It's something that is on the public's mind now: if you do a lot of long-distance driving or want to save a bit on fuel, do you get a hybrid vehicle or just stick to a trusty modern diesel-powered vehicle? We will look at the Toyota Corolla Cross and Haval Jolion with hybrid propulsion, followed by the Kia Seltos in turbodiesel form.
Related: Toyota Corolla Cross vs Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Haval Jolion: Here's our Hybrid winner
The Corolla Cross received an update recently bolstering its specs and looks to match the ever-increasing competition. However, it's worth noting that the Jolion and Seltos also received updates fairly recently.
Looking at the figures
| Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 HEV XR | Haval Jolion Pro 1.5 HEV Ultra Luxury | Kia Seltos 1.5CRDi LX | |
| Engine | 1.8-litre 4 Cylinder Non Turbo Petrol | 1.5-litre 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Petrol | 1.5-litre 4 Cylinder Turbodiesel |
| Total Power/Torque | 90kW /163Nm | 140kW /375Nm | 85kW /250Nm |
| Gearbox | CVT | CVT (DHT- Dedicated Hybrid Transmission) | 6-Speed Automatic |
| Claimed Fuel Consumption | 4.3 L/100km | 5.1 L /100km | 5.2 L /100km |
| Airbags | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Driven Wheels | Front | Front | Front |
| Kerb Weight | 1385-1430kg | 1620kg | 1382kg |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres) | 36 | 55 | 50 |
| Claimed Range | 837km | 1078km | 962km |
| CO2 Emissions | 98 g/km | 118 g/km | 145 g/km |
| Service Plan | 6 services /90 000km | 7 years /75 000km | 4 years /60 000km |
| Price | from R545 200 | from R516 950 | from R521 995 |
*Pricing stated here was correct when publishing and is subject to change without prior notice. Manufacturer figures were also claimed here.
Comparing the figures
Purchase Price
First, we'll consider the cost of buying and paying off these vehicles in monthly instalments. Then, we'll use a quick calculation to determine the cost of financing them. We'll calculate using our finance tool and set the parameters at 72 months, a 10% deposit, no balloon/residual, and a 12% interest rate.
| Car | Purchase Price | Monthly Instalment |
| Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 HEV XR | from R545 200 | R9 593 p/m |
| Haval Jolion Pro 1.5 HEV Ultra Luxury | from R516 950 | R9 096 p/m |
| Kia Seltos 1.5CRDi LX | from R521 995 | R9 185 p/m |
The Jolion is the cheapest to buy and pay off.
Claimed and Real World Fuel Consumption
In this instance, we've tested all three vehicles with the same powertrains, so we have real-world figures from our reviews to share.
| Car | Claimed Fuel Consumption | Real World Consumption | Claimed Range | Fuel Tank Capacity |
| Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 HEV XR | 4.3 L/100km | 5.6 L/100km | 837km | 36-litres |
| Haval Jolion Pro 1.5 HEV Ultra Luxury | 5.1 L/100km | 6.2 L /100km | 1078km | 55-litres |
| Kia Seltos 1.5CRDi LX | 5.2 L /100km | 6.2 - 8.3 L/100km | 962km | 50-litres |
The Corolla Cross has the best real-world consumption figures but the lowest claimed range due to the smaller capacity tank. Despite this drawback, it consumes the least fuel.
Service Plan
| Car | Service Plan |
| Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 HEV XR | 6 services /90 000km |
| Haval Jolion Pro 1.5 HEV Ultra Luxury | 7 years /75 000km |
| Kia Seltos 1.5CRDi LX | 4 years /60 000km |
We'll give the win to the Corolla Cross as it has a greater service plan distance; though the Jolion does have an extra year over the Corolla, we will focus on distance here.
Who wins?
Though the Corolla is the most expensive to buy out of the three, in terms of real-world running costs, we believe it takes the win here, followed by the Jolion. The Seltos in diesel form is not far behind, but the hybrid proposition is strong. You can search AutoTrader for the latest used and new offerings for the Corolla Cross, Jolion, and Seltos. You can sell your car too.
