2024 GWM Haval Jolion Lux Hybrid review

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2024 GWM Haval Jolion Lux Hybrid

As part of a range reshuffle earlier in 2024, GWM gave the Haval Jolion an overhaul. The range splits into two more distinctive models, with the low-spec petrol range getting a light restyle, and the hybrid models and flagship petrol adopting a distinct look of their own.

At the same time, GWM removed the top-spec petrol Ultra and higher-performance S variants, before re-introducing the petrol Ultra again (this time with the same styling as the hybrid), while the hybrid range added a new entry-level Premium variant, with a more attractive entry price.

While the outside of hybrid models is new, the inside is largely unchanged. The level of equipment is impressive, as is the interior spec, so arguably there wasn’t much to do on the inside.

The hybrid system is also unchanged, but under the skin the Haval Jolion Hybrid adds a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension in place of torsion beam suspension on earlier versions.

The best news for Aussie buyers, though, is the price. Bucking the trend of recent price rises across the industry, the refreshed GWM Haval Jolion range has seen its prices lowered compared to the outgoing version. A move that proves GWM is serious about attracting the attention of buyers.

As a small SUV, the GWM Haval Jolion faces off against rivals like the Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Kona, and Honda HR-V – all of which are available with a hybrid option. The Haval Jolion is in the price ballpark of the smaller Toyota Yaris Cross, and a hybrid version of the new MG ZS is also likely to arrive in Australia before the end of 2024.

How much is a GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid?

The 2024 Haval Jolion range kicks off from $26,990 for the cheapest petrol model, from $32,990 for the entry-level hybrid, and tops out at $38,990 for the top-shelf version – and all prices are drive-away, so there’s no additional on-road costs to add on top. As a special offer from now until the end of 2024 a $1000 discount is also available across the range.

The mid-spec Haval Jolion Lux Hybrid driven here is priced from $35,990 drive-away normally, or $34,990 with its discount applied. Premium paint finishes like the Arctic Blue shown here, Golden Black, and Ayers Grey cost an extra $495, but the standard Hamilton White doesn’t add to the price.

The non-hybrid Haval Jolion Lux is priced at $29,990 at full price (or a discounted $28,990), so the step from petrol to hybrid adds a not insignificant $6000. Compared with pre-update pricing, the new version is $1000 cheaper than before, which is good news in a world where everything seems more expensive, and that’s before discounts are applied.

Even the base-model Haval Jolion Premium comes with standard equipment like halogen headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, rear park sensors and rear-view camera, keyless entry and start, cloth seat trim, rain-sensing wipers, four-speaker audio, adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with braking and more.

As you move through the range, the Lux adds LED headlights, a 360-degree camera system, faux leather on the seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control (all hybrid models get this feature) heated front seats with power adjustment for the driver, six-speaker audio, and a 7.0-inch driver’s display. Over the equipment on the petrol model, the Lux Hybrid also includes 18-inch wheels, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and a larger 12.3-inch infotainment screen (up from 10.25 inches).

That’s most bases covered, but if you want to add more, the Ultra goes further steps up again with things like a powered passenger seat, a big panoramic sunroof, a driver’s head-up display, front park sensors and auto-parking capabilities, and interior ambient lighting. One feature reserved for the Ultra that we’d love to see on more models is a wireless charger – a curious omission in lower-priced models.

To get into a Hyundai Kona Hybrid you’ll need $36,500 plus on-road costs for the base model. The Toyota Corolla Cross (which is now hybrid-only across the range) starts from $36,480 plus on-road costs, and Honda has added a cheaper HR-V hybrid to the range, priced from $39,900 drive-away.

Given that GWM’s well-equipped mid-spec model undercuts its competition in the class, the value is hard to ignore.

How big is a GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid?

Even though it looks fresh on the outside, the Haval Jolion’s update is actually a reskin of the old model. Key structural dimensions stay the same, although some of the styling changes mean the new hybrid model is 2mm shorter nose to tail, 33mm wider at the body side, and 7mm taller overall.

At the rear, GWM’s quoted boot capacity drops to a claimed 255 litres. Pre-updated models offered a 390L boot, but the dimensions inside look very, very similar – that change here feels more like a difference in measurement standard rather than physical changes. With the rear seats folded, there’s 916L available. The boot floor is surprisingly high, but this makes it level with the lower part of the tailgate opening. There’s no additional storage under the floor, instead the hybrid battery, 12-volt battery, and tyre repair kit are all tucked away here.

The interior revisions are much less extensive than those on the outside. The steering column gains reach adjustment, up from tilt-only previously. Handy to have, but even fully extended the steering wheel feels a long reach from where it should be.

The faux leather seats carry over, but the seat trim is a bit tidier. There’s contrasting white stitching, but the white piping and Haval embroidery have been retired. Materials on the dash and doors are a mix of hard plastic up top, and softer surfaced around the middle. It presents well, but the hard-moulded faux stitching on the door cards looks a little silly.

The driver’s seat comes with electric adjustment, but there’s no adjustable lumbar support or memory functions. Power seat adjustment is surprising at this price point, but it is only very basic. The front seats are heated, another feature not often found at this price point, so that’s a nice little inclusion.

The high centre console puts two cupholders within easy reach, but the one-small and one-big indents that overlap can make it tricky to carry two coffee cups or water bottles at the same time. Storage is generous, though. There’s a big void under the gear selector to squeeze in a small bag (you’ll find the front seat USB-A points here too), and the console armrest offers some hide-away storage.

Even though the Haval Jolion is only a small SUV, the space in the rear seats is more like a medium SUV, and a big medium SUV at that. There’s generous leg room and a decent amount of head room, but the shape of the rear bench makes it suited to two passengers, not three. Rear passengers get a fold-down armrest with a pair of cupholders, plus rear air vents and a pair of USB-A vents in the rear of the centre console, which is great to see.

Does the GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

The screen real estate inside the GWM Haval Jolion is impressive. With a 12.3-inch infotainment display that’s bright and crisp, and a 7.0-inch display for driver info, the Haval Jolion looks up-to-date. Probe a little deeper, though, and the user experience isn’t quite as slick.

The system includes AM and FM radio, but not digital radio, and includes Bluetooth, but doesn’t feature inbuilt navigation. Vehicle functions are controlled via the screen – from climate control and seat heating, to drive modes and safety system parameters. Phone mirroring for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is included but with a plug-in connection only.

There are a few system shortcuts, you can swipe down from the top to jump to the climate menu or the home key when in CarPlay, but you’ll need to jump to that home screen and then into the menu screen for media, vehicles and settings. A row of hard keys for demister, air recirculation, and access to the 360-view camera is positioned under the screen, but this bank of buttons could be much be better utilised.

The infotainment system in the Haval Jolion feels a bit off the pace. The interface is more confusing than it should be, with controls for similar systems split across separate menu screens and graphics that don’t feel particularly well executed.

The availability of features like digital radio, wireless smartphone connectivity, and integrated navigation in rivals is another mark against GWM. This system is also a closed one, so there’s no smartphone app to access the vehicle or check location remotely, and no access to over-the-air updates at this stage.

Is the GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid a safe car?

Despite looking different from the outside, similarities under the skin mean this new Haval Jolion and its predecessor are likely to achieve similar results in ANCAP testing. Official word from ANCAP on revised results is awaiting approval, but it seems likely that the existing ANCAP rating structure should carry over.

As a guideline, the old Haval Jolion that was tested in 2022 carries a five-star ANCAP safety rating with a 90 per cent adult occupant protection score, 84 per cent child occupant protection rating, 64 per cent for vulnerable road user (pedestrian and cyclist) protection, and 92 per cent for safety assist systems.

These ratings apply to all Haval Jolion variants, both petrol and hybrid.

What safety technology does the GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid have?

Every model in the Haval Jolion range comes with the same safety equipment, so there’s no penalty for choosing one of the cheaper variants, although some driver-assist features change as you move up the range.

The range comes with autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian and cyclist detection), rear cross-traffic alert and braking, lane centring and lane-keep assist with emergency lane-keep intervention, tyre pressure monitoring, adaptive cruise control linked to the traffic sign recognition plus traffic jam assist, blind-spot detection with lane-change assist, rear collision warning, door open warning (to warn of approaching traffic), and a camera that monitors the driver’s level of attention.

A reverse camera and rear park sensors are standard on all Haval Jolions, but the Lux and Ultra upgrade to a 360-degree camera. The Ultra adds in a semi-automated self-parking function, but it’s not included on the Lux driven here.

As comprehensive as the list of safety features is, in the real world the interactions of that system in the cut-and-thrust of moving traffic show there’s significant room for improvement. The system isn’t dangerous, but it is a bit dimwitted and slow to react.

I found adaptive cruise control didn’t always recognise if a car had entered the lane in front of it, and would clumsily stab the brakes when it recognised an object ahead. At other times it would fall well behind the pace of lead vehicles. The lane assist chimes that it is ‘active’ constantly and tugs abruptly at the wheel, even when there’s clear space on either side of the car and lane placement is only a little off centre.

The driver-facing camera is designed to detect when the driver isn’t paying attention. Some of these systems can be aggressive, but the Haval Jolion will allow you to check mirrors or glance at the infotainment briefly before it issues a warning. It seemed to have a hard time detecting where I was looking with glasses on. Oddly it flashes a warning on the infotainment screen and asks you to confirm – further pulling your attention from the road, although you can ignore the warning and it will cancel itself.

Systems like the lane assist and driver monitoring can be turned off via the infotainment screen, but they revert to on each time the car is started.

How much does the GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid cost to run?

GWM has kept the same service intervals and pricing structure for the 2024 Haval Jolion Hybrid. The first service is set at 12 months or 10,000km, and after that each following service is every 12 months or 15,000km.

The five-year capped-price service program runs to $1650 over its course, and each service is priced differently, with the most expensive (four years or 55,000km) is still priced at $550. Toyota and Honda offer lower pricing at $250 per visit and $199 per visit respectively for the first five services.

GWM also offers a seven-year warranty on the vehicle, with eight years on the hybrid battery, plus five years of roadside assist.

An indicative insurance premium for this car came to $1866 per year based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances. The same driver’s details returned a similar $1442 for the Toyota Corolla Cross GX, or an eye-watering $2219 premium for a Hyundai Kona Hybrid.

Is the GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid fuel-efficient?

The hybrid system used by GWM delivers a decent reduction in fuel consumption, although the Haval Jolion’s fuel consumption claims can’t quite match that of Toyota or Honda. The factory fuel figure is 5.1 litres per 100 kilometres, but the Corolla Cross and HR-V are both rated at 4.3L/100km.

To be fair, GWM’s hybrid does lower fuel consumption by 37 per cent compared to non-hybrid models (rated at 8.1L/100km).

The bulk of my week with the car was spent commuting, and in situations where the car is stopped or travelling slowly, the Haval Jolion leaned heavily on electric propulsion. It’s a system more resistant to big accelerator inputs too, unlike a Toyota hybrid that wakes the petrol engine early, the Haval Jolion is steadfast about keeping the petrol engine off where it can.

With the petrol motor running, though, the consumption feels high – almost at non-hybrid levels. In urban-only driving consumption ran beyond the mid 7L/100km mark.

The Haval Jolion Hybrid can accept 91-octane regular unleaded, making it a little cheaper at each refuel. The fuel tank is large for a car of this segment too, at 55 litres, giving a hypothetical driving range just shy of 1100km on a single fill at the claimed consumption rate, or a still-solid 900-ish kilometre driving range.

What is the GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid like to drive?

If you like a quiet drive around town, this could be the ticket. The hybrid system is low on noise and usually quite unobtrusive.

At low speeds I noticed the car in electric mode would vibrate or ‘pulse’ as you drive. When the petrol engine starts up this goes away.

As quiet as it is around town, the cabin gets boomy at speed. On the open road wind and tyre noise tend to echo through the cab, but for all of that, as the petrol engine starts up or shuts down, you can barely tell unless you watch the instrument cluster like a hawk.

It’s a little sluggish to get going from a standstill, but quickly builds steam as you accelerate. It does feel a bit more like a ‘traditional’ non-hybrid car in that regard.

You can adjust the steering through super-light Light, still quite light Comfort, and a more substantial Sport setting. I like the Sport setting, which is still light enough to use around town, though with time the Normal setting may suit most tastes. There’s no real sharpness to the steering, but for rolling around town that’s unlikely to be a big issue.

Across the bumps and dips typical of patched tarmac roads, the suspension feels nice and comfy. Because it’s a little soft you get some roll through corners, and it can get bouncy over repeated hits, but the smoothness in most situations is good to see.

Under the skin, the Haval Jolion Hybrid has been updated with multi-link rear suspension. While this is technically a more sophisticated design, in a car with no performance aspirations, the difference is always going to be a bit hard to notice. In adverse conditions it means potentially better contact between the tyres and road surface – in daily driving, the torsion beam non-hybrid models and the independent-rear hybrid don’t feel worlds apart.

Drivers who clock up bit distances after dark may not love the headlight performance. Both low- and high-beam headlights offer dim illumination and a short throw. The headlights are height adjustable (for when the car is loaded up) but even at their longest throw the LED headlights are dim, and being that they’re integrated, unlike halogen bulbs that can be swapped out, there’s no easy upgrade path short of adding accessory auxiliary lighting.

For the most part, GWM’s smallest SUV is set up to deliver an inoffensive and approachable demeanour, and most people should be able to make the smooth gear-shiftless acceleration and quiet powertrain work for them.

The only tell-tale sign that this hybrid is a little different to a regular SUV is the spongy and notchy-feeling brake pedal – but even though, only invested drivers are likely to notice or care.

Can a GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid tow?

While a small SUV probably shouldn’t be your first choice if towing is a priority, the Haval Jolion Hybrid range has a decent 1300kg braked capacity, and 750kg unbraked for hybrid models (the non-hybrid models have a slightly higher 1500kg braked tow rating), which makes it a match for the 1300kg rating of a Kona Hybrid, but higher than the 750kg braked rating of a Corolla Cross.

You’re probably not going to get a caravan behind the Jolion (although some lightweight compact vans could technically work). It’ll easily handle your golf buggy, a garden trailer, or the kids’ dirt bikes for the occasional bit of weekend work.

Should I buy a GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid?

The GWM Haval Jolion Lux Hybrid brings a lot to the table. For its $35,990 drive-away price, you get a very roomy compact SUV and a lot of high-end features in a handsome-looking little car. As a hybrid, it’ll be cheaper to run than its non-hybrid counterpart, though perhaps not as frugal as hybrid rivals in the small SUV class.

The ride is comfortable around town, the engine is nice and quiet, and the versatility it offers are all likeable elements. It feels at home traversing city and suburban streets, but some of the safety and driver assist systems make it a less ideal fit for drivers who plan to cover long distances crisscrossing Australian highways.

With GWM actually lowering the price compared to last year’s model, the value is the strongest it has ever been. But with a range of rivals within pricing proximity – and given the $6000 step up from petrol to hybrid – the Haval Jolion isn’t as clear cut as it seems it should be on paper.

How do I buy a GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid? The next steps.

The Haval Jolion Lux feels fully featured, so you may not mind that there’s some additional equipment available in the more expensive Ultra model. The entry-level Premium misses a few touches (with a smaller infotainment screen, cheaper interior trim, smaller instrument cluster and no heated seats), so the Lux ticks a lot of equipment boxes for private buyers.

You can find GWM Haval Jolions for sale at Drive Marketplace. Be sure to arrange a test drive with your local dealer to see if the Haval Jolion Hybrid is right for you, or if you’d rather spend up on something like a Honda HR-V or Hyundai Kona.

For the latest news on this car and other models in the GWM range, plus offers and updates, you can find more information here.

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