Toyota Hilux 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.

Toyota Hilux in South Africa

Toyota Hilux

2.8 GD-6 4X4 Legend RS Double Cab 6AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 917,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 165 kW 🔧 550 Nm ⛽ 11.5 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 ⛽ 5.6 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Hilux
Fuel Economy Hilux
🛡 Safety Hilux
📦 Practicality Jolion
🔑 Ownership Jolion
Hilux starts ZAR 409900 cheaper Hilux from ZAR 326,200 · Jolion from ZAR 409,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Hilux Jolion
Engine Power 165 115
Torque 550 250
Engine Size 2755 1497
Claimed Mileage 11.5 5.6
Ground Clearance 286 190
Boot Space 0 340
Airbags 7 6
Kerb Weight 2120 1500
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Hilux

67
/ 100
+7
pts
#2

Jolion

60
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Hilux +8 pts
Efficiency Hilux +6 pts
Safety Hilux +2 pts
Practicality Jolion +1 pts
Ownership Jolion +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Hilux

Performance 18/20
Efficiency 6/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 11/20
Ownership 12/20

Jolion

Performance 10/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Hilux

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Jolion

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Hilux

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Jolion

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Hilux Jolion
Ground Clearance 286 190
Wheelbase 3085 2700
Length 5325 4472
Width 1900 1841
Height 1865 1628
Kerb Weight 2120 1500
Gross Vehicle Weight 3150 2200
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 0 340
Towing Capacity 3500 1500
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 540
Front Track Width 1550 1560
Rear Track Width 1540 1570
Turning Radius Available 11.4
Load Bed Length Available -
Load Bed Width Available -
Front Legroom Available 1050
Rear Legroom Available 890
Front Headroom Available 990
Rear Headroom Available 960
Front Shoulder Room Available 1430
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1390
Max Payload Available -
Boot Volume Available 340
Doors Available 5
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available 880
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 55
Rear Overhang Available 890
Spec Hilux Jolion
Engine 2.8L GD Turbo Diesel High Output 1.5L GW4B15A + Electric Motor Hybrid
Engine Type Inline 4 Turbocharged Intercooled Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Petrol
Displacement 2755 1497
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 16
Power 165 115
Torque 550 250
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Direct Injection
Top Speed 185 188
0-100 km/h 9.8 115
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard GW4B15A
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 10.5:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 72.5
Piston Stroke 92.0 90.8
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Petrol
Turbocharger Turbo Yes
Power @ RPM 150 5,500 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 1,500-4,000 rpm
Engine Position Available Front Transverse
Engine Oil Capacity Available 5.5
Power 150 154
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 9.5
Battery Capacity Available 1.8 kWh
Charging Port Available -
AC Charging Time Available -
Engine Displacement Available 1497
EV Range Available 120

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Toyota Hilux wins with 67 pts vs 60 pts for Jolion

In structured scoring, Hilux 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 Hilux 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: Hilux 6 vs Jolion 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: Hilux 20, Jolion 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: Hilux 12, Jolion 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: Hilux 11, Jolion 12. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Hilux 18, Jolion 10. 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 Hilux edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Hilux scores 18 vs 10.

Efficiency: Hilux scores 6 vs 0.

Safety: Hilux scores 20 vs 18.

Practicality: Hilux scores 11 vs 12.

Ownership: Hilux scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Hilux the advantage in this comparison.