Honda CR-V vs GWM Jolion GT

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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

GWM Jolion GT Discontinued model
Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 819,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 204 kW 🔧 335 Nm ⛽ 20 km/l
VS
GWM Jolion GT in South Africa

GWM Jolion GT

2.0T Hybrid LT Hybrid Discontinued model
ZAR 629,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 380 Nm ⛽ 6.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance CR-V
Fuel Economy CR-V
🛡 Safety Jolion GT
📦 Practicality CR-V
🔑 Ownership Jolion GT
Recorded price context CR-V: current from ZAR 689,900 · Jolion GT: last listed from ZAR 579,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CR-V Jolion GT
Maximum Power 204 kW 150 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 335 Nm 380 Nm
Engine Size 1993 cc 1999 cc
Claimed Mileage 20 km/l 6.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 185 mm
Boot / Load Bay 497 l 298 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1750 kg 1600 kg
Seating Capacity - Not confirmed
Warranty 3 5 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

CR-V has a slight advantage, but Jolion GT remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CR-V +9 pts
Efficiency CR-V +41 pts
Safety Jolion GT +2 pts
Practicality CR-V +11 pts
Ownership Jolion GT +14 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CR-V

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

Jolion GT

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

Which One's Right for You?

CR-V

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Jolion GT

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec CR-V Jolion GT
Model Introduced Year 2023 2024
Generation Built on Honda’s global SUV platform with focus on comfort and safety First generation, sharing platform fundamentals with the regular Jolion but with bodywork, suspension calibration, powertrain and cabin treatment differentiated to position as a halo product within the Haval lineup.
Facelift History Latest generation introduced with improved design, features, and safety technology First-generation Jolion GT launched in South Africa in 2024. No significant facelift to date; software updates have improved driver-assistance calibration and refined hybrid system behaviour during cold starts on the Highveld.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2024
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment SUV Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1750 kg 1600 kg
Spec CR-V Jolion GT
Drivetrain Layout All Wheel Drive Front Engine Front Wheel Drive
LSD Available Electronic AWD Control No
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Electronic AWD Lock No
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Not confirmed
Gearbox eCVT Automatic DHT Hybrid Transmission
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 3.73
Number of Gears Not Applicable 2
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Clutch Type Not Applicable Wet Multi-Disc
Gear Shift Indicator Not Applicable Yes
Drivetrain AWD Front Wheel Drive
4WD Engagement Available Not confirmed
4WD Hi Range Available Not confirmed
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not confirmed
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not confirmed
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable Not confirmed
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not confirmed
Gearbox Type eCVT Automatic Automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not confirmed
Low Range Not Applicable Not confirmed
Axle Layout AWD Not confirmed
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not confirmed
Transmission Speeds Not Applicable 2
Gear Shift Type eCVT Automatic Automatic
Engine Position - Front Transverse
Steering Turns Lock to Lock - 14.7:1
Drive Mode Selector - Yes
Reverse Gear Warning - Yes

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CR-V leads by 9 points

CR-V has a slight advantage, but Jolion GT remains highly competitive.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 95% confidence
75
#1 Winner

CR-V

95% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Ownership 51
Performance 77
Efficiency 80
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Ownership 51
Leads by 9 points
66
#2

Jolion GT

97% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 39
Performance 68
Efficiency 39
Safety 94
Practicality 57
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CR-V +9 Efficiency CR-V +41 Safety Jolion GT +2 Practicality CR-V +11 Ownership Jolion GT +14

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CR-V

Performance 77/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 51/100

Jolion GT

Performance 68/100
Efficiency 39/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 57/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda CR-V wins with 75 pts vs 66 pts for Jolion GT

In structured scoring, CR-V emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Jolion GT 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 CR-V 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: CR-V 80 vs Jolion GT 39. 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: CR-V 92, Jolion GT 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: CR-V 51, Jolion GT 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: CR-V 68, Jolion GT 57. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CR-V 77, Jolion GT 68. 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 CR-V edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: CR-V scores 77 vs 68.

Efficiency: CR-V scores 80 vs 39.

Safety: CR-V scores 92 vs 94.

Practicality: CR-V scores 68 vs 57.

Ownership: CR-V scores 51 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives CR-V the advantage in this comparison.