GWM Jolion vs Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

GWM Jolion in South Africa

GWM Jolion

1.5T Hybrid LT Hybrid Current
ZAR 519,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 17.9 km/l
VS
Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster in South Africa

Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster

SL 63 Petrol Mild Hybrid 9-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 3,948,250 ex-showroom
⚡ 430 kW 🔧 800 Nm ⛽ 7.7 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

GWM Jolion vs Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster: the short answer

Jolion and SL Roadster are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Jolion starts ZAR 3,538,350 cheaper Jolion from ZAR 409,900 · SL Roadster from ZAR 3,948,250

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Jolion SL Roadster
Maximum Power Jolion115 kW @ 5500 rpm SL Roadster430 kW
Maximum Torque Jolion250 Nm SL Roadster800 Nm
Engine Size Jolion1497 cc SL Roadster3982 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Jolion17.9 km/l SL Roadster7.7 km/l
Ground Clearance Jolion190 mm SL Roadster115 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

GWM Jolion

1.5T Hybrid LT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster

SL 63

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Jolion

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

SL Roadster

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance

Which One's Right for You?

Jolion

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

SL Roadster

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Jolion SL Roadster
360 Degree Camera Yes Yes
Active Engine Braking No -
Adaptive Cruise Control Yes Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control Yes Yes
Around View Monitor Yes Yes
Attention Assist Yes -
Autonomous Emergency Braking Yes Ventilated disc brakes
Automatic High Beam Yes -
Auto Highbeam Yes Yes
Auto Lights Yes -
Auto Park Assist No -
Auto Wipers Yes Rain-sensing automatic wipers
Blind Spot Monitoring Yes Yes
Blind Spot Warning Yes Yes
Cruise Control Yes Adaptive cruise control
Driver Fatigue Alert Yes Yes
Eco Mode Yes -
Emergency Braking Yes -
EV Mode Yes -
Forward Collision Warning Yes Yes
Front Camera Yes -
Lane Departure Warning Yes Yes
Lane Keep Assist Yes Yes
Park Assist Yes Yes
Parking Distance Sensors Front and Rear -
Parking Sensor Front and Rear -
Parking Sensors Front and Rear Front and rear
Pre-Collision System Yes -
Rain Sensor Wipers Yes -
Rear View Camera Yes Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert Yes Yes
Rear Parking Sensors Yes Front and rear
Rear View Camera Yes -
Reverse Camera Yes Yes
Reverse Camera Type Yes -
Reversing Camera Yes -
Sport Mode Yes -
Surround View Camera Yes Yes
Traffic Sign Recognition Yes Yes
Spec Jolion SL Roadster
4WD Engagement Not Applicable No
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable 0
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable 0
4WD Selector Not Applicable No
Automatic Shift Paddles No Yes
Axle Layout FWD Driven axle configuration: AWD
Clutch Type Wet Multi-Disc Torque converter
Differential Lock No No
Differential Type Front Not Available -
Differential Type Rear Not Available -
Drive Mode Selector Yes -
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive AWD
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Front Wheel Drive AWD
Engine Position Front Transverse -
Final Drive Ratio 3.73 Model-specific ratio; Hagalu Research Team reference
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Number of Gears 2 9
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Yes
Gear Shift Type Automatic Automatic with manual shift mode
Gearbox DHT Hybrid Transmission 9G-TRONIC automatic
Gearbox Type DHT Hybrid Transmission 9G-TRONIC automatic
LSD Available No Yes
Low Range Not Applicable 0
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable 0
Paddle Shifters No Yes
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Reverse Gear Warning Yes -
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 14.7:1 -
Transfer Case Not Applicable Permanent AWD transfer system
Transfer Case Guard Not Available -
Transmission Speeds 2 9
Transmission Type Automatic 9G-TRONIC automatic

In depth: how these cars differ

This Jolion and SL Roadster comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Jolion 51 vs SL Roadster 100.

Efficiency index: Jolion 73 vs SL Roadster 38.

Safety-equipment index: Jolion 93 vs SL Roadster 95.

Practicality index: Jolion 59 vs SL Roadster 47.

Ownership-cover index: Jolion 65 vs SL Roadster not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

SL Roadster leads by 5 points

Jolion and SL Roadster are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 73 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 83% source coverage
73
#1 Evidence leader

SL Roadster

83% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Efficiency 38
Performance 100
Efficiency 38
Safety 95
Practicality 47
Leads by 5 points
68
#2

Jolion

99% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Performance 51
Performance 51
Efficiency 73
Safety 93
Practicality 59
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance SL Roadster +49 Efficiency Jolion +35 Safety SL Roadster +2 Practicality Jolion +12

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

SL Roadster

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 38/100
Safety 95/100
Practicality 47/100

Jolion

Performance 51/100
Efficiency 73/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 59/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster leads the specification evidence index with 73 pts vs 68 pts for Jolion

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, SL Roadster leads. However, Jolion may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Jolion vs SL Roadster questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.