GWM Haval Jolion vs Chery Tiggo 7 PRO

What's the difference?

The GWM Haval Jolion Lux offers affordability in a modern, attractive package. However, the execution of some of its features isn’t always convincing. So yes, it’s sharply priced but it also feels underdone in some respects which doesn’t necessarily equate to value. But if affordability is at the top of your priority list and one or two shortcomings doesn't mean the end of the world, this could be the urban SUV you're looking for.

The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Elite has been a very surprising car for me. Its premium features, stylish design and practical space don't match the affordable price tag! But I'm all for it because you definitely get bang for your buck. The technology needs to be improved but everything else more than makes up for it. This medium SUV is a solid all-rounder.

My son likes the red paintwork and how much space he has in the back seat.

The Jolion is now longer and wider than it's rivals at 4472mm long, and 1874mm wide. The next largest 'small' SUV is the Kia Seltos at 4385mm long and 1800mm wide which does the Jolion a whole lot of favours for internal passenger space and kerb-side appeal.

The Jolion looks substantial and well-shaped, with enough bells and whistles in the design to keep it fresh; like the swoopy LED DRLs at the front and a curvy behind that’s accentuated by a black spoiler.

The interior has interesting features, like the rotary-dial gear selector, push-button starter and minimalist button panel that sits below the large technology screen.

The dashboard juts out into the cabin and the low-key design is too pared back for my taste. But the cabin looks nice and new with lots of tactile accent panels and shiny screens.

There is still too much plasticky-looking styling to elevate it properly, but for its grade level this is almost luxurious.

The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro looks great because it manages to do two things really well.

It's not boring to look at yet simultaneously blends into the sea of medium SUVs without ruffling any design feathers.

The Tiggo 7 Pro is well-proportioned and has some interesting focal points like the large grille that sports a dual-coloured 'diamond' motif.

It gives me some insect-like vibes while adding depth and dimension to the bonnet.

There is a full suite of exterior LED lights that look sharp, the 18-inch alloy wheels and the simplified rear rounds out the package.

The overall footprint is a good size at 4513mm long, 1862mm wide and 1696mm tall.

With those dimensions, the Tiggo earns its place in the medium-SUV category, yet it's still being easy to manoeuvre in tight city streets.

The interior style looks premium with the use of black synthetic leather upholstery and contrasting white piping.

The dashboard is headlined by a large curved screen housing the 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

There's also adjustable, coloured ambient lighting, a chunky shifter and a plethora of soft touchpoints throughout, accentuating an already pleasant cabin space.

It's a running theme but the practicality of the Jolion doesn't always land. However, what it does well, it does very well.

Take the access and space for passengers. Both rows offer class-leading head- and legroom for its occupants, even middle seaters should be happy considering the transmission tunnel isn't tall.

Despite the manual passenger seat being set too high and both seats lacking lumbar support, front seaters still enjoy the most comfort. The heated front seats are also a pleasant surprise for the grade level, although their function is buried deep within the multimedia system and I mostly forgot about them.

The rear seat is fairly hard and doesn't offer much side bolstering, although the middle armrest helps to secure outer passengers in corners.

Storage is solid throughout the cabin with a reasonably sized glove box that can hold a thick manual, middle console and dedicated phone shelf, as well as a second phone 'slot'.

There is a sunglasses holder (sunnies rattle when stored, though) and a cubby underneath the centre console that can hold a small handbag but anything stored might interfere with the USB ports housed there.

There are two cupholders up front but you can't fit two cups side by side. Two cupholders, a couple of map pockets and storage bins finish up the storage in the back seat.

The boot capacity sits at 337 litres and while large enough for a good grocery haul it falls on the lower end for the class. By comparison, the Kia Seltos offers 433L.

Now, on to what the Jolion doesn't do all that well. It's new 10.25-inch multimedia screen and 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster look the part - all shiny and new-looking - but their usability falls somewhat short.

The media touchscreen is responsive but a punish to use on the go as most functions, including climate control, are accessed via the screen. A few dedicated buttons would be welcome, so changing bits on the road doesn't leave you flustered.

The digital instrument cluster isn't customisable and is set to a dark display screen with a typeface that looks blurry on some key displays, especially the speedometer.

There is a rather large and in-your-face driver monitoring camera installed on the A-pillar which feels too much like you're under surveillance while driving (not a fan, clearly).

Charging options include four USB-A ports and a 12-volt socket but that's it and it would be good to see a newer, faster USB-C port somewhere in the car.

A feature the Jolion does get right is the wired Apple CarPlay as it maintains a steady connection and is very quick to set up. The Lux also has wired Android Auto.

You don't get a powered tailgate and you might miss it as the boot lid is fairly heavy.

The cabin space is practical and user-friendly, which is a great combo. Both rows have a decent amount of leg- and headroom (despite the massive sunroof).

Individual storage is great throughout the car with the front row enjoying an extra-deep middle console, undershelf storage cubby below it, a drink bottle holder in each door and two cupholders.

The rear row gets two map pockets, two cupholders in a fold-down armrest and drink bottle holder in each door.

There is also a (very) shallow storage nook at the back of the middle console… think packet of chewing gum or small wallet size.

The boot space is a great size at 626L but if you need extra space, you can bump it up to 1672L with the back seats folded.

The rear backrest has a 60/40 split with a level loading space. Impressively, underfloor storage is taken up by a full-sized spare wheel and you get a powered tailgate in this model.

Other amenities accentuate the premium-feeling the Elite is going for with the electric and heated front seats offering well-cushioned support, although I miss having adjustable lumbar support!

The rear seats aren't as comfortable as the front (a bit hard on the tush) but the back support is fantastic.

In terms of technology, you get a single USB-A port in each row but the front also gets a faster USB-C port, 12-volt socket and a wireless charging pad to choose from.

The multimedia system's touchscreen can be laggy at times, which is annoying while on the go and the onboard 'Hello Chery' assistant tech needs improving.

I managed to get a few voice commands to work but most of the time the response was 'I haven't learned that yet' or a garbled version of the request (despite using the same phrasing as previously approved requests).

The system has built-in satellite navigation supplied by Turbo Dog, which is easy to use and it's simple to connect to the wired Apple CarPlay.

It also has Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity and AM/FM radio but misses out on digital radio.

There are three variants for the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro with the range starting with the Urban base model for $39,990 drive-away, the Elite (our test model) for $41,990 drive-away and the top-spec Ultimate grade which sits at $45,990 drive-away.

The price tag for the Elite puts it on par with most of its rivals with the Hyundai Tucson being the most expensive competitor.

The Elite grade comes with a host of standard features which makes the price tag feel very reasonable. Think full-size spare wheel, keyless entry, keyless start, dual-zone air-conditioning, adjustable coloured ambient lighting and a full suite of LED exterior lights.

There are a lot of premium-ticket items, too, like a panoramic sunroof, electric and heated front seats, synthetic leather upholstery and built-in satellite navigation.

Technology and safety get some serious focus with dual 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia screen and digital instrument cluster, 360-degree view camera system, powered tailgate, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (both wired) plus an eight-speaker Sony sound system, to name a few.

However, it's the brand-spanking-new five-star ANCAP safety rating that should excite families out there.

The Jolion Lux has a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that produces 105kW of power and 210Nm of torque.

The Lux is a 2WD and has a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission which isn’t always smooth with its gear changing but power is sufficient if you don't expect it to be zippy.

The Elite variant has a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with a maximum power output of 137kW and 275Nm of torque. It also features a front-wheel drive drivetrain and a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.

I wasn't expecting it to be as gutsy as it is and the Elite has adequate power for easy open-road driving.

The Haval Jolion Lux has an official combined (urban/extra-urban) fuel cycle figure of 8.1L/100km and based on its 55L fuel tank, theoretical driving range is around 680km, which is respectable for a little SUV.

My real-world usage came in at 7.8L/100km after mostly open-road driving, with a smattering of urban stuff. Overall, it's a solid result.

The official combined cycle fuel consumption figure is 7.0L/100km and my real-world usage averaged 8.2L after doing some open-road, but mostly urban, driving.

The fuel economy is great considering the driving conditions and the fact I don't hold back in making use of its power.

Based on the combined cycle fuel figure and the 51L tank, expect a driving range of around 730km.

Chery recommends minimum 95 RON unleaded petrol be used.

The Jolion's on-road experience is underwhelming and unsophisticated most of the time. It's strictly an A to B style car, which will work well for some people.

The power and its delivery are okay but this car doesn't get close to zippy and its well of performance feels decidedly shallow on the open road.

The engine whines loudly when trying to get up to speed and its gear changes can come a tad too swiftly, especially between first and third.

The accelerator and brakes are touchy, and until you get used to them the Jolion can feel a little jerky in the city. But the steering is on the right side of firm and that at least feels direct and responsive. 

Suspension is hard and you get all the bumps which also translates into a loud cabin. Your senses take a battering on a longer trip and kids in the back will ask you to repeat yourself.

The Jolion is redeemed somewhat by an excellent 360-degree view camera system but you miss out on front-parking sensors.

It’s small enough that it’s not hard to park and for an urban dweller that is a big plus as it's quite suitable for a dash to a busy shopping centre car park. 

The Tiggo 7 Pro is a fairly easy-going car to drive. It handles well in the city but also feels pretty solid on the road at higher speeds.

There is a good sense of power that always feel primed and ready to go, in the sense that you don't have much delay between putting your foot down and the car shooting forward.

However, if you're too aggressive with the accelerator, you will lose a bit of tyre traction which can make it feel jumpy.

The brakes aren't particularly sensitive, meaning you have to be firmer when applying pressure. This creates a jerky experience until you get used to it but is more noticeable in stop-start traffic.

Steering feel is not too heavy, not too light. There's a great balance and the car is responsive when manoeuvring, which is what makes its cornering behaviour so surprising.

It doesn't feel dynamic on a winding road, due mainly to the amount of roll the car exhibits.

The cabin is very quiet in terms of wind and road noise, accentuating the premium-feel but suspension is a little firm which can lead to some grunts over harder bumps.

I like medium SUVs because their size usually makes them easy to park and the Tiggo 7 Pro is no different.

With a super clear 360-degree camera system, you shouldn't have any issues parking it. However, I didn't notice the front and rear parking sensors sounding out all that much.

The safety list is fantastic for the Tiggo 7 Pro Elite with the standard features list including full LED external lights, daytime-running lights, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, rear collision braking, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention monitor, forward collision warning, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, intelligent seatbelt reminders, child occupant alert, child rear door safety locks, traffic sign recognition, a 360-degree camera system plus front and rear parking sensors.

I found the driver attention monitor annoying as it's extremely sensitive. There's an audible alert and a badge pops up onto the digital instrument cluster for the smallest things: scratching your face, looking at the speedometer, looking at the steering wheel controls, adjusting sunnies … you get the idea.

Multiple alerts on every journey is distracting and takes away from the driving experience.

Annoyingly, you can't adjust the sensitivity but you can switch this function off. You just have to do it in every trip.

The Tiggo 7 Pro has eight airbags, which includes a driver's knee airbag and the newer front centre bag, which is great to see. And the five-star ANCAP safety rating, awarded in 2023, will surely entice families!

The AEB with pedestrian, cyclist and motorcyclist detection is operational from 5.0–80km/h and up to 135km/h for car detection.

There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the rear outboard seats and three top tether anchor points but two seats will fit best. There is enough room for front occupants when a 0-4 rearward facing child seat is installed.

The Jolion is offered with an excellent seven-year/unlimited km warranty.

There is a five-year capped priced servicing program and services average $310 which is mid-range for the class.

The first service is before 10,000km but thereafter, servicing intervals are at every 12-months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.

The Tiggo 7 Pro comes with a seven-year/unlimited km warranty, which is longer than usual for the class.
 
There is a seven-year/105,000km capped priced servicing program and services average $294 per, which is very competitive.

Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.