Gwm Jolion vs Ford Puma

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.

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
VS
Ford Puma in South Africa

Ford Puma

1.0T EcoBoost ST-Line Automatic Petrol Automatic
ZAR 459,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 92 kW 🔧 170 Nm ⛽ 16.4 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Jolion
Fuel Economy Puma
🛡 Safety Puma
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Jolion
Puma starts ZAR 409900 cheaper Jolion from ZAR 409,900 · Puma from ZAR 389,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Jolion Puma
Engine Power 115 92
Torque 250 170
Engine Size 1497 999
Claimed Mileage 5.6 16.4
Ground Clearance 190 170
Boot Space 340 456
Airbags 6 8
Kerb Weight 1500 1325
Seating Capacity 5 Available
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Puma

61
/ 100
+1
pts
#2

Jolion

60
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Jolion +2 pts
Efficiency Puma +9 pts
Safety Puma +2 pts
Practicality Equal
Ownership Jolion +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Puma

Performance 8/20
Efficiency 9/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 12/20
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)

Jolion

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

Puma

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Jolion

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Puma

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Jolion Puma
Body Type SUV Available
Daytime Running Lamps Yes LED
DRL Yes Available
LED Headlamps Yes Full LED
Led Taillights Yes Available
Fog Lights Yes Available
Fog Lamps Yes LED
Led Headlights Yes Available
Front Fog Lights Yes Available
Alloy Wheel Design Multi-Spoke Alloy 19-inch Sport Alloy
Rear Wiper Yes Available
Chrome Exterior Finish Yes Not Available
Door Handle Finish Body Coloured Chrome Finish
Roof Type Metal Roof Available
Rear Spoiler Yes Sport Rear Spoiler
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Available
Body Cladding Yes Standard
Exterior Colour Options 6 Pearl White
Rear Fog Lights Yes Available
Roof Rails Yes Standard
Spec Jolion Puma
Number of Doors 5 5
Seats 5 Available
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 4472 4186
Width 1841 1805
Height 1628 1531
Wheelbase 2700 2594
Ground Clearance 190 170
Kerb Weight 1500 1325
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 Available
Boot Space 340 456
Doors 5 Available
Front Overhang 880 Available
Rear Overhang 890 Available
Front Track Width 1560 1541
Rear Track Width 1570 1534
Front Headroom 990 Available
Rear Headroom 960 Available
Front Legroom 1050 Available
Rear Legroom 890 Available
Front Shoulder Room 1430 Available
Rear Shoulder Room 1390 Available
Gross Vehicle Weight 2200 1775
Boot Volume 340 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 540 1500
Turning Radius 11.4 5.4
Towing Capacity 1500 1200
Load Bed Length - Available
Load Bed Width - Available
Max Payload - Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Ford Puma wins with 61 pts vs 60 pts for Jolion

In structured scoring, Puma 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 Puma 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 0 vs Puma 9. 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 18, Puma 20. 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 20, Puma 12. 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 12, Puma 12. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Jolion 10, Puma 8. 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 Puma edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Jolion scores 10 vs 8.

Efficiency: Jolion scores 0 vs 9.

Safety: Jolion scores 18 vs 20.

Practicality: Jolion scores 12 vs 12.

Ownership: Jolion scores 20 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Puma the advantage in this comparison.