Haval Jolion Pro Ltd Review: The Chinese SUV Everyone Wants

This was my first car from GWM, and I was excited. Not because I'm particularly a fan of the brand, but because this car is popular. Very popular.

Just a day before the Jolion arrived, I saw 10 trucks loaded with Jolions ready for delivery. That's a lot of cars, and it starts to make sense when you realise the Jolion accounts for around 50% of GWM's sales in South Africa.

My test car was finished in grey, although I think it looks best in black. And because this was my first real experience with GWM, I had no expectations going into it. I was going in completely blind. That actually made this quite an interesting car to spend a week with. Here was one of South Africa's most popular Chinese SUVs, and I was about to find out why.

Exterior: So Dramatic

The Jolion looks the business. If you don't know much about cars, you could easily look at this and think you're staring at some oversized, quick hatchback rather than a compact SUV.

The Limited Edition certainly leans into that sporty character. You get what looks like a wide body kit, although it isn't a kit because this is all stock, with extended side skirts, front splitters and an exaggerated rear bumper with those oversized fake exhausts. The whole thing is highlighted by a green line running around the lower bumper, with matching green brake callipers completing the look.

I do have one gripe with the design, though. I hate the way the wheel arches hide the wheels and make the car look unfinished. It feels like the wheels don't quite fill the arches properly, and that takes away from what is otherwise a very convincing design.

My favourite part is actually the rear. I love the tail-light bar, and at night it really looks the business. The contrast of the lighting against a darker body colour is also why I think this car looks best in black. The grey test car looked good, but black would really bring out the aggressive styling.

The front is equally aggressive, and there's a lot happening visually without the car looking completely overdone. I can see why people gravitate towards the Jolion. Before you even know anything about its engine, technology or price, the design has already done some of the selling.

Interior: A Cabin Above Its Pay Grade 

First impressions, this doesn't feel cheap. We'll get to the price later, but I've been in more expensive cars that feel cheaper than this. The Jolion Pro has a polished feel to it, and that starts with the materials. The dashboard and the surfaces around the cabin don't have that hard, cheap, scratchy feeling you sometimes get in more affordable cars. Everything feels like it has been put together with some thought.

The seats are comfortable too, and the overall cabin doesn't feel like GWM has simply sprinkled in a few bits of technology to make it look modern. You get what you need, including a panoramic sunroof, without the interior becoming a giant collection of screens.

Even the gear selector has a bit of flair to it. It's a small detail, but it adds some character to what is otherwise a fairly clean and straightforward cabin. I also really like how polished everything feels. You don't get some enormous infotainment screen slapped onto the dashboard just because that's what the market seems to want at the moment. Everything sits neatly and feels properly integrated into the cabin.

Then there's the space. Chinese manufacturers really know how to maximise rear-seat space, and it's no different here. There's plenty of room for passengers, making the Jolion a genuinely practical car rather than one that simply looks like it should be.

The Jolion Pro manages to feel comfortable, practical and well finished, and that's impressive when you consider what it costs. But we'll get to that later.

Tech & Features: The Right Amount Of Tech 

The Jolion Pro doesn't try to overwhelm you with technology, and honestly, I think that's a good thing. The 12.3-inch infotainment screen is relatively small by today's standards, especially when compared with some of the enormous displays we're seeing in Chinese cars, but I actually prefer it this way. It is easy to use, the interface is straightforward and everything feels properly integrated into the dashboard.

One thing I don't like is how you have to use the screen to change the driving modes. I'd much rather have a physical button or dial that lets me switch between Eco, Normal and Sport with a single press or twist. It's a small gripe, but when you're driving, physical controls just make more sense for something you'll potentially change regularly.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, and you also get a wireless charging pad, which by now is becoming something I expect to see in cars in this segment. There's also a voice command system, although I'll be honest, I didn't bother using it. But if you ever need it, it's there.

The 360-degree panoramic camera is useful, although the image quality is only good enough. It isn't as clear as what I've experienced in the Jetours, but it gives you a good enough view of the car and its surroundings to make parking and manoeuvring easier.

The driver assistance systems are another area where GWM has got the balance right. They aren't intrusive, and you can easily turn them off or customise them to your liking. That's important because there's nothing worse than a car constantly fighting for your attention with alerts and interventions when you're simply trying to drive.

The sound system is bang average. It's not bad, but it's certainly not something I'd rave about either. What I do like, however, is the gear selector. It uses a Jaguar-style rotary dial, which is easy to operate and looks quite flashy in the cabin.

Overall, the Jolion Pro isn't overly techy, and to me, that's exactly right. You get the features you actually need without turning the cabin into a technology showcase.

Performance & Drive: Not Quite As Fast As It Looks 

I have a gripe with the Chinese manufacturers, and that is the 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine that seems to be everywhere. Usually you get 105kW or 115kW if you're lucky, and I really dislike that setup because they tend to feel slow and laggy, especially when you need to overtake safely. The Jolion Pro is different, though, because this one gives you 130kW and 270Nm, and I really like it.

I kept the car in Sport mode for most of my driving. Now you're probably going to think I just love speed, but actually, I did it for the fuel consumption. I did the exact same trip once in Eco mode and once in Sport mode, and surprisingly, I got better numbers in Sport. The gearbox itself is smooth and works just fine, while the throttle response is also much better in Sport. You get the torque at around 3,000rpm, so there is still some delay, but it isn't nearly as noticeable as what I've experienced in other Chinese cars with similar engine setups.

The Jolion Pro is also light and easy to manoeuvre, which pleasantly surprised me. Despite the aggressive exterior, the driving experience isn't aggressive at all. The ride quality is just fine too. There's nothing particularly special to note, but it isn't stiff either, which is something you might expect looking at the car's styling.

GWM claims 8.1L/100km, but I was able to get into the high 9s during my time with the car. That's not great, especially when you have cars such as Suzukis at this price and even below it returning almost half that figure. That said, these are the numbers you tend to get from these 1.5-litre turbo setups, and the Jolion isn't the thirstiest car in its segment.

Once you stop comparing it with everything else, the Jolion Pro is actually a perfectly fine car to drive. The 130kW makes a meaningful difference, the gearbox does its job and the car is easy to live with. It's not going to blow you away with performance, but at least this is one of those 1.5-litre turbo Chinese SUVs where I never felt like I was desperately waiting for the car to wake up.

Price & Verdict

This price makes sense, but it also doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense how, for R431,450, you get a premium-feeling interior and a car with such a polarising design that could easily make sense at double the price. The technology you get is also something you simply won't find from many other manufacturers at this price.

But the price also makes sense when you look at why this is such a popular car. Why wouldn't people gravitate towards this? You get a lot of car for the money, and that is exactly what buyers in this segment are looking for. The Jolion Pro gives you the looks, space, technology, performance and premium feel without asking you to spend a fortune.

This is a car I can easily recommend. I've also spoken to a few Jolion owners, and they completely love theirs, which says something. After spending a week with one myself, I can understand why. There are things I'd change, particularly the fuel consumption, but as an overall package at R431,450, the Jolion Pro is very difficult to ignore.

Final Scorecard: 8.4/10 

Category	Rating out of 10	Notes
Design	9	Aggressive, distinctive styling that gives the Jolion Pro serious road presence, although the wheels could sit better in the arches.
Performance	7	The 130kW and 270Nm provide decent punch, though the 1.5-litre turbo still has some delay and fuel consumption isn't its strongest point.
Tech & Features	9	Excellent specification for the money, with wireless smartphone connectivity, 360° camera, wireless charging, panoramic sunroof and well-calibrated driver assistance.
Driveability	8	Light, easy to manoeuvre and comfortable, with a smooth gearbox and good Sport-mode response.
Price	9	Outstanding value for the premium-feeling cabin, technology, space and overall package at R431,450.