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.

Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid Automatic
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 Automatic
ZAR 629,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 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 Tie
📦 Practicality CR-V
🔑 Ownership Jolion GT
Jolion GT starts ZAR 689900 cheaper CR-V from ZAR 689,900 · Jolion GT from ZAR 579,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CR-V Jolion GT
Engine Power 204 150
Torque 335 380
Engine Size 1993 1999
Claimed Mileage 20 6.5
Ground Clearance 200 185
Boot Space 497 298
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1750 1600
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

CR-V

77
/ 100
+13
pts
#2

Jolion GT

64
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CR-V +2 pts
Efficiency CR-V +16 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality CR-V +3 pts
Ownership Jolion GT +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

CR-V

Performance 17/20
Efficiency 16/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 14/20
Ownership 12/20

Jolion GT

Performance 15/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 11/20
Ownership 20/20

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
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Jolion GT

Strengths
  • 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

  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CR-V Jolion GT
Ground Clearance 200 185
Wheelbase 2700 2700
Length 4690 4500
Width 1860 1855
Height 1690 1615
Kerb Weight 1750 1600
Gross Vehicle Weight 2250 2200
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 497 298
Towing Capacity 1500 1500
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 498
Front Track Width 1550 1560
Rear Track Width 1540 1570
Turning Radius Available 11.6
Load Bed Length Available -
Load Bed Width Available -
Front Legroom Available 1050
Rear Legroom Available 890
Front Headroom Available 960
Rear Headroom Available 960
Front Shoulder Room Available 1430
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1390
Max Payload Available -
Boot Volume Available 298
Doors Available 5
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available 880
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 55
Rear Overhang Available 890
Spec CR-V Jolion GT
Engine 2.0L Hybrid Petrol 2.0L GW4C20B Turbocharged Petrol Hybrid
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Atkinson Cycle with Dual Electric Motors Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Petrol
Displacement 1993 1999
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 16
Power 204 150
Torque 335 380
Fuel System Direct Injection + Electric Motor Assist Direct Injection
Top Speed 195 200
0-100 km/h 8.5 135
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard GW4C20B
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 10.5:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 -
Piston Stroke 92.0 -
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Petrol
Power @ RPM 150 5,500 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 1,500-4,000 rpm
Turbocharger Available Yes
Engine Position Available Front Transverse
Engine Oil Capacity Available 5.5
Power 150 201
Variable Valve Timing Available Yes
Maximum Engine RPM Available 6,000
Engine Type Config Available Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Turbocharged
0–100 km/h Available 7.9
Battery Capacity Available 1.8 kWh
Charging Port Available -
AC Charging Time Available -
Engine Displacement Available 1999
EV Range Available 100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda CR-V wins with 77 pts vs 64 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 16 vs Jolion GT 0. 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 18, Jolion GT 18. 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 12, Jolion GT 20. 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 14, Jolion GT 11. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CR-V 17, Jolion GT 15. 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 17 vs 15.

Efficiency: CR-V scores 16 vs 0.

Safety: CR-V scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: CR-V scores 14 vs 11.

Ownership: CR-V scores 12 vs 20.

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