Haval turns up the SUV wick with new Jolion LE

THE first 300 units of Haval’s new H2 replacement, the Jolion LE, have arrived in Australia ahead of the model’s official launch in the second half the year.

Described by Haval as being bigger and better equipped than the outgoing H2, the Jolion will be the second new model from Haval – after the H6 – to ride on the company’s new LEMON (Lightweight, Electrification, Multi-purpose, Omni-protection and Network) modular platform.

It will also be the second vehicle from Haval to have been designed by ex Land Rover and Ford designer Phil Simmons who has spent the past three years in China heading up the design team. 

Mr Simmons was personally responsible for penning vehicles including the Range Rover Velar, Discovery Sport, Evoque and Fiesta.

While no pricing or final specifications for the Jolion have been released yet, it is expected to be priced from about $23,500 for the entry level Lux, and from $26,500 for the Ultra luxury variant.

For the moment, the LE (Launch Edition) will be identified by a chrome grille and horizontal lines to distinguish it from the full production car coming later in the year that flaunts satin grille trim.

The Jolion sits on a 2700mm wheelbase that is 140mm longer than the H2 (and only 38mm shorter than the incoming H6), with a width of 1841mm (up 27mm on the H2), a height of 1619mm (down 91mm on the H2), and a 4472mm overall length that is 107mm longer than its predecessor.

Power and torque will remain steady at 110kW/210Nm with the turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine being carried over unchanged.

Drive is sent exclusively to the front wheels via a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with four driving modes on offer: standard, eco, sport and snow.

According to GWM-Haval Australia, standard equipment highlights on the Jolion include a colour LED instrument cluster, head-up display (HUD), camera-based fatigue monitoring and wireless charging depending on the variant.

Safety specifications consist of autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition and rear cross-traffic alert as standard across the range.

GWM Australia head of marketing and communications Steve Maciver, said the announcement of the Jolion so hot on the heels of detailing the new H6 was “indicative of the progress that the brand was making.”

Full specifications, features and pricing will be announced closer to launch in the second half of the year.