2025 GWM Haval Jolion Lux assessment

New 12 months… not so new GWM Haval Jolion.

Nicely, that’s not strictly true, as GWM’s vary of entry-level SUVs has been revised for 2025 to incorporate a brand new Extremely petrol variant with extra energy and normal package.

Pricing is down too, no less than till the tip of January.

Nevertheless, the remainder of the lineup stays unchanged, that means the mid-spec petrol Lux on check nonetheless wears the ‘previous form’ bodywork, and packs the identical turbocharged four-cylinder engine beneath the bonnet.

Regardless of the obvious sameness of the automobile characteristic right here, the one fixed in life is change, and the small SUV market has remodeled dramatically for the reason that final time we acquired our arms on a Jolion.

WATCH: Paul’s video assessment of the 2025 GWM Haval Jolion HEV

There’s a brand new hybrid MG ZS on the town, and fellow Chinese language marque Chery assumed the position of disruptor when it launched the dust low-cost, feature-packed Tiggo 4 Professional late final 12 months.

Each fashions are direct opponents to the Jolion, though the GWM stays one of the best vendor within the section. However can the unchanged Lux petrol assist the Jolion to hold onto its gross sales crown?

How does the Haval Jolion examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Haval Jolion in opposition to equally sized automobiles.

Haval

Jolion

How a lot does the GWM Haval Jolion price?

The Jolion vary is at the moment topic to promotional pricing that’s set to be reviewed on January 31.

At its present value level, the Jolion Lux is priced in keeping with the Chery Tiggo 4 Professional Final, a key competitor that has taken the small SUV section by storm since launching in October final 12 months.

Previous to the most recent spherical of reductions, the Jolion Lux was offered for $29,990 drive-away – or $3000 extra.

To see how the GWM Haval Jolion stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument

What’s the GWM Haval Jolion like on the within?

Mum drilled into me as a teen that first impressions matter, and the Jolion doesn’t do itself any favours on this regard.

Small SUVs have come a great distance lately, and what would possibly’ve handed as spectacular in 2020 doesn’t fairly lower the mustard now.

Chery has gone out of its method to wow potential patrons with premium cabin presentation and slick tech, whereas MG has gotten its act along with a brand new vary of fashions that share easy, cohesive inside designs. The strengths of the Mazda CX-3 lie in familiarity and materials high quality.

However, this mid-spec Jolion Lux doesn’t actually have a super-strength to make it stand out from the gang. Upon opening the motive force’s door, you’re greeted by a mish-mash of shapes, textures and supplies that lacks cohesion.

Except for the leatherette seats and steering wheel, the panels put on plastics various from a woodgrain-look end to woven plastic and metallic accents. It’s an actual mess, and GWM would’ve benefitted from preserving it easy within the design division.

And any pleasure generated by the funky mixture of surfaces dissipates once they’re touched, as there’s no disguising the true nature of every.

From a consolation perspective, I recognize the inclusion of padding on the centre console and door playing cards, whereas the faux-leather steering wheel is an improve over the plastic gadgets seen in some financial system vehicles.

The seats discovered on this variant are a blended bag. Trimmed in easy leatherette, they’re not overly supportive and fairly slippery, though the bottom cushion has loads of give.

Each entrance chairs are heated, which is useful on chilly winter mornings, whereas the motive force can be handled to electrical adjustment. Like different jacked-up SUVs, the Jolion presents an elevated driving place that appeals to many trendy patrons.

As with the design and supplies, there are a justifiable share of missed alternatives related to the tech contained in the Jolion.

The ten.25-inch centre infotainment display screen is managed virtually fully by way of contact inputs, whereas buttons on the steering wheel allow customisation of the 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster.

That instantly hyperlinks to my first level of criticism – the shortage of bodily button controls. A small strip of buttons beneath the centre display screen is devoted fully to local weather controls and digicam features, however different features can solely be accessed by working the touchscreen, which could be distracting when you’re driving.

It’s not at all times a fast look away from the highway, both, because the infotainment system often lags resulting from an absence of processing energy. Apple CarPlay dropouts additionally occurred all through our week-long check, regardless of the used of a wired connection.

Usability quirks apart, the infotainment system within the Jolion is comparatively easy and simple to navigate, with a clear look and first rate graphics. Customisation is proscribed to the selection of some totally different layouts and color schemes.

I anticipated extra from the six-speaker sound system, which delivers grainy and poorly-mixed audio.

Just like the centre display screen, the digital cluster is fundamental in structure with clearly displayed velocity, temperature, gas, and cruise management readouts. Three totally different show designs can be found – expertise, trend and dynamic.

Regardless of its rudimentary setup, the show was tough to customize at occasions, particularly when the steering wheel buttons quickly stopped working.

Shifting past expertise, the entrance row of the Jolion Lux is a sensible house with loads of storage choices.

You get chunky door bins, a deep centre console, cavernous glovebox and a tray beneath the centre tunnel; in addition to a sun shades holder, coin shelf and normal cupholders.

Cellular gadgets could be saved on a rubber tray beneath the centre stack, inside shut proximity to a pair of USB-A retailers and a 12V socket. Though I’m nonetheless rocking a scruffy iPhone 11, the world is shifting in the direction of USB-C charging, so I’d anticipate that to be provided with the subsequent replace of this mannequin.

The second row of the Jolion is equally spacious – a power of the mannequin.

Adults nicely north of six-foot can get snug with out problem, as there’s loads of legroom and the seat backs are gentle and welcoming. Headroom can be plentiful, whereas a light-coloured headliner and large home windows preserve the house feeling mild and ethereal.

No must name shotgun on the entrance seat, then.

Again seat facilities embrace twin USB-A retailers, a pair of rear air vents behind the centre console, map pockets, small door bins, and a centre armrest with built-in cupholders.   

Second row passengers really feel uncared for in some inexpensive SUVs, lacking out on vents or charging amenities, however that’s not the case right here. ISOFIX factors characteristic on the outboard rear seats, and there’s a trio of high tethers.

When not required, the rear bench folds down in 60/40 type, increasing a boot that measures 337 litres with the automobile in five-seat guise to a quoted 1133 litres.

No matter seating configuration, the boot within the Jolion is beneficiant. Upon lifting the guide tailgate, you received’t discover any intelligent particular options, however there’s loads of room and no step up from the boot ground to the folded rear bench.

GWM matches the Jolion with an area saver spare wheel, which could be discovered beneath the boot ground.

To see how the GWM Haval Jolion stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument

What’s beneath the bonnet?

There are three powertrain choices for 2025 – the reintroduced Extremely petrol develops 25kW and 60Nm greater than the usual Premium and Lux fashions, however 10kW and 115Nm lower than the hybrids. Our tester is supplied with the petrol engine in its base state of tune.

To see how the GWM Haval Jolion stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument

How does the GWM Haval Jolion drive?

The Jolion has been round since 2021, however it nonetheless seems like an unfinished product on the highway.

On the town, I used to be instantly thrown by the delicate throttle pedal, which felt extra like an on/off swap than a predictable, progressive management on this petrol mannequin.

The twitchy pedal was a nightmare in visitors – as onerous as I attempted, it was actually tough to make easy progress. Though the Jolion is exceedingly eager to maneuver while you depress the accelerator, the engine doesn’t share fairly the identical enthusiasm.

To be truthful, the bottom 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol produces 105kW and 210Nm, which is about par for the section, and the Jolion has greater than sufficient punch for many conditions. Having stated that, aggressive acceleration is accompanied by a loud racket.

Steering the Jolion is a much more enjoyable expertise, because the wheel is mild and direct with minimal play about centre.

The Jolion additionally fares nicely from a trip consolation standpoint – it glides over suburban ruts and potholes, solely getting into bouncy territory while you assault a velocity bump with an excessive amount of vigour.

Auto-hold is a helpful characteristic to have while you’re sitting at purple visitors lights, whereas the inclusion of shift paddles behind the steering wheel makes this inexpensive SUV really feel sportier than it’s.

With that stated, I used to be by no means inclined to benefit from them because the dual-clutch transmission does an honest job of selecting the correct gear in city environments.

Even when shifting as effectively as attainable, our tester returned sub-par gas financial system numbers. GWM claims a median consumption of 8.1L/100km for this mannequin however we noticed 9.2L/100km – nicely shy of claims made by rivals.

After all, spending up for a hybrid model treatments this problem considerably.

The Jolion could also be among the many least expensive SUVs out there Down Underneath however GWM hasn’t skimped out on security tech. On high of a reversing digicam and parking sensors, the Lux good points a surround-view digicam, rounding out an already spectacular normal tools listing.

In consequence, I by no means caught myself struggling to put the Jolion in a decent parking zone, not that it seems like a very cumbersome automobile to start with.

It does really feel substantial sufficient to carry its personal on the freeway, although. Even at 100km/h, highway and wind noise stays subdued, and the cabin really feel typically nicely insulated from the skin world.

That’s all nicely and good, however no quantity of noise suppression could make up for the infuriating beeps and bongs generated by the Jolion’s superior driver help techniques (ADAS).

I’m certain we’re starting to sound like a damaged report by now, however intrusive ADAS are a blight on the automotive business, and the Jolion is responsible of among the security tech cardinal sins.

For one, the motive force monitoring digicam situated on the A-pillar is in your face and poorly calibrated. Even the briefest look to the infotainment display screen or a passenger triggers the system, prompting an obnoxious chime paired with a ‘don’t stray’ message on the instrument show.

I’ve skilled some intuitive and efficient anti-fatigue techniques in current occasions, however this doesn’t slot in that class.

It’s notably irritating throughout freeway runs, while you’re extra prone to attain for a drink or speak to the particular person subsequent to you. Automobiles have been a little bit totally different again in 1984, however George Orwell had it proper when he described Large Brother – at all times watching.

Nicely, except you turn the drowsiness monitor off, which is feasible if you happen to’re prepared to make changes each time you begin the automobile.

One other characteristic that falls in need of the mark within the Jolion is adaptive cruise management. The expertise is lazy and gradual to answer modifications within the movement of visitors – typically our tester dropped a great distance behind a number one automobile even in its closest following setting, and the bottom engine doesn’t have the shove to make fast corrections.

Typically, the Jolion is finest pushed with out help. Nation roads are a primary instance of this. You received’t precisely be carving corners, as this SUV is liable to physique roll and understeer, however the trip stays snug and intrusive security tech could be saved at bay.

To see how the GWM Haval Jolion stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument

What do you get?

There are actually six variants within the Jolion vary: two ‘old-look’ petrol grades, one ‘new-look’ petrol, and three ‘new-look’ hybrids.

To see how the GWM Haval Jolion stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument

Is the GWM Haval Jolion secure?

The GWM Haval Jolion has a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based on 2022 testing.

Normal security tools consists of:

• Adaptive cruise management
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection
• Bike owner detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver drowsiness detection
• Lane-keep help
• Lane centring
• Emergency lane-keep help
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Protected exit warning
• Visitors signal recognition
• 7 airbags
• Reversing digicam
• Rear parking sensors

Lux variants and upwards achieve a surround-view digicam, whereas the Extremely Hybrid additionally has entrance parking sensors.

To see how the GWM Haval Jolion stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument.

How a lot does the GWM Haval Jolion price to run?

The GWM Haval Jolion is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee. Servicing prices have elevated throughout the vary for 2025.

To see how the GWM Haval Jolion stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability instrument

CarExpert’s Tackle the GWM Haval Jolion Lux

The GWM Haval Jolion doesn’t make as a lot sense because it used to, particularly in Lux petrol guise.

It’s nonetheless low-cost – very low-cost, till no less than the tip of January – however there’s nothing else about this SUV that screams ‘choose me’. GWM hasn’t actually up to date the styling on this mid-spec variant, and the identical could be stated of the inside tech.

With the bottom petrol powertrain, the Lux nearly matches the Chery Tiggo 4 Professional, MG ZS, Mazda CX-3, Chery Omoda 5, and Mitsubishi ASX for efficiency, however it trails the pack on effectivity.

And, after modifications to GWM’s capped-price servicing, the Jolion isn’t notably low-cost to take care of anymore. I wasn’t a fan of the undercooked security techniques both.

So, whereas the Jolion is a spacious and inexpensive entry-level SUV, it lacks the driving dynamics or inside wow issue to be the choose of a crowded section. That’s very true if GWM reverts to pre-discount pricing from February onwards.

As an alternative, it’s price pivoting to the Tiggo 4 Professional for a extra refined expertise on the identical value level, or stretching the funds for one thing carrying a Korean or Japanese badge.

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