Jolion performs well in the real world.

The top-selling small SUV in Australia is currently the MG ZS. And now another Chinese chariot, the Haval Jolion, could be on a similar road to success.

How much does the 2021 Haval Jolion Ultra cost?
Price: $30,990 (drive-away)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 110kW/220Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 8.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 186g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested