GWM Haval has made a pointy ascent up the gross sales charts over the previous two years, undercutting ‘identify model’ rivals with a lot improved merchandise in high-growth segments like SUVs and utes.
The GWM Haval Jolion is not any exception. GWM has offered greater than 7000 this yr, better quantity than the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Toyota Corolla Cross or Nissan Qashqai have managed – although a way off the now top-selling MG ZS, a fellow budget-friendly Chinese language entrant.
Given financial headwinds like inflation and rates of interest maintain taking bites out of family spending energy, GWM’s eager drive-away costs and lengthy guarantee place it to capitalise and proceed gaining market share.
The model of Jolion pushed right here isn’t the price-leader, however somewhat faucets into robust demand for electrified hybrids, which stay in brief provide because of ongoing manufacturing points for dominant participant Toyota – that means even second-hand ones are additional costly proper now.
In actual fact, GWM Haval is reporting vital hybrid take-up throughout its SUV vary, sitting at round 40 per cent of the entire.
When you’ve noticed a heap of those getting about on roads close to you and questioned in the event that they’re any good, then learn on…
How does the Haval Jolion fare vs its opponents?
View an in depth breakdown of the Haval Jolion towards equally sized autos.
Haval
Jolion
How a lot does the Haval Jolion Extremely Hybrid price?
The broader Jolion vary kicks off at a really sharp $26,990 drive-away and tops out at $39,990 drive-away nationally for the model examined right here, in response to the GWM web site on the time of writing.
There are 4 specification grades on provide throughout two engine varieties, with the hybrid commanding a premium of between $4500 and $6500 over the equal petrol model.
Trying on the hybrid vary priced between $35,990 and $39,990; they stack up on the {dollars} and cents towards core opponents. Briefly, a top-of-the-range Haval Jolion Extremely Hybrid undercuts the beginning value of most opponents, whereas the entry variant is hundreds cheaper.
Key rivals embrace:
- Hyundai Kona Hybrid: ~ $40,000 to $49,500
- Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid: ~ $43,700 to $50,500
- Kia Niro Hybrid: ~ $49,900 to $55,750
- Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid: ~ $41,000 to $55,000
- Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid: ~ $34,800 to $44,200
Costs are drive-away primarily based on a Melbourne postcode (3000)
2024 GWM Haval Jolion pricing:
- Jolion Premium Petrol: $26,990
- Jolion Lux Petrol: $30,490
- Jolion Extremely Petrol: $33,490
- Jolion S Petrol: $35,990
- Jolion Lux Hybrid: $35,990
- Jolion Extremely Hybrid: $39,990
Costs are drive-away
What’s the Haval Jolion Extremely Hybrid like on the within?
The Jolion Extremely Hybrid has a proximity-sensing key that allows you to entry the automobile with the fob in your pocket, and power-adjustable fake leather-based seats that in fact may use just a little extra under-thigh assist.
The inside appears sharp on first impression, with a tastefully minimalist format, colored LED lights, massive landscape-oriented touchscreen, tastefully thin-rimmed wheel, and nifty shift-by-wire transmission dial. The panoramic sunroof and little luxuries like heated seats add to the general expertise too.
From a showroom ‘wow’ perspective, it’s going to maintain scooping up converts. It appears a heck of much more trendy and attention-grabbing than a base Toyota.
It’s constructed to a value although, as you may count on. There’s some good padded materials on elements of the sprint and doorways, however among the trims used on the centre tunnel, doorways, wheel, and higher sprint don’t really feel fairly as costly and ‘premium’ as they give the impression of being on first impression. It’s no Mazda, let’s simply say that.
Be aware: Our take a look at automobile was greater than a yr outdated and had greater than 10,000km on it, which isn’t a lot for a daily automobile however greater than is typical for a press analysis automobile.
Regardless of its laborious life (press automobiles don’t get particular therapy between loans today, this automobile was peppered with dents), there have been no squeaks or rattles or misaligned panels.
The steering wheel solely adjusts up and down, with the shortage of telescoping a possible situation for these with uncommon proportions. Behind the wheel sits a digital show with varied show modes, augmented by a pleasant head-up show (HUD) projecting the automobile velocity onto the windscreen.
Nevertheless – one other ergonomic gripe – I couldn’t get the HUD to drop down low sufficient to be totally seen. At 194cm I’m taller than common, however not a lot of an outlier than my driving place shouldn’t be catered for.
The massive centre touchscreen appears nice and has a sleek surround-view digital camera show, and processes inputs fairly properly.
Satellite tv for pc navigation isn’t an choice, however wired (USB-A) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto imply you possibly can nonetheless entry Google Maps on the transfer.
Whereas there are some buttons beneath the display screen to regulate topline local weather management features, most of the features are in a sub-menu.
In actual fact, there’s a good bit of tapping and swiping to be performed if you wish to entry data or media whereas on the transfer, that means the UX software program may made just a little extra user-friendly – one thing so simple as a greater fastened shortcut toolbar menu operating alongside the underside of the display screen would do it.
There are many storage areas across the cabin, from the charging slot beneath the transmission tunnel to the bottle-friendly door bins and decent-sized console, to the hidden part beneath the tunnel freed up by the transmission’s rotary dial shifter
By the way in which, mentioned e-shifter doesn’t ‘cease’ when you’ve put the automobile into Reverse and Drive, however somewhat retains spinning, so you’ll want to see which letter is illuminated to know what gear you’re in.
One space the place the Jolion inarguably shines is back-seat area. I had headroom and legroom to spare – behind my driving place, and factoring within the space-stealing sunroof – that means this can be a very succesful household automobile.
Rear occupants get niceties similar to as vents, USB ports, cupholders, and LED lights, whereas the ground is flat within the again, so the center passenger doesn’t have to awkwardly straddle a hump. Some small SUVs aren’t all that sensible, however the Jolion definitely is.
The boot? Behind the guide tailgate is a shallow boot flooring and a cargo space with 390 litres of storage, down 40L over the petrol.
The hybrid additionally loses the petrol’s space-saver spare tyre in favour of a less-useful puncture restore package.
What’s below the bonnet?
The Jolion Hybrid pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine, with an electrical drive motor and battery, producing system outputs of 139kW of energy and 375Nm of torque pushed by the entrance wheels.
Gasoline consumption on the combined-cycle take a look at is 5.0 litres per 100km, and it’ll run on 91 RON petrol. Whereas not as environment friendly because the Kona HEV (3.9L/100km) or Corolla Cross Hybrid (4.3L/100km), it’s 60 per cent higher than the Jolion petrol (8.1L/100km). The 55L tank guarantees a spread of 1000km.
Whereas it’s not essentially the most environment friendly hybrid, it’s not brief on punch, with 34 per cent extra energy and 42 per cent extra torque than the Hyundai Kona Hybrid’s setup. In the meantime petrol-only Jolion’s turbocharged engine makes solely 110kW and 220Nm.
The 0-100km/h time is a brisk (for this section) 8.2 seconds in the event you actually punch it. The Jolion Hybrid’s transmission has two ahead speeds known as D1 and D2, the latter for extra responsive pickup from the petrol engine. The battery pack powering the motor-generator is sourced from CATL and is recharged by kinetic power.
Haval quotes a braked towing capability of 1300kg, or 200kg lower than the petrol mannequin.
How does the Haval Jolion Extremely Hybrid drive?
We actually didn’t get together with the petrol-only Jolion’s tendency to be unpredictable and laggy at low speeds, as you possibly can learn in our separate overview right here – however to my senses the hybrid is smoother.
The Jolion’s system works in the identical means as most hybrids. At idle, reverse and low speeds below 35km/h the electrical motor does many of the work, then assists the engine at greater speeds.
Hybrids are usually nice for metropolis site visitors due to the electrical propulsion in cease/begin driving, and the Jolion is not any completely different. The electrical motor often moved the automobile off the mark and usually accelerated the automobile to 30km/h, so when the ICE fired up the automobile’s momentum had smoothed it out.
Nevertheless, there have been a few events the place the automobile’s petrol engine fired up at idle, presumably as a result of the brake regen system hadn’t topped up the battery sufficient. You received’t discover a Toyota doing that.
Not like the larger Haval H6 Hybrid and its 530Nm turbocharged drivetrain, the 375Nm Jolion isn’t predisposed to chirping its tyres whenever you bury the throttle off the mark. It nonetheless packs a good punch, but it surely’s extra well-mannered right here.
At greater speeds the petrol engine kicks in, however is never raucous, credit score to the transmission there. Typically the 2 technique of propulsion work properly collectively. The e-motor may energy the automobile whereas coasting or slowing, permitting the engine to disconnect and save gas.
Whereas GWM claims effectivity of 5.0L/100km, my drive routes yielded averages of between 5.7L/100km and 6.1L/100km. The petrol-only mannequin stays the worth play given it’s $6500 cheaper, and that buys numerous gas, however the hybrid additionally provides higher efficiency regardless of being 100kg heavier (1530kg).
Experience high quality and dealing with is definitely fairly first rate. Typically these new Chinese language manufacturers make zero effort in terms of suspension tune, however the Jolion provides a level of cornering agility and trip consolation – one slight gripe being that its physique management after undulations might be saved just a little tauter.
Whereas the checklist of driver help aids ticks all of the packing containers, the touchscreen-heavy person interface can frustrate at instances, and the techniques themselves can turn into intrusive.
As an example the lively steering help labored properly, nonetheless the lane-centring operate was too intrusive when engaged, making too many micro-adjustments. Fortunately you possibly can maintain this operate off whereas retaining all the opposite lane-keeping aids, and when it’s turned off it stays that means upon restart.
With lively cruise management and lane-keeping aids on, the driving force instrument cluster additionally defaults to a digital diagram of the techniques at work. It’s nice till you realise it overrides your journey meter, that means you’ll want to maintain a button on the wheel to view your gas economic system and many others whereas driving – small irritants.
Extra invasive is Clever Cornering, which makes use of the cameras to scan the street. With adaptive cruise management on it can mechanically cut back the automobile’s velocity forward of curves, but it surely’s too conservative and slows down greater than mandatory, requiring accelerator prods to override.
These aren’t criticisms of the expertise right here as an entire, simply of the shortage of refinement regarding the means it’s been calibrated and put into the person interface. These options ought to work with the driving force behind the scenes, solely changing into apparent when wanted.
What do you get?
Jolion Extremely highlights:
- 18-inch wheels
- LED headlights
- Proximity-sensing key
- Privateness glass
- Auto-folding aspect mirrors
- Computerized wipers
- Roof rails
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- Tyre stress monitor
- Auto-dimming rear mirror
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- Artificial leather-based seat trim
- Powered driver’s seat
- Heated entrance seats
- Twin zone local weather management
- 7.0-inch instrument cluster
- Head-up show
- 12.3-inch touchscreen
- Entrance and rear USB ports
- 6-speaker audio
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- 360-degree cameras
If you wish to save $4000 and purchase the Haval Jolion Lux Hybrid as an alternative, you lose:
- 18-inch wheels (17-inch as an alternative)
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- 12.3-inch touchscreen (10.25-inch as an alternative)
- Head-up show
- Sunroof
Color selections embrace Hamilton White (free) or Azure Blue, Glacier Blue, Smoke Gray, Golden Black, or Mars Purple (all $495 additional).
Is the Haval Jolion Extremely Hybrid protected?
Briefly, sure – the Jolion vary wears a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based on 2022 testing.
It managed 90 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 84 per cent for baby occupant safety, 64 per cent for weak street person safety, and 92 per cent for security help options.
Normal security options embrace:
- Airbags: Entrance, entrance aspect/centre, two-row curtain
- 2 x ISOFIX and three x high tethers
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Automobile, Pedestrian, Bike owner detection
- Crossings, Junction help
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane centring help
- Lane maintain help incl. emergency help
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Site visitors signal recognition digital camera
- Pace restrict help, velocity warning
- Door open warning
- Driver drowsiness detection (digital camera)
How a lot does the Haval Jolion Extremely Hybrid price to run?
GWM supplies a seven-year, limitless kilometre guarantee and 5 years capped-price servicing at 12 month or 15,000km intervals – except for the primary service, due at 10,000km – at a median of $330 per go to.
The corporate additionally supplies 5 years of 24/7 roadside help cowl.
CarExpert’s Take
Like quite a lot of new-to-market Chinese language automobiles, there’s nonetheless room for a bit extra refinement.
Key areas for enchancment embrace the infotainment person expertise, driver-assist system calibration, and cabin ergonomics. Plus, the hybrid’s value premium over the equal petrol is simply too excessive.
Nevertheless, it nonetheless impresses in terms of sheer value-for-money, inside area and the stability of efficiency and gas effectivity. Plus providing an extended guarantee is a brilliant means for a much less well-known model to fast-track its popularity, breaking down one barrier to possession and bolstering the eventual resale worth on the identical time.
There at the moment are fewer and fewer causes to not contemplate a challenger model like GWM. I’m a conservative purchaser and would gravitate to a much less flashy and less-well-equipped base Toyota or Hyundai, however I can positively see issues from a Haval Jolion proprietor’s perspective – and there are millions of these on the market already.
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