‘VERY soon, the world will be driving Chinese cars’.
This was the tongue- in -cheek by GWM South Africa- chief operations officer, Conrad Groenewald, during his address at the launch of all-new HAVAL Jolion PRO, in Jozi recently.
“This is informed by the value and pricing, technology”, says Groenewald, who surprised all by declaring very soon, the whole world will be driving a Chinese brand.
HAVAL Jolion PRO model is the first to launch under the carmaker’s new One GWM philosophy, and in SA the brand continues to outnumber its rivals in this market.
Media journos and influencers had an opportunity to test drive both the updated version of the current platform under the “City” branding and an all-new product under the “Pro”.
The test began at Fourways, snaking through Mulderfsdrift.
We tested the 1.5L turbocharged base model Premium and swopping to 1.5T S Ultra Luxury.
A most contemporary hexagonal grille with fourteen chrome tipped vertical bar discreet HAVAL badge announces the New HAVAL Jolion PRO in grand style. It sits between a pair of smart multi-angle height-adjustable follow-me-home daytime running headlamps, with LED illumination in the Luxury models.
That’s accentuated by a purposeful and finely detailed lower grille and a vent on each side, all nestling under the clamshell bonnet.
Handsome side treatment features gentle hollows neatly offset by crisp crease lines and a slick coupé-like glasshouse. Sporty alloy wheels are framed by subtle black-lined wheelarches united by a dark skirt. All traits you’d expect from a sporty premium coupé SUV, of course.
It comes in four colours – Hamilton White, Sun Black, Light Ayers Grey and the Jolion PRO exclusive HD Blue colours.
All models get gloss black door handles, mirror covers, a shark fin antenna, boneless wiper blades front and rear, and smart 17” face polished alloy wheels.
Super Luxury models step up to 18” wheels and add a panoramic sunroof and black roof rails, automatic headlamps, and auto wipers too.
The base model has a neat and functional four-way adjustable multifunction paddle shift steering wheel framing a 3.5-inch instrument cluster. The steering wheel gains leatherette treatment on Luxury models, which also step up to a -7 inch LCD instrument cluster.
Ultra Luxury variants go another step further with a driver’s head-up display projected onto the inside of the windscreen.
The HAVAL Jolion PRO Premium has cloth fabric seats with six-way adjustment for the driver and four-ways for the front passenger. Luxury models gain leatherette upholstery, six-way power adjustment for the driver, and four-way power adjustment for the front passenger. The Ultra Luxury trio add heated front seats and driver’s seat ventilation.
It is enhanced by a 60:40 split-foldable rear bench seat with a headrest for the centre passenger. Luxury models add a central armrest with a cup holder.
The Ultra Luxury trio has ambient lighting for a splendid evening effect.
New PRO is in reality both wider and taller than the regular Jolion City, it now joins on the South African range. At 4.470 metres long, 1.898 metres wide, 1.625 metres tall, and riding on a conveniently long wheelbase, the new HAVAL Jolion PRO is also more spacious inside.
The multifunction steering wheel plays a significant part in running the HAVAL Jolion PRO’s car-to-human infotainment interface. Premium models come with a 10.25-inch Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfacing, Bluetooth hands-free and touchscreen system.
The interface has with dual USB ports front and rear, a 12V power socket up front, and 4-speaker FM/AM radio audio. Luxury models step up to a 12.3 inch touchscreen and 6 speaker audio. The Ultra Luxury trio take it a step further with wireless phone charging.
Fully air conditioned in the Premium model, the HAVAL Jolion PRO steps up to Dual Zone climate control with rear ducts in the Luxury models.
The keyless models also comes standard with cruise control featuring driver fatigue detection, but that’s just the tip of its safety iceberg. Luxury models add Intelligent Cruise Assist+ with Intelligent Cornering and Traffic Jam Assistance and Speed Traffic Signal Recognition+ Forward Collision Warning with Automatic Emergency Braking.
Ultra Luxury models add Lane Change Assist, as I did experience during the test on the busy N14.
The HAVAL Jolion PRO is available in the three-engine line-up. Premium, Super Luxury and Ultra Luxury models have a 105 kW and 210 Nm turbocharged 1,500 cc petrol engine driving the front wheels via an advanced 7-speed Double Clutch Transmission and is good for 8.1 l/100 km consumption.
The more powerful 1.5T S Ultra Luxury has a 130 kW and 270 Nm engine and 7-speed DCT good for 7.5 l/100 km.
The flagship HAVAL Jolion PRO 1.5 HEV Ultra Luxury DHT has a hybridised 140 kW and 375 Nm drivetrain.
This Dedicated Hybrid Transmission merges a petrol internal combustion engine and an onboard battery-fed electric motor to seamlessly switch between EV, Series Hybrid, Parallel Hybrid and Regeneration modes.
Two Jolion City models, a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DCT automatic Plus, continue below this new 5-model Jolion PRO range.
“Our New Jolion brings all the typical HAVAL premium cabin finishes, connectivity and safety technologies, but it sets itself apart in a sporty new look”, continued Groenewald, who further explained, ‘We aim to appeal to more customers in the growing small SUV segment’.
The HAVAL Jolion now falls under GWM’s new unified One GWM philosophy with P-Series, TANK and ORA brands now all part of one global brand strategy.
“The New HAVAL Jolion PRO goes far beyond just good looks and style,” says GWM HAVAL and ORA Brand Manager Carina van der Merwe.
“Higher and wider than the regular Jolion, the New PRO also rides on the same wheelbase so there’s space aplenty. It has the headroom, the legroom and the boot capacity to rival the best midsize SUVs rivals that this busy segment can offer,” continued Carina.
All Jolion City models come with warranty that is 5 years/100 000km whichever comes first, service plan is 5 years/75 000km whichever comes first, roadside assist is 5-year unlimited mileage.
With the Jolion PRO, warranty is 7 years/200 000km whichever comes first, service plan is 5 years/75 000km whichever comes first, roadside assist 7-year unlimited mileage, high voltage parts warranty on hybrid models is 8 years/150 000km whichever comes first.
New HAVAL Jolion City and Jolion PRO Range & Pricing
HAVAL New Jolion 1.5T City R345,950
HAVAL New Jolion 1.5T City Plus 7DCT R370,950
HAVAL New Jolion Luxury 7DCT (Limited Edition) R420,950
HAVAL Jolion PRO 1.5T Premium 7DCT R391,150
HAVAL Jolion PRO 1.5T Super Luxury 7DCT R425,950
HAVAL Jolion PRO 1.5T Ultra Luxury 7DCT R462,950
HAVAL Jolion PRO 1.5T S Ultra Luxury 7DCT R495,950
HAVAL Jolion PRO 1.5 HEV Ultra Luxury DHT R516,950
Images SLM top (The sporty all new Haval Pro was unveiled in Jozi recently).
