Most-improved SUV of 2026 confirmed!

This year is not even over and yet one of 2026’s most-improved SUVs is already looming in sight for Australia.

Due by the middle of next year, the GWM Haval Jolion will undergo a significant transformation to improve and update a number of shortfalls to bring it up to class standards against the best-selling Hyundai Kona, MG S5 and Chery Tiggo 4.

Read More About GWM Haval Jolion

• China's new answer to the BYD Atto 3 and Chery Omoda E5! GWM earmarks Xiaolong prototype electric car for potential future in Australia at Shanghai
• GWM Haval Jolion Ultra Hybrid vs MG ZS Essence Hybrid+ 2026 comparison review
• Big new diesel ute and SUV coming

It is expected to be part of a generational update for the ageing small SUV from China, though to what degree remains a secret, and should encompass a complete redesign with a refreshed look inside and out.

Additionally, next year’s Jolion Max will feature two additional new powertrain options for the series – a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and electric vehicle (EV), making these the first EVs for GWM outside of the Ora brand in this country.

According to GWM Australia Chief Operating Officer, John Kett, the Model Year 2027 Jolion will broaden its appeal substantially.

“The Jolion will… grow up and be an EV player and a PHEV player,” he said.

“We are going to introduce what's called the Jolion Max next year, with two different fields to that.”

Previewed by and briefly tested back in April by CarsGuide as the Haval Xiaolong BEV prototype, it is not certain whether the Max for 2027 will supplant or sell alongside the current Jolion and dynamically-improved range out by mid next year.

Here’s where confusion reigns, because the existing Jolion range consists of two different though near-identical body styles wearing the same badge with no differentiating suffix in Australia, while the Max may well add a third.

The first Jolion, sold here since 2021 and lightly facelifted last year, is based on what is known elsewhere as the Pro, while the second is the Chinese-market Chitu with a more-coupe SUV-like profile that’s also called the Ultra in some countries.

To further muddy things up, the latter includes a hybrid version that was previously also available in the earlier iteration but was dropped when the Jolion Chitu/Ultra arrived in March last year.

The two-pronged approach helps the Jolion span a wide price bracket that currently starts with the base grade from around $25,000 and tops out to nearly $40,000 for the Ultra Hybrid version.

Don’t worry. Hopefully GWM will clarify what is remains the most perplexing naming strategy in living memory. The important thing to remember is that, come about July, 2026, the Jolion as a complete range will gain Trubiani-engineered steering, ride and handling advances that should dramatically improve driving response, occupant comfort and noise/vibration/harshness suppression.

While GWM Australia Head of Marketing and Communications, Steve Maciver, declined to reveal any details, he did reveal that Trubiani’s team at the former Holden proving ground and Lang Lang south west of Melbourne has worked hard to improve the product after feedback from the media and consumers.

“The team here has worked tirelessly… and every GWM vehicle will have undergone the (Australian Tune 1) upgrades by the middle of 2026,” he said.