Hybrid Haval Jolion has quirks but high thirst isn’t one of them

I have some misgivings about the Haval Jolion HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) but its fuel consumption and power delivery are not among them.

The compact SUV averaged a frugal 5.5l/100km in mostly urban driving and 6.3l on the open road — which are attractive figures given soaring fuel prices.

Joining the H6 HEV that was introduced to SA during the final quarter of 2022, the self-charging Jolion HEV is powered by a 1.5l four-cylinder petrol engine boosted by an electric motor. The powertrain sends a system output of 140kW and 375Nm to the front wheels via the firm’s proprietary Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT).

The petrol engine and electric motor can run in tandem or independently. The switch between electric and petrol power is seamless and the hybrid Haval has no shortage of grunt. It accelerates briskly — sometimes with wheelspin off the line if you’re too frisky with the throttle — and cruises comfortably, paying little heed to steep hills.

The transmission makes the car drone under hard acceleration but there’s seldom a need to bury the throttle given the car’s good midrange torque. One blot on the Haval’s otherwise good refinement is that the petrol engine is vocal, particularly when idling where it sometimes revs high for some reason.

Energy is regenerated to charge the battery when the throttle is released or the brake is pressed, and drivers can adjust the power delivery by toggling between preset driving modes. These include Standard, Eco, Sports and Snow.

Steering wheel feel can also be as easily customised via three adjustable steering modes: Sport, Comfort or Light. 

The Jolion has an acceptably comfortable ride quality, and the high-profile 18-inch tyres proved to be a savvy size when we took the vehicle for a gravel drive and unkempt back roads in Mpumalanga. We hit a couple of extra-large potholes and were relieved they didn’t dent the rims. The elevated 168mm ride height provides the higher seating position that SUV drivers crave.

The cabin is one of the roomiest in the class and there is generous leg- and headroom all round. The boot takes a big stack of luggage and the rear seats flip down to cater for extra-large shopping expeditions, but there is no spare wheel — the space under the floor being taken by a battery.

The Jolion HEV is available in two key model derivatives: a Luxury model for R549,950 and a Super Luxury (the subject of this test) priced at R579,950.

The top-tier model is packed to the hilt with features including heated front seats, wireless charging, a large 12.3-inch touchscreen and a head-up display. So too are advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) including a 360º camera with panoramic view, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam and intelligent turning assist, traffic sign recognition, pre-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, blind-spot detection and lane change assist. 

Some of these ADAS features were overzealous. Before every drive it became my ritual to switch off the aggressive lane-keeping assist function but I wasn’t able to disable the annoying beeps sounding when the car deemed it was in the general vicinity of traffic or obstacles. Other cars have electronic nannies that operate less intrusively.

The Jolion misses a few tricks in terms of user-friendliness. The ADAS setting are deeply buried in digital menus, as are several other functions instead of having quick-access buttons for more oft-used features. Another quirk is that the steering column is height-adjustable only; having reach adjustment as well would suit long-legged drivers better.

Overall, the Haval Jolion HEV presents a good deal against hybrid rivals such as the more expensive but less powerful Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid and Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.5 Hybrid.

The Chinese car’s combination of gutsy power and low running costs are appealing, but competition also comes from within Haval’s own stable in the form of the much cheaper and non-hybrid Jolion 1.5T S Super Luxury. The petrol-only Jolion is less powerful and uses more fuel (a claimed 7.5l/100km), but it will take a long time to amortise the HEV’s R90,400 price premium in fuel savings.

Tech Specs:

Powertrain

Type: Four-cylinder petrol, electric motor

Capacity: 1.5l

Power: 140kW

Torque: 375Nm

Transmission

Type: Hybrid automatic

Drivetrain

Type: Front-wheel drive

Performance

Top speed: n/a

0-100km/h: n/a

Fuel Consumption: 5.0l / 100km (claimed); 5.5l / 100km (as tested)

Emissions: n/a

Standard features

Electric windows, electric mirrors, touchscreen infotainment system, multifunction steering wheel, central locking, climate control, wireless smartphone charger, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, keyless entry, head up display, artificial leather upholstery, heated front seats, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, stability control, ABS brakes, six airbags, lane keeping assist, parking camera, blind spot camera, adaptive cruise control, high beam assist, panoramic roof.

Warranty: Five-years/100,000km vehicle; eight-years/150,000km hybrid battery

Service plan: Five years/60,000km

Price: R579,950

Lease*: R12,923 per month

* At 11.75% interest over 60 months, no deposit

Competition

Haval Jolion 1.5T S Super Luxury, 130kW/270Nm — R489,550

Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XR, 90kW/142Nm — R516,900

Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.5 Hybrid GLX AllGrip, 76kW/137Nm — R529,900

Peugeot 2008 1.2T GT, 96kW/230Nm — R554,900

Nissan Qashqai 1.3T Visia, 96kW/240Nm — R568,200

Mazda CX-30 2.0 Individual, 121kW/213Nm — R573,100

Proton X50 1.5T Premium,130kW/255Nm — R579,900

V T-Roc 1.4 TSi Design, 110kW/250Nm — R596,200

Honda HR-V 1.5 Executive, 89kW/145Nm — R599,900

Toyota C-HR 1.2T Luxury, 85kW/185Nm — R612,000

Haval Jolion HEV Super Luxury

We like: Fuel consumption, performance, value for money

We dislike: Oversensitive ADAS

Verdict: Fuel-sipping, well-priced crossover.

Motor News star rating

Design: ****

Performance: ****

Economy: *****

Ride: ****

Handling: ****

Safety: ****

Value For Money: ****

Overall: ****