New Haval Jolion arrives

First examples of the 2021 Haval Jolion have landed in Australia, but the replacement for the Haval H2 small SUV arrives as a special-edition only and the Chinese luxury SUV brand is yet to announce its price.

This evening’s left-field announcement by GWM Australia follows its confirmation last week of pricing and specs for the larger new Haval H6 mid-size SUV, which arrives in showrooms in April.

The 2021 Haval Jolion LE (Launch Edition) will be available in two model grades – mid-range Lux and flagship Ultra – and limited to just 300 examples in Australia.

Full-time Haval Jolion variants will follow, but pricing and full specs for even the LE are yet to be announced. For reference, however, the outgoing Haval H2 is currently priced from $22,990 drive-away for the entry-level Premium model, and $25,990 drive-away for the top-spec Lux.

Like the larger new Haval H6, the Jolion is all-new and based on the Chinese car-maker’s new global lightweight modular platform dubbed LEMON (Lightweight, Electrification, Multi-purpose, Omni-protection and Network).

It will be produced at GWM’s new production facility in Taizhou, near Shanghai, and is considered an important strategic model the company's international growth ambitions.

Just as the H6 will aim at popular medium SUVs like the Toyota RAV4, Haval says the Jolion was “benchmarked against the best selling global SUVs”.

“With the flexibility and feature set of a larger SUV but at a small SUV price point, the Jolion is expected to stand out in a competitive market and make [a] significant contribution to growing the GWM brand further in Australia and international markets,” said Haval.

Like its predecessor, the new small SUV is exclusively front-wheel drive, but the Jolion rides on a longer 2700mm wheelbase and measures 4472mm long and 1841mm wide.

Power comes from a ‘re-engineered’ 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine delivering the same 110kW of power and 210Nm of torque as the H2, matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (instead of a six-speed conventional auto) with four drives modes – Standard, Eco, Sport and Snow.

New tech features will include a colour LED instrument cluster, head-up display, wireless phone charging and a camera-based fatigue monitoring system, although it’s unclear which of these will be extra-cost options.

However, standard across the range will be Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Interior shots reveal a new rotary-style gear selector, instead of a conventional gear shifter, while high-grade soft-touch surfaces adorn the minimalist dashboard punctuated by a large touch-screen infotainment system.

The Haval Jolion will ride on 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels and other specs for the Australian market should include LED headlights, daytime running lights and tail-lights, keyless entry with push-button start and an electric tailgate. A sunroof will be available as an option.

Apart from a chromed grille with horizontal accents, unique features for the Launch Edition are yet to be confirmed. Haval says full pricing and specs will be announced soon.

“There's certainly a lot happening at GWM at the moment,” said GWM Australia’s marketing and communications chief Steve Maciver in tonight’s press release.

“To now confirm the arrival of the all-new Haval Jolion, hot on the heels of the all-new H6, is indicative of the progress that our brand is making.

“With two brand-new SUV options that are loaded with technology, safety and value, there has never been a better time for buyers to consider Haval.”