GWM Haval Jolion Pro review: reasons not to buy this hybrid SUV
June 24, 2025 by Tom Wiltshire
Car changing is a big deal
GWM’s Haval sub-brand is the latest Chinese car company vying for your attention. But its first model for the UK is embarrassingly bad
The GWM Haval Jolion Pro has landed in the UK aiming to disrupt the hybrid SUV scene, but sadly it’s about as exciting as a wet weekend in Skegness. Sure, it has an attractive price tag – starting at just under £24k – but is it good value or just cheap and nasty?
First impressions aren’t great. While some alternative SUVs – such as the Dacia Duster – rock the rugged charm, the Jolion Pro looks like a generic box with wheels bizarrely tucked in too far. Imagine someone wearing shoes three sizes too small – practical for parking, but aesthetically odd.
Step inside and you’re greeted by an equally uninspiring interior. It’s all shades of grey and scratchy plastics, like the waiting room at a dentist. Weirdly placed switches and almost pointless storage slots next to the gear selector won’t exactly delight, and the central touchscreen is infuriating. With tiny icons placed seemingly at random, you’ll be begging for the slightly unreliable wired smartphone connection instead.
At least the Jolion Pro scores some points for space. Rear passengers have surprisingly generous leg and headroom, even outdoing some pricier alternatives. But the boot is embarrassingly tiny – at 255 litres, it’s smaller than any alternative and bested by most small hatchbacks. Blame the batteries under the boot floor for that.
Driving the Jolion Pro isn’t much better. On paper, it boasts over 190hp, but it never feels quick. The hybrid system is clunky, switching from electric to petrol without much finesse. Economy is underwhelming, too – around 40mpg real-world, well behind even basic petrol alternatives such as a Volkswagen T-Cross or hybrid competitors such as the Toyota Yaris Cross.
Around town, the Jolion is bearable. It nips about adequately at lower speeds, but the suspension thuds unpleasantly over potholes. Motorway drives are a noisy chore, thanks to a gearbox that loudly protests before changing gear. And if you fancy a spirited drive down country lanes, forget it – the steering feels utterly disconnected, and ‘Sport’ mode is buried under layers of confusing menus.
There are also some annoying quirks and faults: hyperactive safety aids that scold you constantly, steering wheel buttons that only intermittently work, and headlamp adjustment switches that refused to function at all during our test – annoying for you and blinding for oncoming drivers.
Reliability is an unknown, but sparse dealer support means it’s a risk. A five-year warranty might soften the blow, but that doesn’t fix its inherent frustrations.
Ultimately, the Haval Jolion Pro feels like a false economy. While the base model is attractively priced, higher trims quickly push into territory occupied by better-built, better-driving SUVs. Unless you’re desperate to say “I drive a Haval,” you’re probably better off sticking with proven names.
Car change? Carwow!
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