Five reasons why the GWM Haval Jolion HEV shouldn't be underestimated

For many people in the Philippines, the prospect of a hybrid is now within reach, and the segment continues to make waves with a lot of people who are looking for outstanding fuel economy, a tech-filled driving experience, and a smooth powertrain. 

GWM was reintroduced in the Philippines, and when it came, it brought a fleet of crossovers just ready and waiting for new owners. Skeptical many people were, but after testing the entry-level hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) in the lineup, we weren’t so skeptical anymore. The GWM Haval Jolion is a genuinely good car to drive, and it’s at least managed to convince us that GWM has a solid shot at making a mark in the industry. As tested, we were able to experience the DHT Supreme variant with all the toys. While there are a lot of features and aspects to unpack, here are five that were able to convince us that it’s a good driver. 

We’re very genuine about how we feel about the HEV system in the Haval Jolion. The gasoline motor is mated to an electric motor, both are mated to a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT). GWM’s choice to develop a transmission that was made for hybrids is the ace in the hole here, and it comes with some driving features that are borrowed from pure-electric vehicles like the Nissan LEAF. The one-pedal function of the powertrain allows for the batteries to charge, but also the powertrain to engage a strong regenerative braking system. While it may seem like a gimmick to some, the feature is genuinely useful in stop-and-go traffic, and we even went as far as saying that it was relaxing to drive. 

Being a hybrid, however, it also gets good fuel economy, especially in the city. Over double digits in heavy Metro Manila traffic was good enough for us, and it took more than a week of driving to empty its tank. Even if it is frugal, however, it’s no walk in the park, because there are decent figures that we can back up. With 186 hp and 375 Nm of torque, the Jolion HEV is no slouch. It’s definitely not a car that will be left behind on the highway or at red lights. We’d even say that it’s a rather exciting drive. 

Another highlight during our drives with the Jolion is its handling. With the engine up-front and the battery positioned to the rear of the car, we felt a surprising front and rear balance. Of course, it’s not a sports coupe nor a sports sedan, but response, chassis stiffness, and body roll were all within an acceptable range that brought us a smile or two on twistier roads. We weren’t afraid of the car losing grip or traction either because it also has ABS with EBD, and traction plus stability control. 

Chucking the Jolion HEV into corners and powering out was an experience as well since the chassis was able to take it and the powertrain was able to smoothly transition out of a bend. We were surprised at how good the handling was, even if the styling and the marketing of this vehicle have little to no inklings toward more dynamic driving. 

When all was said and done, and the adrenaline rush passed, the Jolion went back into its comfortable state, with light steering, a pliant system of springs and dampers, and a front and rear suspension that handled bumps and potholes with ease. The feel of the steering wheel is also plush as it was covered in leather, and the model also featured a two-tone interior. While the color choices may not be to everyone’s tastes, it is at least warm and welcoming, giving a good ambiance for any type of drive. 

There has been a big push for advanced safety systems in cars for a while now, and the GWM Haval Jolion is no exception. In its HEV DHT Supreme trim, the variant comes with a spec list chock full of safety features. From the adaptive cruise control to the lane keep and watching features, as well as the forward collision mitigation, the features here all create an invisible shield around the car, making this one of the safer options out there. The system wasn’t tuned to our preferences at the start, but after playing around with it and moving a few toggles around, the car drove well and with all the safety features in tow. 

The icing on top of the cake was the safety rating of this particular model with all the bells and whistles. The ANCAP scored this car a five out of five in terms of safety, and to those that don’t know, the ANCAP is basically the equivalent of our ASEAN NCAP. 

Tech features on spec sheets are boring to look at especially if it is as long as the Jolion’s. In practice, however, it’s the infotainment screen and the 360-degree monitor that wowed us when we first started the car. Coming with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the Jolion’s massive 12.35-inch screen was a lot to take in. Being so wide, it was able to give us a clear and expanded view of our surroundings with clear cameras all around, and a high-resolution view of our maps and media while it was paired up with our phones. 

It’s quite rare to see this level of polish in a car brand that has just come to the Philippines, especially with regard to the screen and its software features. For certain price points, it’s common for manufacturers to skimp on a few areas to save some money, but GWM does have a rather premium infotainment experience with regard to camera and screen quality, though we will admit that the software needs a little rework after fiddling with the settings and tweaking the lane-keep systems, you’re golden. The systems are competent and responsive, at least to us.