Limited edition

Haval Jolion making its mark

Haval will offer its limited-edition Vanta treatment on the Jolion small SUV following the release of a similar, black-themed styling package on its H6 range last month.

Available exclusively in Mars Red metallic paint and with production limited to just 500 units, the Haval Jolion Vanta will be available nationally from $34,485 drive-away.

The special variant sits atop the Jolion range and is priced from $3495 more than the Jolion Ultra, on which it is based.

The Vanta Jolion is distinguished from its lesser-spec siblings by black exterior highlights, including 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, lower bumper garnishes, door trims and front fog-light bezels. The additions join standard features such as a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, wireless charging pad, dual LED driver displays and Comfort-tek leather upholstery.

The Jolion, which replaced the H2 nameplate in Haval’s growing SUV range last year, offers a long list of standard safety active equipment, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, lane-keep and departure warning, traffic-sign recognition, as well as a 360-degree camera system.

The Haval Jolion is unrated by the Australian New Car Assessment Program, ANCAP, and European New Car Assessment Program, EURONCAP.

Like all passenger vehicles offered by GWM Haval, the Jolion Vanta is backed by a seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty with five years’ roadside assist and capped-price servicing.

The Jolion rides on a 2700mm wheelbase and is powered by the same 110kw-210nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that powered the superseded H2 model.

Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels via a new seven-speed dualclutch automatic transmission.

Compared with the vehicle it replaces, the Jolion is 107mm longer, 27mm wider and 91mm shorter in height, while its wheelbase is 140mm longer.

GWM Haval has sold 524 examples of the Jolion nationally to the end of January, the model placing ninth in the hard-fought small SUV under $40,000 segment.

Year-to-date sales for the segment show the MG ZS well ahead of the pack with 1588 unit sales, or 16.4 percent of the market. The popular Chinese-made model outperformed the Mazda CX-30, 14.4 percent, Mitsubishi ASX, 10.6 percent, Kia Seltos, 9.7 percent, Hyundai Kona, 9.2 percent, Toyota C-HR, 7.8 percent, Subaru XV 7.1 percent, and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, 7.0 percent.

The segment top 10 is rounded out by the Honda HR-V with 4.1 percent unit sales.