GWM Jolion GT vs Hyundai Tucson

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
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
VS
Hyundai Tucson in South Africa

Hyundai Tucson

2.0D AT Executive AWD Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 764,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 137 kW 🔧 416 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tucson
Fuel Economy Tucson
🛡 Safety Jolion GT
📦 Practicality Tucson
🔑 Ownership Tie
Recorded price context Jolion GT: last listed from ZAR 579,900 · Tucson: current from ZAR 568,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Jolion GT Tucson
Maximum Power 150 kW @ 5500 rpm 137 kW @ 3800 rpm
Maximum Torque 380 Nm 416 Nm @ 2000 rpm
Engine Size 1999 cc 1995 cc
Claimed Mileage 6.5 km/l 13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 185 mm 181 mm
Boot / Load Bay 298 l 540 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1600 kg 1720 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 5 Years / 100,000 km 5

= 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

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tucson +1 pts
Efficiency Tucson +17 pts
Safety Jolion GT +2 pts
Practicality Tucson +16 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Jolion GT

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Tucson

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

Which One's Right for You?

Jolion GT

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Tucson

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

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 Jolion GT Tucson
Model Introduced Year 2024 2004
Generation 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. Fourth generation Tucson on Hyundai's i-GMP platform; distinctive parametric design language makes it one of the more striking mid-size SUVs in SA
Facelift History 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. Fourth generation launched in SA in 2021; major step change in styling, interior quality, and technology over the third-gen car
Facelift Launched Since 2024 2021
Tare Mass Kg 1600 kg 1720 kg
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Color Note Not confirmed White, Black, Silver, Blue, Grey, Green
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Executive grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.0D AT Executive AWD
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Spec Jolion GT Tucson
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Front Wheel Drive AWD
LSD Available No Yes
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock No No
Engine Position Front Transverse Front
Gearbox DHT Hybrid Transmission 8-speed Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 3.73 Not Applicable
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 14.7:1 -
Number of Gears 2 7
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Clutch Type Wet Multi-Disc Not Applicable
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Yes
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive 4WD / AWD
Drive Mode Selector Yes -
Gearbox Type Automatic 8-speed Automatic
Reverse Gear Warning Yes -
Transmission Speeds 2 7
Gear Shift Type Automatic 8-speed Automatic
Paddle Shifters Not confirmed Yes
4WD Engagement Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not confirmed Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed Yes
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
Axle Layout Not confirmed All-Wheel Drive
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tucson leads by 6 points

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

Winner 72 /100
Lead 6 points
Data 91% confidence
72
#1 Winner

Tucson

91% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 56
Performance 69
Efficiency 56
Safety 92
Practicality 73
Ownership 65
Leads by 6 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 Tucson +1 Efficiency Tucson +17 Safety Jolion GT +2 Practicality Tucson +16 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tucson

Performance 69/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 73/100
Ownership 65/100

Jolion GT

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai Tucson wins with 72 pts vs 66 pts for Jolion GT

In structured scoring, Tucson 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 Tucson 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: Jolion GT 39 vs Tucson 56. 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: Jolion GT 94, Tucson 92. 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: Jolion GT 65, Tucson 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: Jolion GT 57, Tucson 73. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Jolion GT 68, Tucson 69. 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 Tucson edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Jolion GT scores 68 vs 69.

Efficiency: Jolion GT scores 39 vs 56.

Safety: Jolion GT scores 94 vs 92.

Practicality: Jolion GT scores 57 vs 73.

Ownership: Jolion GT scores 65 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives Tucson the advantage in this comparison.