Haval has unwrapped a new Jolion S variant, handing its compact crossover extra power, uprated suspension and sportier styling. And it’s already been confirmed for South Africa…

Ever thought the Haval Jolion needed some extra grunt and a more sophisticated rear suspension set-up? Well, meet the new Jolion S, which gains both of those things as well as somewhat sportier exterior styling.

Haval South Africa has confirmed to Cars.co.za it plans to launch the new Jolion S locally in the first quarter of 2023. Announced in Australia, the Chinese automaker’s new variant employs an uprated version of the standard model’s turbocharged 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine, which is linked to the front axle via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission as standard.

The Jolion S is offered in an exclusive new Tropical Green hue in Australia.

In “S” form Down Under, the motor’s peak outputs come in at 130 kW and 270 Nm – respective increases of 25 kW and 60 Nm compared with the standard SA-spec model. It’s not clear what sort of impact the extra power and torque have on acceleration, since Haval opts not to list a 0-100 kph sprint time. Claimed fuel economy, though, comes in at 7.5 litres per 100 km, interestingly matching that of the standard local model.

In addition to the powertrain upgrade, the Jolion S scores a more sophisticated rear suspension arrangement, ditching the basic torsion-beam set-up used by the standard model in favour of an independent multi-link system. According to Haval, the result is “enhanced ride and handling performance befitting of the S nameplate”.

Note the black detailing and subtle red “S” badge.

What about the cosmetic changes we mentioned earlier? Well, the “S” treatment includes a black finish for items such as the 18-inch alloys, side-mirror caps and roof rails. Sections of the front and rear bumpers also gain black trim, as do the protective finishing strips running along the crossover’s flanks. In Australia, the Jolion S is furthermore available in an exclusive new Tropical Green paint colour.

While Haval SA has yet to announce pricing details, expect the S-badged derivative to sit right at the summit of the local Jolion range, which currently runs from R342 950 to R446 950.

For the record, the Jolion range is proving particularly popular with South African buyers, with 7 477 examples registered locally in the first 10 months of 2022 (or a monthly average of nearly 750 units).

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