A few years ago, given the state of our automotive industry, the emergence of the compact SUV segment would have been inconceivable. However, the past couple of years have been full of surprises when it comes to the automotive industry’s progress.
Despite its rather small target market, the compact SUV segment has taken off by a monumental degree in Pakistan, especially since mid-2020. With the raging success of the SUV that arguably started the frenzy, i.e. the Kia Sportage, other automakers also began throwing down their compact SUV cards on the table to take advantage of the sudden growth in popularity of the SUV segment.
One of the SUVs that have become highly desirable among Pakistani car buyers, is the MG HS. The vehicle is lauded by many for having a premium design and impressive features and has quickly become one of the most recognizably new names in the SUV market.
However, Sazgar Engineering Works Limited (SEWL) has also entered the market with Haval Jolion and the Haval H6. Both are latest generation SUVs with modern features and futuristic looks that are set to compete against all the C-Segment SUVs in Pakistan.
In terms of price though – which is arguably the most important deciding factor among car buyers – the Jolion is a better match against the pre-existing heavy hitters in the segment, namely, Kia Sportage and MG HS. With that said, here’s how each of the aforementioned SUVs stacks up against each other:
Exterior Design:
MG HS:
MG HS is regarded by a vast majority of enthusiasts and casual car buyers as the best-looking compact crossover SUV in its segment, thanks to its clean look and a slight hint of premium touches around the entire bodywork.
Upfront, headlights have a subtle, yet premium design, with projector lamps and the unique pattern DRLs that also work as sequential indicators. The fascia is made more attractive thanks to a modern front grille that is surrounded by a chrome trim piece. There’s a huge MG logo in the middle that adds to the vehicle’s premium feel.
The SUV looks fairly standard from the side, but the 18-inch alloy wheels, the chromed side-impact strips, the brush-aluminum roof rails, and a chrome strip surround the A, B, and C pillars of the vehicle add more flashiness to an otherwise subdued yet clean and attractive side profile.
If the rear of the vehicle looks a bit familiar, it is probably due to the taillight design which looks quite similar to the 3rd generation BMW X3. That is not to say that the rear-end looks bad in any way, as a pair of narrow taillights, sharp reflectors, and dual exhausts allow for a sporty look, and a scuff-plate-esque trim below to make it look more rugged. Overall, MG HS is quite a handsome-looking SUV.
Kia Sportage:
Over time we have become quite familiar with the looks of the Kia Sportage just because they’re now so common on the Pakistani roads, however, back when it was new, the SUV was somewhat of a head-turner for both, good and bad reasons.
Its design is certainly more striking than the MG HS, owing to the aggressive-looking headlights that are placed high up, Kia’s patented huge tiger-nose grille, the sporty front bumper well as a couple of vents surrounding the fog-lights that are just a cosmetic feature.
On the side, the SUV has 18-inch alloys, though the Alpha version has 17-inch alloys, and a high beltline, to make the car look sporty and muscular.
On the back, the All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) variant features a spoiler and a horizontal light strip that runs along the entire width of the car and blends in with the sharp LED Taillights. Also on the back, you see indicator lights and reverse lights mounted on the bottom which is also a unique design trait.
Haval Jolion:
At this moment, the Haval Jolion is arguably the most striking-looking SUV to hit the Pakistani market. Whether the boldness of design favors it or not is up for debate, but due to its uniqueness, the Jolion would certainly stand out amongst the competition.
The front fascia consists of a similar chromed mesh grille, modern-looking headlamps LED headlights, turn signals, and sharp-looking DRLs that extend further down into the bumper making a boomerang-shaped pattern.
The bottom portion of the DRLs is surrounded by ornamental but non-functional air vents. All of this, combined with a similar boxy front look and overall silhouette, gives the car an aggressive look.
The side profile of the Jolion is clean and simple. The door handles and the door mirrors match the color of the body. A single sharp line runs across the length of the SUV, giving it a clean look. Together, the chromed side-impact strips, a chromed trim-piece surrounding the A, B, and C pillars, and a modern alloy wheel design give the SUV a premium appearance.
The rear end of the vehicle is a slightly different story. Although modern, the rear of the vehicle looks rather generic. During the nighttime, the taillights look fine but during the day, the design appears to be repetitive and half-done. Whereas the bottom portion of the rear bumper is a hodgepodge of chrome, silver, and matte black trim pieces giving it a less-than-desirable look.
On the positive side, however, the tailgate design slopes slightly downwards and then goes completely vertical, giving the Jolion a sporty and modern look. The spoiler, albeit non-functional, gives the vehicle an aesthetic edge.
As said before, whether or not the SUV is pretty is a matter of each individual’s taste, but it can be said with certainty that there are few cars on the road as striking as the Jolion.
Interior Design:
MG HS:
One of the key reasons behind the popularity of the MG HS is its premium feel. Overall, the cabin looks incredibly premium with stitched leather on the seats, door panels, and a dashboard.
All of them are complemented by the brushed aluminum trim pieces that can be seen on the air vents, around the gear-lever, around the instrument cluster, and on the bottom of the steering wheel. The SUV also features other tech such as a panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting to add to the aesthetic flair.
The cabin space is enough to easily and comfortably seat four adult passengers, even for longer journeys. The vehicle has a boot space of 463 liters, which is enough to carry one medium-sized and two full-sized suitcases.
The rear seats fold down to allow a loading space of 1,454 liters for larger items. Plus, there is a storage compartment under the loading bay to carry smaller items in the back. For a family of five, the HS is an incredibly practical SUV.
Kia Sportage:
In terms of general aesthetic, the Sportage’s interior design is certainly more pedestrian. The Sportage features an interior layout that is conventional, yet reliable feeling, with an 8″ infotainment screen (7″ in Alpha) in the middle and a simple, straight dash design.
The Sportage features a dashboard that’s made from soft materials, an instrument panel with a digital screen for additional info, leatherette seats (fabric ones in Alpha) a roomy and comfortable cabin space that easily accommodates 5 people, reclinable rear seats, and a panoramic sunroof (Plain roof in Alpha) that brightens up the cabin even further.
The Sportage has a rather huge 491 liters of boot space that is large enough to carry three full-size suitcases. The boot space can be further extended by folding down the rear seats, which offers up to 1,480 liters of loading space to transport larger items.
Haval Jolion:
The Jolion also boasts a modern and elegant but clean and simple interior design. The two-step dash layout gives the car a premium look and feel, and the materials all seem to be quite nice. The steering also has a futuristic 3-spoke design. The all-digital head unit display (HUD) is slightly more futuristic in design as compared to its counterparts.
In terms of cabin space, the Jolion is fairly roomy and can comfortably seat four passengers. The boot space is 337 liters, which is big enough to carry one large suitcase and two medium-sized suitcases or luggage bags. However, with the rear seats folded down, the luggage space increases to a hair over 1,100 liters.
Like its competitors, the Jolion is also a fairly practical option for a family of five.
Dimensions and Weight
Despite being a contender for the compact SUV segment, the Jolion is the smallest and lightest of the bunch. The following are the measurements of all three of the SUVs:
| Measurements | Haval Jolion | Kia Sportage | MG HS |
| Wheelbase | 2,700 mm | 2,670 mm | 2,720 mm |
| Length | 4,472 mm | 4,485 mm | 4,574 mm |
| Width | 1,841 mm | 1,855 mm | 1,876 mm |
| Height | 1,619 mm | 1,635 mm | 1,664 mm |
| Weight | 1,370 kg | 1,544 KG | 1,520 KG |
Performance:
MG HS:
The HS comes with only one engine option. You can get it with a 1.5 Liter turbocharged 4 cylinder petrol engine that makes 160 horsepower (hp) and 250 newton-meters (nm) of torque. All of that power is sent to the front wheels only via a 7-speed automatic transmission.
In terms of the suspension setup, the HS consists of McPherson struts upfront and a multi-link coil spring suspension in the back. The vehicle also has disc brakes, both upfront and outback, with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist (BA) technology to allow for good stopping power.
As per claims from several information outlets, the HS is capable of providing a fuel average of 11 to 14 km/liter, which, given the size and the heft of the vehicle, seems to be an optimistic figure.
KIA Sportage:
The Sportage has a 2.0 Liter naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine that puts out a maximum of 155 hp and 196 nm of torque and comes standard with a 6-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all 4 wheels. However, you can opt for the Alpha or the FWD variant that has Front Wheel Drive and the same engine and transmission options.
The Sportage’s suspension setup consists of McPherson struts upfront and a multi-link coil spring suspension in the back. The Sportage also has disc brakes on all four wheels with ABS, EBD, and BA technology to allow for decent stopping power.
As reported by various owners, the Sportage has a fuel economy of 10 liters per Kilometer in the City and 12 liters per Kilometer on the highway.
Haval Jolion:
Like the HS, the Jolion will also be available in Pakistan with only one engine option — a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes 147 hp and 220 nm of torque. All this power is sent only to the front wheels via a 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox.
The SUV has McPherson struts up front and a torsion bar coil-spring suspension at the back. It also has disc brakes on all four wheels with ABS, EBD, and BA technology to allow for good stopping power.
Various international automotive outlets have reported the fuel economy of the Jolion to be 12.3 km per liter, but the figure can vary based on road conditions and driving style.
Features:
This comparison has been done between top variants only, to find out the complete range of features that these vehicles offer. The following are the specs and features of all three SUVs:
| Specs and Features | Haval Jolion | MG HS | Kia Sportage AWD |
| Safety |
|||
| Central Power Door Locks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Immobilizer System and Burglar Alarm | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Parking Sensors | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Backup Camera | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 360 Degree Camera | Yes | Yes | No |
| Blind Spot Monitoring | Yes | Yes | No |
| Daytime Running Lights | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Front Foglights | No | Yes | Yes |
| ABS Brakes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hill-start Assist | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive | Adaptive | Normal |
| Lane Keep Assist | Yes | Yes | No |
| Traction Control | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stability Control | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Autonomous Braking | Yes | Yes | No |
| Collision Warning | Side Only | No | No |
| Auto-Rain Sensing Wipers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Airbags | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| Convenience |
|||
| All-Wheel Drive | No | No | Yes |
| Smart Infotainment System | 12.3″ | 10.1″ | 8″ |
| All-Digital HuD | 8.6′ | No | No |
| 12 Volt Socket | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| USB Connectivity | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Carplay/Andriod Auto Configuration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | No | No |
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | Yes | Yes | No |
| Rear AC Vents | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Keyless Entry | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Push Start Button | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic Parking Brake | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paddle Shifters | Yes | No | No |
| Multiple Drive Modes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Panoramic Sunroof | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Steering Wheel Multimedia-Control Switches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Adjustable Steering Wheel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electrically Adjustable Front Seats | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ISO Fix Child Seat Anchors | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Price:
The prices of all three of these SUVs are tied quite close together if we discount the Kia Sportage FWD and Alpha variants. The difference in terms of features isn’t two significant between the HS and the Jolion either, whereas, with a lower price, the Sportage even in its top-trim, offers a lot fewer features compared to the HS and the Jolion. With that said, the following is the price of all three of the SUVs:
- Kia Sportage:
- Alpha: Rs. 4,399,000
- FWD: Rs. 4,899,000
- AWD: Rs. 5,399,000
- MG HS:
- Rs. 5,485,000
- Haval Jolion:
- Rs. 5,525,000
Conclusion:
In terms of value for money, Kia Sportage still rules the day, if one can make an exception on some of the modern features that the MG HS and the Haval Jolion offer. That is because the Sportage – although not due for a “long-term ownership review” yet – has few elements in its favor, namely, more variety and a large price band, relative ease of maintenance, larger dealership network, is the only option in its segment – apart from Tucson and X70 – to offer all-wheel-drive option, and last but not least, better resale value compared to the other two.
Furthermore, in terms of features, the Jolion might seem quite impressive, but in terms of driving experience and comfort, it is likely that the Jolion would not fulfill the driver’s expectations. That’s because while it is a C-Segment SUV, it is lighter, smaller has an inferior suspension setup compared to the competition. In terms of heft and other measurements, the Haval H6 would’ve been a fitting comparison to the Sportage and the HS, but it is too expensive to stack up to the competition
That said, given that the Sportage and the HS have already carved out a niche for themselves, it is important for Haval to market themselves in an effective manner, so as to garner more attention towards their products.
Sportage is equipped with dual zone climate control. Marked NO above.