Haval Jolion Hybrid odds-on for Oz

The Haval Jolion Hybrid has been unveiled in Thailand and is expected to make its Aussie debut within the next 12 months.

Although it’s yet to be officially confirmed for launch Down Under, the small petrol-electric SUV is on the radar of the Chinese car-maker’s local arm, a spokesperson for which told carsales it would be a great fit for the brand’s local line-up.

“[The Jolion Hybrid] has been launched overseas and we’ve watched with great interest,” he said.

“It’s a car we’re definitely keen to get and we think it makes sense for our Aussie line-up, but it’s too early to confirm anything and we haven’t locked anything in as of yet.”

Sharing its powertrain and tech with the slightly larger Haval H6 Hybrid – which has already been confirmed for an Aussie launch in early 2022 – the Jolion Hybrid is unlikely to arrive until mid-2022.

Power comes from a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine boosted by a single electric motor, delivering combined outputs of 140kW of power and 375Nm of torque.

That’s down on the larger H6 Hybrid’s 179kW/530Nm outputs from the same powertrain, although both hybrid SUVs send power to their front wheels via GWM’s dual-clutch Direct Hybrid Transmission (DHT). 

Overseas, the Haval Jolion Hybrid is claimed to consume 4.2L/100km of fuel on the combined cycle. That compares to 4.1L/100km for the Toyota CH-R Hybrid and about 3.9L/100km for the upcoming two-motor Honda HR-V e:HEV.

Differing itself from the existing petrol-powered Jolion, the hybrid brings unique styling tweaks including redesigned 18-inch alloy wheels, slimmer LED headlights with horizontal-strip daytime running lights (DRLs) and a rejigged ‘Star Matrix’ grille.

Standard safety and driver assistance aids extend to autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control with stop & go, rear cross traffic alert, lane assist, park assist and blind spot monitoring.

Other standard features for the Jolion Hybrid include a 12.3-inch infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and push-button start, a six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with ventilation, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control and a leather-appointed interior.

Haval’s existing three-variant Jolion range is priced from $26,490 drive-away, but expect hybrid powertrains to command a price premium.

Stay tuned for more on the Haval Jolion Hybrid, which will go on sale in Asian markets before year’s end and is expected to be confirmed for an Aussie launch soon.