Hyundai IONIQ 5 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.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 in South Africa

Hyundai IONIQ 5

72kWh AWD Executive Electric Automatic
ZAR 1,068,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 605 Nm ⛽ 454 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 IONIQ 5
Fuel Economy IONIQ 5
🛡 Safety IONIQ 5
📦 Practicality IONIQ 5
🔑 Ownership Tie
Jolion GT starts ZAR 859900 cheaper IONIQ 5 from ZAR 859,900 · Jolion GT from ZAR 579,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec IONIQ 5 Jolion GT
Engine Power 225 150
Torque 605 380
Engine Size Not Applicable (Electric Motor) 1999
Claimed Mileage 454 6.5
Ground Clearance 160 185
Boot Space 527 298
Airbags 7 6
Kerb Weight 2190 1600
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

IONIQ 5

93
/ 100
+29
pts
#2

Jolion GT

64
/ 100

High confidence result.

The Bottom Line

IONIQ 5 dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance IONIQ 5 +5 pts
Efficiency IONIQ 5 +20 pts
Safety IONIQ 5 +2 pts
Practicality IONIQ 5 +2 pts
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

IONIQ 5

Performance 20/20
Efficiency 20/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 13/20
Ownership 20/20

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

IONIQ 5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Jolion GT

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

IONIQ 5

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

Jolion GT

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec IONIQ 5 Jolion GT
Length 4635 4500
Width 1890 1855
Height 1605 1615
Wheelbase 3000 2700
Ground Clearance 160 185
Kerb Weight 2190 1600
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 527 298
Rear Track Width 1648 mm 1570
Gross Vehicle Weight 2370 kg 2200
Front Track Width 1624 mm 1560
Turning Radius 5.9 m 11.6
Towing Capacity 1600 kg (Braked) 1500
Load Bed Length Not Applicable -
Load Bed Width Not Applicable -
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
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
Boot Space Seats Folded Available 498
Number of Doors Available 5
Max Payload Available -
Boot Volume Available 298
Front Overhang Available 880
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 55
Rear Overhang Available 890
Spec IONIQ 5 Jolion GT
Engine Dual Motor AWD Electric 2.0L GW4C20B Turbocharged Petrol Hybrid
Engine Type Electric Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Petrol
Cylinders Not Applicable (Electric Motor) 4
Power 225 150
Torque 605 380
Fuel System Electric Drive Direct Injection
Turbocharger No Yes
Top Speed 185 200
0-100 km/h 5.1 135
Displacement Not Applicable (Electric Motor) 1999
Power @ RPM Instant Torque (0–7500 rpm) 5,500 rpm
Valves per Cylinder Not Applicable (Electric) 16
Torque @ RPM 0–3500 rpm 1,500-4,000 rpm
Compression Ratio Not Applicable (Electric) 10.5:1
Engine Position Front Front Transverse
Fuel Grade Required Electric Petrol
Engine Type Config Inline Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Turbocharged
Variable Valve Timing Yes Yes
Cylinder Bore Available -
Piston Stroke Available -
Engine Code Available GW4C20B
Engine Oil Capacity Available 5.5
Power 150 201
Cylinder Layout Available Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Available Turbocharged
Maximum Engine RPM Available 6,000
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?

🏆 Hyundai IONIQ 5 wins with 93 pts vs 64 pts for Jolion GT

In structured scoring, IONIQ 5 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 IONIQ 5 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: IONIQ 5 20 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: IONIQ 5 20, 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: IONIQ 5 20, 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: IONIQ 5 13, Jolion GT 11. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: IONIQ 5 20, 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 IONIQ 5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The IONIQ 5 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 IONIQ 5 and Jolion GT in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: IONIQ 5 scores 20 vs 15.

Efficiency: IONIQ 5 scores 20 vs 0.

Safety: IONIQ 5 scores 20 vs 18.

Practicality: IONIQ 5 scores 13 vs 11.

Ownership: IONIQ 5 scores 20 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives IONIQ 5 the advantage in this comparison.