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You might not have heard of Jaecoo, and that’s okay. It’s the premium brand associated with Chery, kind of like Lexus and Toyota or Genesis and Hyundai.
It’s also hasn't technically launched in Australia yet, with only a handful of examples of its initial model, the J7, here at the time of publishing.
Before the brand’s full local launch in late March, we were given a preview drive of the Jaecoo J7 mid-size SUV. Can it shake things up against the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5?
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Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10
8 / 10
As well as the car itself being in pre-launch, unfinalised condition, some of the details around Jaecoo’s launch in Australia are yet to be confirmed.
One of those details is the exact pricing of the J7.
We’re told it’ll start from between $35,000 and $40,000 though, and for that price, the list of features for the entry-grade J7 Core is decent.
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There’s the synthetic leather seats and trim, power-adjustable front seats, a 13.2-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 10.25-inch driver display, automatic LED headlights, daytime running lights (DRLs) and tail-lights, even retracting door handles and interior ambient lighting.
So far, we only have details of the other 2WD variant, the Track, though we’re told at least two AWD variants and a plug-in hybrid are coming too.
The Track 2WD steps up from the Core 2WD, and will likely start from more than $40,000.
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It comes with extra kit like heated front seats, lights for the vanity mirrors, colour-selectable ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, and an upgraded eight-speaker Sony sound system, a wireless phone charging pad.
There’s also a power tailgate, 12-volt outlet in the boot, and acoustic glass on the windscreen, though we’re not sure on the noticeable effects for that one.
We’re giving this 'pricing and features’ section of the review a strong score owing to its low indicated price position and high spec, though a full range review coming later may tell a different story with the full picture confirmed.
Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
8 / 10
The Jaecoo J7 is very clearly aiming for premium styling despite its frugal pricing.
If you squint at it from certain angles or distances, you get slight Range Rover vibes, though the car overall doesn’t really copy anything specific.
Things like the slim headlights and tail-lights, vertical chrome in the large grille, the gloss black pillars separating the body and roof paint… you could call them tropes, but they work for a reason.
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The colours available also have quite a luxe look to them. They are light colours in metallic finishes that stand out on the road without being too ‘loud’.
Inside, a combination of materials present a premium feel but stop short of going over the top when it comes to visuals.
It’s a modern space without borrowing too heavily from established luxury brands, though a squint at the steering wheel and there’s again some Range Rover influence it seems.
There are some touch points and even surfaces that don't appear to be soft but are which is a pleasant surprise for a mid-sizer at this price point.
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Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 7/10
7 / 10
Despite the fact the test vehicles are pre-production models, the tech including the multimedia touchscreen works pretty well. The main screen’s menus are easy to navigate, and even though there’s a bit of scrolling, the visibility of the menus is decent.
Needing to use the screen for most functions (including climate control) while driving is a distraction, however, at least there's a driver display that shows important information clearly.
Similarly, despite the minimalist design in the Jaecoo J7, there's still useful features and spaces for storage.
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Firstly, we tested the Track variant only, so were treated to a well-positioned phone charger and similar (but non-charging) pad for the passenger’s phone. There’s also a space for a device to sit upright between the cupholders.
They’re out of the way of physical switches, so it’s all pretty ergonomically sound.
The seats are also comfortable and despite not feeling like soft leather, the synthetic material feels up to scratch for the price. It certainly has showroom appeal, and that could be enough to lure some away from established rivals.
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A small note that’s likely due to the pre-production nature of the test cars - that the wing mirrors didn’t adjust to the correct angle for proper vision, which I eventually realised was down to them being installed for left-hand drive. My driver mirror was angled as a passenger-side mirror.
In the rear seats, there’s plenty of kneeroom, headroom and even toeroom under the front seats, and even though the seats aren’t adjustable, the elbow rests on the door and centre armrest are cushioned.
Behind that, the boot can take about 412 litres of cargo according to international specs, and under that is a space-saver spare tyre - a genuine plus given their increasing rarity.
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Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 7/10
7 / 10
Both variants of the J7 2WD are, you guessed it, front-wheel drive, with power coming to the wheels from a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The engine produces 137kW at 5500rpm and 275Nm from 2000 to 4000rpm. If that sounds familiar, it’s the same engine as the Chery Tiggo 7.
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Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 7/10
7 / 10
Jaecoo claims the J7 has a 7.0L/100km combined cycle consumption rate, and international specs state a 51-litre tank, so it should (in perfect conditions) be able to top 700km per tank.
Of course, any change in driving style from the way WLTP testing is undertaken and that range drops.
Given how brief our preview of the J7 was, we’ll wait until a proper test before guessing how accurate the claimed consumption figure is.
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Driving – What's it like to drive? 7/10
7 / 10
As this was a preview drive (and we were sent on a similarly light drive route), we’ll save specific comments, praise and criticisms for the late-March launch, but first impressions of the J7 are mostly positive.
Without engaging any of the active safety or driver assists, the mid-size SUV feels relatively composed in traffic, on the highway, and in semi-rural situations where speed limits are somewhat low.
Essentially, our drive route was composed of Sydney’s CBD and the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park to its north.
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Without having properly pushed the J7, it seems perfectly capable and comfortable in day-to-day scenarios.
Its steering, suspension and braking are all appropriately comfortable and well weighted for daily duties, though we’re not sure how it’ll hold up when pushed on twisting roads or in sudden situations.
When adaptive cruise control was engaged, the acceleration seemed to jump up in increments as the acceleration would surge, while the brakes would occasionally make an odd ‘crunching’ noise, though it’s not clear if this was down to the car’s pre-production spec.
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Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 7/10
7 / 10
There’s no ANCAP rating for the Jaecoo J7 yet, though the brand is expecting a five-star result.
There are seven airbags as standard for the Core 2WD, those being driver and front passenger, front side and front centre, as well as side curtain airbags. The Track variant gets an extra, for the driver’s knees.
That’s not the only safety difference between models. The Core gets a healthy list of features including auto emergency braking (AEB), emergency lane keeping, departure warning and prevention, traffic jam assist, cruise assist, blind spot detection, rear collision alert and rear cross-traffic alert and braking, a door opening warning, speed limit information and control assist plus a driver monitoring system.
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But the Track adds some useful extras including a surround-view parking camera system, front and rear parking sensors plus a child safety lock for the rear doors.
Surround-view cameras can be pricey, but the extra airbag, parking sensors and child locks seem odd to not include as standard given the otherwise impressive standard features list in the J7.
On top of this, the active safety systems in the car follow the unfortunate trend for new brands to Australia of being more a nuisance than an aid on the road. It’s a shame because the Jaecoo seems to be an otherwise pleasant performer on-road.
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Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs?
Jaecoo Australia hasn’t confirmed any warranty or servicing costs yet, but given parent company Chery’s seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, we’d guess it’ll be competitive.
Interestingly, Jaecoo won’t be attached to existing Chery dealerships, so servicing might not follow Chery’s pricing and scheduling style.
We haven’t scored this section of the review and it won’t affect the final overall score.
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Verdict
I’ll save any specific judgments for the J7 until it’s fully launched and we’ve had a decent drive in late March, but first impressions are good.
If you don’t mind driving with all the active safety it’s a pretty pleasant thing, and it’s got strong showroom appeal.
At a pricepoint this competitive, it’s hard to see it not nabbing a few buyers from the establishment.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel and meals provided.
Pricing Guides
Range and Specs
| Vehicle | Specs | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| Core | 1.6L, 7 SPEED AUTO DUAL CLUTCH | $31,990 |
| Ridge | 1.6L, 7 SPEED AUTO DUAL CLUTCH | $39,990 |
| SHS Summit | 1.5L, 1 SPEED AUTOMATIC | $45,990 |
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