The Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa has issued a warning to local GWM Haval Jolion owners regarding critical safety concerns following the crossover’s poor performance during crash testing.
Tested alongside the Kia Sonet as part of the AA’s #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign, the entry-level Jolion further highlights how locally-sold entry-level vehicles continue to perform beneath international safety standards.
The AA’s testing is done by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP), which awarded the entry-level version of the GWM Jolion a two-star adult protection rating and three stars for child protection.
Testing highlighted serious gaps in the safety protection offered to occupants, driven largely by a lack of standard side head protection, or curtain, airbags.
The entry-level model tested was fitted with four airbags – driver and passenger front and side body airbags – no head protection airbags were present, but it did have Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
Global NCAP crash testing results for the Chinese crossover revealed the following:
- The frontal impact showed good protection to the head, neck and chest. Knee protection was marginal.
- The side movable barrier test showed good protection.
- The side pole test was not conducted because side head protection airbags are not fitted as
standard. - ESC is fitted as standard and meets Global NCAP requirements.
- Child Occupant Protection: Both child dummies received full protection in the dynamic test, but
the lack of proper marking and the lack of a passenger airbag disabling switch resulted in a 3-star rating.
CEO of the Automobile Association, Bobby Ramagwede, said the tests prove how basic safety features such as side-impact airbags and electronic stability control can make a significant difference in safety.
“These features offer a major safety boost to any vehicle and, in most cases, can be added with only a marginal increase in vehicle price,” he said.
A warning for South African car buyers
Ramagwede urged South African motorists to exercise extreme caution when purchasing a new or used entry-level vehicle.
He noted that recent crash tests have shown a worrying trend, as these models on sale in South Africa lack adequate crash safety and seldom offer safety ratings comparable to those of the same models sold abroad.
Richard Woods, CEO of Global NCAP, echoed Ramagwede’s sentiments, noting that it is unacceptable that global manufacturers sell cars in Africa with safety standards they would never offer in markets like Europe.
“The Kia Sonet’s one-star result and the GWM Haval Jolion’s two-star result show how far the industry still has to go,” he added.
“Side head protection airbags should be standard on every new car, in every market. African motorists deserve the same life-saving protection as drivers in the rest of the world.”
Ramagwede called out the apathy demonstrated by local Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) regarding the remedying of past test results.
“We are awaiting meaningful actions for a range of vehicles tested recently, be these in the announcement of additional safety added to the spec of the entry-level vehicle,” he said.
“The discontinuation of the entry-level model in the wake of the safer next-up model in the range, or in the case of major structural flaws, the consumer is being offered options that exist within other model ranges.”
Both models tested by the AA and Global NCAP are very popular in the local market, frequently ranking among South Africa’s favourite vehicles in the monthly Naamsa sales data.
Sales of the Haval Jolion range have averaged around 1,200 units every month in 2026, while the Kia Sonet managed to maintain 800 sales per month.
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