Overview
GWM introduced particulars of its new-look Jolion Hybrid vary in mid-2024, the favored small section SUV entrant enhanced by updates that visually separate the mannequin from its petrol-powered siblings, whereas including new badging, revised pricing (from $32,990 – $38,990 drive-away), and acquainted robust customary gear ranges.
However it’s the identical automobile beneath, and inside (principally). The inside is acquainted with a décor Jolion homeowners will recognise instantly. Equally, the car continues to supply a lot the identical expertise and amenity as earlier than, which is not any dangerous factor contemplating simply how a lot GWM packs in for the value.
Rivalling the likes of the Chery Omoda 5, Hyundai Kona, MG ZS, Toyota Corolla Cross and others, the 2025 GWM Haval Jolion now beneficial properties steering wheel attain adjustment to profit driver ergonomics – a pity then the seats carryover with little to no under-thigh help.
Additional again, it’s disappointing to notice there may be nonetheless no spare wheel, simply an inflation package stowed beneath the cargo flooring.
Normal gear for the Jolion Hybrid vary contains 17-inch alloy wheels, material upholstery, halogen headlights, keyless entry and ignition, rain-sensing wipers, and a ten.25-inch infotainment array with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Lux and Lux Hybrid grades add a cargo cowl, 7.0-inch digital instrument panel, dual-zone local weather management, entrance seat heaters, 12.3-inch infotainment array (Lux Hybrid solely), leatherette upholstery and steering wheel, LED headlights, rear privateness glass, and a six-way powered driver’s seat adjustment.
The highest-of-the-range Extremely Hybrid (examined) provides four-way powered passenger seat adjustment, head-up show, LED ambient cabin lighting, panoramic sunroof, roof rails, semi-autonomous parking help, a ventilated driver’s seat, and a wi-fi gadget charging pad.
Sturdy ranges of ordinary security tech proceed with adaptive cruise management, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle owner detection, blind spot monitoring, driver drowsiness detection, lane centring and lane conserving help, rear cross-traffic alert, reversing digital camera and rear parking sensors, protected exit warning, visitors signal recognition, tyre strain monitoring, and 7 airbags on supply.
Increased-specification Lux (and above) grades add 360-degree digital camera expertise whereas the Extremely Hybrid grade provides entrance parking sensors.
The Jolion Hybrid encompasses a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electrical motor mixture offering complete system output of 140kW and 375Nm. The unit encompasses a devoted ‘Hybrid Drive Transmission’ once more driving the entrance wheels. Gasoline effectivity improves to five.1 litres per 100km (+0.1L/100km). Wishful pondering in the event you ask us…
Measuring 4470mm in size (-2mm), 1898mm in width (+57mm), and 1625mm in peak (+51mm), the Jolion Hybrid rides on a 2700mm wheelbase (unchanged) with multi-link rear suspension in larger grades.
The hybrid mannequin’s extra rakish roofline ends in a discount in cargo house, right down to 255 litres in five-seat mode and as much as 916 litres all advised. Braked towing is listed at 1300kg.
All GWM Haval Jolion fashions are backed by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre guarantee (with an extra 12 months on the high-voltage battery). Capped worth servicing (CPS) is out there for 5 years with service intervals set at 12 months / 10,000km initially and 12 months/15,000km thereafter. Service pricing complete $1650 over the five-year CPS interval.
Driving Impressions
It’s fascinating to search out most of the Chinese language manufacturers appear to develop their autos in absolute isolation, apparently avoiding benchmarking towards stalwart manufacturers in any respect prices and providing infuriatingly obtrusive driver help applied sciences and complicated touchscreen menu methods because of this.
You guessed it, the GWM Haval Jolion is nonetheless a car whose ADAS applied sciences are far much less refined than these of price-segment rivals.
We discovered the adaptive cruise management inconsistent and simply ‘spooked’, the motive force monitor system a micro-manager of driver eye course, and the lane-keeping tech so over-sensitive that you simply’ll end up pulling over to modify all of it off each single time you go for a drive.
Positive, it’s meant to maintain us “protected”. However in reality the system does little greater than have you ever second-guessing your capacity to drive. Did somebody simply pull into my blind spot? Have I misinterpret a velocity signal? Did this lane simply plummet over a cliff? No, no, and no.
Are the over-zealous ADAS methods a deal-breaker for us? Sure, sure, and sure!
As famous, the methods could also be turned off with every ignition cycle. However therein lies one other difficulty – the Haval menu system. Dig deep sufficient, whereas stationary, and also you’ll be capable of minimise or droop the tremendous nannies from interfering. However flip off the automobile, and also you’ll be again to the land of warning chimes and buzzers earlier than you’ve had time to know simply what it’s you’ve meant to have accomplished flawed within the first place.
The infotainment array presents entry to myriad car settings, although only a few capabilities could be accessed with the clicking of a bodily button.
Certainly, all of the Jolion’s local weather and connectivity changes are made by the faucet of a display, some mendacity in locations you’d by no means fathom (attempt discovering the heated and ventilated seat controls, for instance) which create a distraction all their very own.
OK, the display’s decision is excellent and the sound system respectable, however it’s not as intuitive to function as among the market’s higher examples and feels largely like options are there to tick a field, and never essentially supply credible worth. Should you can’t merely dim the panel lights or flip the ventilated seats on when it’s sizzling out, then we’d wager you’ll by no means use the extra complicated options discovered deeper within the system anyway.
On the highway, the Jolion Hybrid is an appropriate drive, however one which gained’t win any prizes for refinement. It’s fairly leisurely in getting away from a standstill, feeling equally torpid when conserving tempo with fast-moving visitors. The petrol-electric mixture works arduous to maintain tempo on steeper grades and proves slightly inefficient when requested to take action. On take a look at, we averaged 8.0 litres per 100km in blended driving, a lengthy means in need of the 5.1L/100km declare.
Driving a mixture of nation and suburban roads, the Haval Jolion Hybrid rode fairly nicely, till, that’s, the floor turns into tougher. Combine lumpy surfaces with tightening radius corners, for instance, and the suspension begins to battle. Physique motion is obvious right here, giving the motive force a way that they are alongside for the experience and not steering the automobile.
The suspension tends to skip over corrugations, shaking the Jolion’s composure and sapping driver confidence. Whereas it definitely isn’t a sportscar, it’s a car that ought to handle the worst of Australia’s B and C roads with much more grace – simply as others within the section have since time immemorial. Given GWM’s tenure on this market, we anticipated higher.
We additionally anticipated higher of the Jolion’s steering. The over-assisted EPAS association is nice for tight metropolis streets and parking heaps, however lacks any true sense of communication, even when dialled to its firmest (Sport) setting. Right here, the system provides weight, however not really feel, which means merely that you simply’ll expertise a lot the identical suggestions as earlier than whereas investing extra effort within the course of.
A number of corrections are required to maintain the Jolion on its supposed line, particularly when the highway floor is knobbly or crumbling. Go away the ADAS methods in play right here and the outcomes are disconcerting, using sight and never really feel crucial in sustaining course.
We’d additionally prefer to see the brake pedal supply higher development as a substitute of leaving its finest work till the ultimate few centimetres of journey. Extra response earlier within the pedal stroke would enhance driver confidence and provides a smoother experience in stop-start visitors and higher steadiness to a system that’s in any other case superb.
If we had one remaining grievance (sorry, GWM) to make of the Haval Jolion it’s that extra could possibly be accomplished to insulate the cabin from wind and tyre noise. Aussie coarse-chip roads are infamous for the amplification of rubber on highway, a problem most within the section have labored nicely to subdue. If the $12,000 cheaper Chinese language automobile we’re driving this week can do it, we’re certain GWM can. Simply not shortly sufficient to alter our thoughts on this event.
Given the sheer variety of each new arrivals and stalwart fashions out there for comparable cash, we discover little or no that will sway us in direction of the Haval Jolion.
Sure, it is likely to be nicely geared up, supplied with a good guarantee and CPS bundle, and be competitively priced however, for this scribe at the least, can be removed from the perfect in its class and not possible to reside with in its present calibration.
