- There was a time when Kia was the Asian emerging brand in South Africa. Combining daring design and excellent value.
- But how does one of Kia's most popular crossovers compare against one of the most successful Chinese models, from GWM?
- We compare the Kia Sonet and Haval Jolion, helping you understand the strengths and weaknesses of each.
The crossover market between R300 000 and R400 000 is incredibly competitive. Many brands have models in that segment, which means lots of specs and technical features that buyers need to understand. And compare.
It can be confusing with so much marketing speak from the different brands. But what really matters is which features actually work. And which are only going to start costing you money in the long term as a maintenance burden.
We've done the analytics on the Kia Sonet, and GWM's slightly larger, but similarly priced, Haval Jolion. Our buying advice guide is about giving you the information to shop smarter and buy what you really need in that market, just under R400 000, when needing a new family crossover.
Kia Sonet 1.0 DCT EX
One of the most interesting details about these Kia crossovers is that a special version is available in South Africa. A panel van spec if you want to be clever with your VAT…
But the version that's priced at just shy of R380 000, is the 1.0 DCT EX. It's powered by a 1.0 turbopetrol triple, which makes quite a growl and features a very aggressive turbocharger setup to ensure there's always enough engine torque turning the front wheels, even at low speeds.
The 1.0 turbopetrol engine makes decent numbers: 88kW and 172 Nm. Being turbocharged, you lose no performance at altitude. But because this small engine is always so aggressively on-boost, it does use a lot more fuel than you'd expect for a 1-litre. Kia claims 5.8l/100km, but in real-world driving conditions, you'll be averaging much closer to 8l/100km.
Throttle responses are good, making this Kia compact crossover confident on long-distance highway drives. Much of the powertrain's responsiveness is due to the quick-shifting 7-speed DCT transmission. But like all dual-clutch gearboxes, it is terrifically responsive but mechanically complex, and can suffer accelerated clutch wear in heavy traffic.
Like any Korean vehicle, the Sonet pairs seamlessly with your devices, and Kia's UX remains class-leading in many respects. But the seats are underpadded for large South African drivers who regularly spend hours at the wheel. Luggage space is very impressive for a compact crossover at 385 litres, but you don't get a full-size spare wheel.
The safety spec on the pre-2025 Sonet model years wasn't great. Without side or curtain airbags. Although all the EXs from 2025 onwards have six airbags as standard.
Buy a quality new or used Kia Sonet on ChangeCars
Haval Jolion City Plus
Wildly popular Chinese crossover offering a comprehensive spec at a reasonable price. The Jolion City Plus prices between R370 000 and R380 000, making it an excellent comparison to the Sonet 1.0 DCT EX. You can also upgrade to the Pro version, which costs R392 000, if you want more cosmetic styling upgrades.
Unlike many other Chinese vehicles, Jolion features reasonably conservative styling and a cabin that combines lots of traditional physical touch controls. Which South Africans prefer.
Infotainment is via an excellent 10.25-inch touchscreen with embedded Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Strangely, the Jolion City Plus doesn't have curtain airbags, which are standard on the new Sonet 1.0 DCT EX.
The Jolion City Plus is powered by GWM's well-known 1.5 turbopetrol engine, which means power loss on the Highveld isn't an issue. These engines are heavier on fuel than you'd expect, though and don't make amazing power. The City Plus is rated at 105kW and 210 Nm, making it more powerful than the Sonet, but the Kia is lighter.
Like the Sonet, engineers at GWM have also equipped the Jolion City Plus with a 7-speed DCT, which has many moving parts. This can make future servicing more expensive than with a traditional automatic transmission, as mileage climbs into the six figures and beyond. Especially if you do a lot of slow bumper-to-bumper traffic driving.
Luggage space on the Jolion City Plus is notably worse than Kia’s Sonet, with the Chinese crossover offering 12% less luggage capacity at only 337 litres. And don't think that luggage capacity shrinkage is because you get a full-size spare wheel with the Jolion; the City Plus only has a tiny space saver wheel.
Buy a quality new or used Haval Jolion on ChangeCars
Buying guide insights by Lance Branquinho
