Worthy of consideration: GWM Haval Jolion DHT HEV Supreme – Review
In the past 2 years the explosion of electrified mobility options has highlighted just how mature the Philippine market is becoming. As such a lot of brands have been trying to capitalize on this, one of the earlier adapters was GWM with the launch of their Haval line of hybrid vehicles.
Since then though the noise they created was drowned out by much of the competition, which is why I wanted to find out if the Haval Jolion had anything to offer our ever-cost and environmentally conscious market.
GWM Haval Jolion DHT HEV Supreme
Table of Contents
In essence, the Jolion is a crossover that size-wise rivals the likes of the Corolla Cross and Yaris Cross at the same time, it sits in the middle proportionally and that works to its advantage by presenting a sizeable but sculpted exterior.
The design language indicates just how much the GWM brand wanted the Haval Jolion to stand out with a very aggressive-looking front fascia that has these wing-looking lights that when lit up at night are a treat to look at.
I think the Jolion presents a polarizing design, you can either like it or not but I’m more of the former I think it looks very interesting in a sea of mundane crossovers the Jolion cuts through.
Interior
The inside is as much a treat as the outside, instead of the normal black and “chrome” combinations we find in most vehicles nowadays GWM gave the Haval Jolion more color. It is predominantly covered in beige with a hint of orange/copper piping around most of the panels, giving it a somewhat upscale look.
I also appreciated how clean the ergonomic design is, the buttons are few, and the screen is easy to come to terms with and nothing is out of the ordinary for 2024 standards. The most unique feature would be the rotary shift knob, but other than that the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Connectivity are present and of course the much beloved new car feature, a sunroof.
Space is also something the GWM Haval Jolion excels in, I was pleasantly surprised at just how much legroom and headroom I had sitting in the second row, while the driver and front passenger area are not cramped as well, this, of course, was done by sacrificing a little trunk space but I was still able to fit 3 golf bags and 3 adults in the vehicle safely.
Engine and Safety
The GWM Haval Jolion is powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine paired with a series-parallel hybrid system boosting power to 186 HP and 375 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission.
Safety comes in the form of standard features but is helped along thankfully by ADAS systems like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and more.
Driving impressions
My immediate impression of the GWM Haval Jolion is how light it feels to drive in the city. Of course, there is an electronically assisted steering system, but overall, the whole vehicle feels very light but solid. I also noticed how straightforward it is compared to other hybrid vehicles. The Jolion is a start-and-go type of vehicle that you can leave in its normal setting without having to dig deep into the system to complicate matters.
Brushing aside the cityscapes I ventured onto the highway and the Jolion was pleasantly brisk, keeping up with the pace of the highway was easy, and overtaking when necessary was a breeze.
Fuel consumption was of course good, mixed conditions brought me a fuel average of as high as 15 km/l city and highway which for me was very good considering December traffic was already making itself apparent in the Philippines.
Overall I’d say I felt at ease with the Jolion, it was nothing out of the ordinary but with no compromises when it comes to driving, it’s smooth, relatively comfortable, and efficient.
Points for improvement
I’d really like to see a reworked center stack and touchscreen panel where there are physical buttons to adjust the fan speed of the air-conditioning without having to exit Android Auto to do so, it is a very tedious task and quite frankly an oversight if you ask me.
Price and Verdict
The GWM Haval Jolion DHT HEV Supreme comes in at PHP 1,588,000USD 26,964INR 2,295,136EUR 25,964CNY 196,912 which already puts it squarely against most of the other Hybrid crossovers in the market. At that price it isn’t the most affordable nor does it have anything standout about it to sway buyers away from the competition.
What would make the GWM Haval Jolion DHT Supreme an option is that it is a complete vehicle, with all the features you could ask for, a more than decent riding and driving experience, and a full hybrid system at a decent price.
