Review: 2025 Jaecoo J7
This sharp-looking SUV boasts superb range and remarkable value, but there’s one area it takes things too far.
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Welcome, Jaecoo, to Australia’s bursting-at-the-seams car market. Hop in, the water’s very warm.
Launching with this J7 medium SUV, Jaecoo joins other Chinese newbies like Leapmotor, Xpeng, Zeekr and Deepal, all competing for Aussie dollars in an increasingly busy marketplace.
It’s proving incredibly hard to keep up.
Jaecoo is the “premium” brand from Chery, itself only recently re-launched in Australia. So is Jaecoo to Chery what Lexus is to Toyota?
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Not quite. The new brand may have illusions of grandeur, but describing itself as a “premium SUV manufacturer” is stretching things.
And it’s not necessary, as this Jaecoo J7 has enough selling points to pique buyer interest with its strong value, high specification, reasonable drive and attractive if hardly groundbreaking looks.
You won’t hop in one and confuse its cabin and drive experience with modern traditional prestige SUVs from BMW, Audi, Benz or Lexus.
But next to blue-collar mid-size SUV bestsellers – think Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander, Mazda CX-5 and Kia Sportage – there’s serious bang-for-buck here.
All prices are drive-away, with cheapest a turbo-petrol 2WD Core for $34,990. A 2WD Track adds more goodies for $37,990, while an AWD Ridge is fancier again for $42,990.
Most interesting – and making up 80 per cent of sales in right-hand-drive UK – is the plug-in “Super Hybrid” Summit for $47,990.
Chunky price for a brand new Chinese brand, but this thing’s chockers with desirable kit, offers 90km all-electric range and promises up to 1200km between refills/charges with its petrol/electric propulsion combo.
An eight-year warranty’s strong, while five years servicing’s a reasonable $1895.
For reference, a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – Australia’s best-selling SUV – costs roughly the same to drive away in entry-level pared-out GX guise as Jaecoo’s flagship plug-in.
Squint and the J7 looks a smidge like a mini Range Rover (especially from the rear), while boasting fancy pop-out door handles, giant front grille and LED lights all-round.
Hop inside and interested parties may buy one before even turning a wheel. Even the cheapest get synthetic leather seats, while you’re dazzled by a sizeable iPad-like 13.2-inch infotainment screen, plus digital driver display.
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The feel of the seat materials and some hard plastics lower down remind this is no true premium offering, while interior design is safe and plain rather than wow.
But it makes up for that with spec.
Infotainment is very responsive, pairs wirelessly to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and has in-built navigation.
The Track grade’s worth another $3000 for 360-degree camera, power tailgate, heated seats, ambient lighting, wireless phone charger, Sony audio and dual zone climate – superb inclusions.
The Ridge adds greater versatility with torque vectoring all-wheel-drive, and it didn’t disgrace itself over a soggy unsealed track, although ride comfort on rough stuff proved spine-rattling.
The Ridge adds a full-size spare (dropping boot space from a fair 424L to a challenging 340L), and ups the screen to a frankly too large 14.8-inch effort, then adds a panoramic roof and ventilated memory seats. The same arrive for the plug-in Summit.
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Its glass roof helps the decent rear seat experience, the chairs offering good head and leg space.
But if you want a car for the thrill of driving, shop elsewhere. This isn’t for you.
The petrol J7s cruise nicely and prove comfy enough, but they’re far from quick, steering is lifelessly light, it’s hard to brake smoothly and in corners this softly-sprung SUV is a roller.
The plug-in version’s the better drive, especially in EV mode, and looks a great challenger to BYD’s Sealion 6.
It runs on battery only up to 120km/h, but even in hybrid mode with the petrol engine at play, it remains quiet, unobtrusive and zesty.
Electric range of 90km is superb for urban life, and it accepts AC and public DC charging. The 18.3kWh battery will easily go from empty to full overnight using a domestic socket.
Kudos for fitting 17 driver aid systems in every J7, but the lane keep and driver monitor prove overly fussy. Turning them off through the mega screen is a must.
VERDICT 3.5 stars
Competent drive, superb range and remarkable value given its fancy equipment, but Jaecoo should dial down the premium promise.
2025 JAECOO J7 SHS SUMMIT PLUG-IN HYBRID VITALS
PRICE: $47,990 drive-away
ENGINE: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol (105kW/215Nm) with single electric motor (150kW/310Nm)
BATTERY: 18.3kWh
THIRST: 1.0L/100km
ELECTRIC RANGE: 90km (WLTP)
WARRANTY/SERVICE: 8 years/unlimited km, $1895 for five services/75,000km
SAFETY: 8 airbags, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, lane keep and departure warning, auto emergency braking, 360-degree monitor, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and braking.
CARGO: 340L/1265L
SPARE: Repair kit (petrol J7s have space saver or full-size)
Originally published as Review: 2025 Jaecoo J7
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