Chinese brand Great Wall Motors or GWM has been making inroads this year in the small SUV market with its Haval Jolion SUV.  A hybrid version will arrive next month distinguished from the pure petrol model with unique bumpers wheels and spoiler.

Priced at $40,990 drive-away the Hybrid Jolion is $7,000 dearer to the petrol Jolion Ultra model on which it’s based. The Hybrid powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine integrated with the company’s Direct Hybrid Transmission incorporating an electric motor with combined outputs of 139kW and 375Nm.

Selectable drive modes allow full electric driving, petrol driving which generates power to the electric motor and battery, petrol and electric power in tandem and finally, a regenerative braking function which recoups energy under braking.

GWM claims the Jolion Hybrid will return 5.0L/100km down from 8.1L/100 for the petrol model.

I’m David Berthon.

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