Omoda C5 vs GWM Jolion

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Omoda C5 in South Africa

Omoda C5

Street Plus Petrol Automatic
ZAR 339,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 230 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
VS
GWM Jolion in South Africa

GWM Jolion

1.5T Hybrid LT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 519,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 17.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance C5
Fuel Economy Jolion
🛡 Safety Jolion
📦 Practicality C5
🔑 Ownership Jolion
C5 starts ZAR 409900 cheaper C5 from ZAR 339,900 · Jolion from ZAR 409,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec C5 Jolion
Engine Power 115 kW 115 kW
Torque 230 Nm 250 Nm
Engine Size 1.5 cc 1497 cc
Claimed Mileage 14.5 km/l 17.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 169 mm 190 mm
Boot / Load Bay 442 l 340 l
Airbags Multiple airbags 6
Kerb Weight 1381 kg 1500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years / 150 000 km 5 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both C5 and Jolion are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance C5 +7 pts
Efficiency Jolion +17 pts
Safety Jolion +19 pts
Practicality C5 +6 pts
Ownership Jolion +23 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

C5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

Jolion

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

C5

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Jolion

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec C5 Jolion
Model Introduced Year 2023 2021
Generation Current South Africa C5 range Jolion sold in South Africa is the first generation under the Jolion nameplate, derived from Haval's L.E.M.O.N. modular platform launched in 2020. Local specification differs from the Chinese-domestic version in suspension calibration (slightly softer for SA road conditions), cabin material grades (higher) and infotainment software localisation.
Facelift History Current South Africa version listed by official source Haval Jolion received a mid-cycle update in 2023 that brought the 12.3-inch infotainment screen to LT as standard (replacing the original 10.25-inch unit), added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the range, refined driver-assistance calibration, and updated front-end styling with revised headlamp signatures. The hybrid variants were introduced to the South African market in 2024 as a separate trim ladder rather than a powertrain option on existing trims.
Facelift Launched Since 2023 2024
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active published
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Color Note - Hamilton White, Crystal White, Pittsburgh Silver, Mars Red, Atlantic Blue and Dignity Black. Some colours are limited to specific trim levels and availability changes annually.
Spec C5 Jolion
Ground Clearance 169 mm 190 mm
Wheelbase 2630 mm 2700 mm
Length 4400 mm 4472 mm
Width 1830 mm 1841 mm
Height 1590 mm 1628 mm
Kerb Weight 1381 kg 1500 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1875 kg 2200 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 442 l 340 l
Towing Capacity - 1500 kg
Front Track Width - 1560 mm
Rear Track Width - 1570 mm
Turning Radius - 11.4 m
Load Bed Length 442 l 340 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - 1050 mm
Rear Legroom - 890 mm
Front Headroom - 990 mm
Rear Headroom - 960 mm
Front Shoulder Room - 1430 mm
Rear Shoulder Room - 1390 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1149 l 540 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - -
Boot Volume 442 l 340 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 51 l 55 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1875 kg 2200 kg
Ground Clearance Max 169 mm 190 mm
Ground Clearance Min 169 mm 190 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 169 mm 190 mm
Height Mm 1590 mm 1628 mm
Length Mm 4400 mm 4472 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 442 l 340 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - -
Cargo Volume 442 l 340 l
Tare Mass Kg 1381 kg 1500 kg
Turning Circle - 11.4 m
Turning Circle M - 11.4 m
Width Mm 1830 mm 1841 mm
Front Overhang - 880 mm
Load Sill Height - Low
Rear Overhang - 890 mm
Tracking System - Optional
Boot Space Seats Folded 1149 l 540 l

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Jolion leads by 7 points

Both C5 and Jolion are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 66 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 97% confidence
66
#1 Winner

Jolion

97% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 42
Performance 42
Efficiency 73
Safety 94
Practicality 60
Ownership 65
Leads by 7 points
59
#2

C5

74% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 75 Check Ownership 42
Performance 49
Efficiency 56
Safety 75
Practicality 66
Ownership 42
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance C5 +7 Efficiency Jolion +17 Safety Jolion +19 Practicality C5 +6 Ownership Jolion +23

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Jolion

Performance 42/100
Efficiency 73/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 60/100
Ownership 65/100

C5

Performance 49/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 75/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 42/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Jolion wins with 66 pts vs 59 pts for C5

In structured scoring, Jolion emerges as the stronger overall package. However, C5 may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Jolion edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: C5 56 vs Jolion 73. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: C5 75, Jolion 94. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: C5 42, Jolion 65. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: C5 66, Jolion 60. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: C5 49, Jolion 42. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Jolion edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Jolion scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between C5 and Jolion in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: C5 scores 49 vs 42.

Efficiency: C5 scores 56 vs 73.

Safety: C5 scores 75 vs 94.

Practicality: C5 scores 66 vs 60.

Ownership: C5 scores 42 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives Jolion the advantage in this comparison.