Omoda C9 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 C9 in South Africa

Omoda C9

Explore AWD Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 885,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 192 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
VS
GWM Jolion in South Africa

GWM Jolion

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

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance C9
Fuel Economy Jolion
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality C9
🔑 Ownership C9
Jolion starts ZAR 376,000 cheaper C9 from ZAR 785,900 · Jolion from ZAR 409,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec C9 Jolion
Maximum Power 192 kW @ 5500 rpm 115 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 400 Nm 250 Nm
Engine Size 2000 cc 1497 cc
Claimed Mileage 11.8 km/l 17.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 165 mm 190 mm
Boot / Load Bay 660 l 340 l
Airbags Multiple airbags 6
Kerb Weight - 1500 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 7 Years / 200 000 km 5 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both C9 and Jolion are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance C9 +30 pts
Efficiency Jolion +27 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality C9 +18 pts
Ownership C9 +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

C9

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Jolion

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

C9

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Jolion

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec C9 Jolion
Model Introduced Year 2024 2021
Generation Current South Africa C9 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 2024 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
Tare Mass Kg Not Available 1500 kg
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 C9 Jolion
Drivetrain Layout AWD Front Engine Front Wheel Drive
LSD Available Not Applicable No
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Paddle Shifters Standard No
Gearbox 8 AT DHT Hybrid Transmission
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 3.73
Number of Gears 8 2
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Clutch Type Automatic clutch Wet Multi-Disc
Gear Shift Indicator Standard Yes
Drivetrain AWD Front Wheel Drive
4WD Engagement Not Available Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Standard No
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type 8 AT DHT Hybrid Transmission
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Axle Layout AWD FWD
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds 8 2
Gear Shift Type Electric Automatic
Differential Type Front - Not Available
Differential Type Rear - Not Available
Drive Mode Selector - Yes
Engine Position - Front Transverse
Reverse Gear Warning - Yes
Steering Turns Lock to Lock - 14.7:1
Transfer Case Guard - Not Available

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

C9 leads by 7 points

Both C9 and Jolion are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 74% confidence
75
#1 Winner

C9

74% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 81
Efficiency 46
Safety 94
Practicality 78
Ownership 69
Leads by 7 points
68
#2

Jolion

97% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 51
Performance 51
Efficiency 73
Safety 94
Practicality 60
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance C9 +30 Efficiency Jolion +27 Safety Level Practicality C9 +18 Ownership C9 +4

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

C9

Performance 81/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 78/100
Ownership 69/100

Jolion

Performance 51/100
Efficiency 73/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 60/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Omoda C9 wins with 75 pts vs 68 pts for Jolion

In structured scoring, C9 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Jolion 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 C9 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: C9 46 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: C9 94, 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: C9 69, 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: C9 78, Jolion 60. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: C9 81, Jolion 51. 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 C9 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The C9 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 C9 and Jolion in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: C9 scores 81 vs 51.

Efficiency: C9 scores 46 vs 73.

Safety: C9 scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: C9 scores 78 vs 60.

Ownership: C9 scores 69 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives C9 the advantage in this comparison.