Review of Haval Jolion Hybrid Ultra finds value for penny-pinchers

Australians are flocking to the good looks and value proposition of Haval. The Jolion Hybrid offers impressive features and frugal running costs.

The Haval Jolion Hybrid Ultra starts from about $40,000 on the road.

One of the biggest winners from this year has been Haval.

Offering a spread of SUVs and a ute, the Great Wall Motor Company products have not seen the same lengthy delays as some other brands.

Haval designers have also done a stellar job of appealing to Australian tastes.

Wraps have come off the tough-looking Tank 300 SUV, while the coupe-like H6 GT is another turning heads.

During August, the hybrid version of Haval’s popular Jolion compact SUV arrived, and with ample stock available in showrooms we took the opportunity to put it to the family test.

Supply of the Haval Jolion Hybrid remains strong.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

KEL: Styling has become one of Haval’s strong points. We’re beginning to see a lot on the road and the Jolion is a smooth-looking mover.

GRANT: The hybrid, or HEV, stands apart from the Jolion range with its sparkle-laden grille, blue accents and exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels. It’s only available in top specification and is $6000 more expensive than its
petrol-powered equivalent.

KEL: Given the Jolions aren’t crazily priced, I could see the appeal. Inside it also looked the goods, with leather trim, large central touchscreen and panoramic sunroof.

GRANT: For the purely petrol-powered equivalent, it’s $6000 less, but fuel consumption is 3.1L/100km more than the hybrid. We’ve seen how popular the hybrid variants are with Toyota,
where the wait time for some RAV4 models has extended to more than 18 months.

KEL: Hybrids that don’t involve any plugging and are really appealing. I know they’re not as green or efficient as an electric vehicle, but for those of us in regional areas the availability of charging stations really needs to improve as does the speed of refuelling.

GRANT: Among the hybrid benefits is no charging time, the car looks after all the hard work. In this scenario, the power from the battery does its best work at low speed for complete electric vehicle mode below 35km/h – above that it’s a combination effort with the 1.5-litre engine.

Generous features are a hallmark of the Haval Jolion Hybrid Ultra.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE?

KEL: Looks were a clear winner in my book. Haval is doing a great job from that perspective.

GRANT: There was no doubt about the manufacturer, Haval lettering is like a billboard on the rear. Specification levels were also strong, so the value for money proposition is at the forefront of buyer minds.

KEL: Wireless phone charging, the rotary dial for gear selection, push-button start, heated front seats, digital instruments for the driver and that massive centre screen were among the positives.

GRANT: It also has the dual-zone aircon, and even though it’s faux leather the seats feel high-end. Internal space was impressive, and those in the back seat would find similar real estate to much larger SUVs.

Kel and Grant Edwards.

WHAT DID YOU LOATHE?

KEL: Using the infotainment system was a challenge. Connection to Apple CarPlay stopped working, and I found the aircon controls hidden within the main touchscreen menu too time consuming.

GRANT: It was also a battle to find your way through the various driver menus. Both systems lack intuitive operation.

KEL: Only the driver had electric seat adjustment. And no power tailgate.

GRANT: Just putting the Jolion into gear was also frustrating, you had to rely on the driver’s instruments to ensure it was in drive or reverse as the dial would keep spinning left and right.

Average fuel consumption in the Haval Jolion Hybrid Ultra was about six litres for every 100km during our test.

HOW WAS THE DRIVE?

KEL: Silent in traffic, there was a reasonable acceleration response when prodded.

GRANT: Efficient and smooth, the Jolion HEV is competent across varying surfaces and terrain. The steering lacks weight, which makes it feel lifeless on occasions, but overall it operated without fanfare.

KEL: It was certainly easy to drive. Although I found the safety systems too intrusive.

GRANT: There were lots of beeps and warnings, especially surrounding the lane control functionality. I also found the radar cruise control slowed too aggressively … it just lacked polish and poise.

KEL: To some degree, I felt this was where the price came to the fore. Having driven other hybrids recently, including the Kia Sorento version, the Jolion doesn’t have the same feeling of confidence.

GRANT: Average fuel consumption was 5.9L/100km, which is reasonable. Haval also promises low capped price servicing.

Among the compromises of a compact SUV and the Haval Jolion Hybrid is a small boot and no spare - just a repair kit.

WOULD YOU BUY ONE?

KEL: Based purely on looks, I could be swayed, but the hybrid performance and infotainment frustrations would be too much for me daily.

GRANT: I think I’d take the initial outlay saving and opt for a purely petrol-powered model. Strong features and the peace of mind of a seven-year warranty are the most alluring factors for the Jolion and the fuel savings aren’t there at this price point.