- Jaecoo 7 is affordable, mid-sized SUV
- Petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrain options
- Easy on the eye and boasts lovely interior
- Our expert Steve Fowler takes one from a spin
Okay, I’ll admit it. When I first saw the Jaecoo 7 parked outside my office, I did a bit of a double take. From the rear three-quarter view, this could be a Range Rover Evoque or Velar.
From the front it could only be a Jaecoo – the slatted grille and bold badge give that away – but there is a definite hint of Range Rover about this cut-price SUV.
It’s no surprise, really. Jaecoo may well be a name that is unfamiliar to most of us – as is its sister brand Omoda. But both are made by Chery—a company well established in China and also a company with deep connections with Jaguar Land Rover. That’ll explain a lot.
The Jaecoo 7 is a mid-sized SUV available as either a petrol vehicle or a plug-in hybrid. We’re focussing on the plug-in hybrid version, which offers an impressive electric-only range of 56 miles, potentially covering most people’s daily commutes without using any petrol.
Step inside and you’re treated to a seriously posh cabin – both in terms of design and quality – with a standard kit list that outdoes many rivals. Jaecoo is heading down a tried and tested path that’s been well proven by many new entrants over the years: offer more for less. In this case the less is £35,065 and the more is a kit list that includes luxury stuff like a head-up display and full-length panoramic roof. And a build quality that’s better than you’ll get at twice the price.
Despite its advantages, the Jaecoo 7 has certain disadvantages. The ride is jittery and a bit too firm for British roads. And the driver assistance systems can get hugely frustrating. I was trying to turn some of them off as they were beeping at me so much, but then the eye-tracker started bonging at me for taking my eyes off the road!
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The hybrid system combines an 18.3kWh battery with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and the switches between electric and petrol power are pretty slick – it’s impressively quiet, too. However, take the official total driving range of 745 miles with a pinch of salt – they’re measured using unrealistic testing regimes.
Performance of 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds isn’t too bad, although you might find the front wheels spinning away if you try to pull away with a heavy right foot on a damp road. Steering feedback is limited, too, while the self-centring after tight turns can feel a little odd.
That interior is lovely, though, with quality materials, thoughtful design, and numerous nice features, including electrically adjustable seats. Visibility is good at the front but a bit letterbox-like at the back, while the plug-in hybrid model has a slightly smaller boot space than the petrol version – 412 litres – due to the battery sitting under the floor.
Space in the back is pretty decent though, with good leg and headroom for adults, further enhancing the Jaecoo 7’s ‘lot of car for the money’ reputation.
There’s a decent tech roster, too, with a lovely 14.8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a high-powered wireless charging pad. The eight-speaker Sony stereo system is okay, although navigating the various menus on the touchscreen isn’t easy. Jaecoo plans to offer over-the-air software updates, potentially fixing some of these issues.
With that priced of £35,065, the Jaecoo 7 looks like great value, offering a well-equipped SUV with decent electric range. Its running costs are low, which will benefit company car drivers with low benefit-in-kind tax rates.
However, it faces competition from established models like the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, which offer a far more sophisticated driving experience.
If how the car drives matters less to you than what you get for the money, then the Jaecoo 7 is a reasonable option. And your friends may just think you’ve gone and bought yourself a new Range Rover.
- Model tested: Jaecoo 7 PHEV
- Price to buy outright/rough cost to lease: £35,065 / TBC
- Powertrain/battery size: 1.5-litre petrol with 18.3kWh battery
- Power output/torque/top speed: 204bhp / 310NM / 112mph
- Range/charging speed if electric: 56 miles electric / max 40kW fast charging (30-80% in 20 mins)
- Fuel economy/CO2 emissions: 403mpg / 23g/km
- Boot space in litres: 412 litres
- BIK/road tax: 8% / £10
- Standard-issue kit: Panoramic sunroof, heated/cooled electric seats, keyless entry, head-up display, 14.8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Sony sound system, adaptive cruise control, 360-degree camera
- Main rivals: Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage
** Steve Fowler is one of the UK’s best-known automotive journalists and currently EV Editor of The Independent and a regular contributor to The Guardian. He’s the only person to have edited three of the UK’s biggest car titles – Auto Express, Autocar and What Car? – and has interviewed the biggest names in the car world from Tesla’s Elon Musk to Ford’s Jim Farley. Steve has also presented documentaries for BBC Radio Four and is used as a resident ‘car guru’ on TV and Radio. He’s a World Car of the Year juror and a judge on both Germany’s and India’s Car of the Year Awards. Read more of Steve's work at stevefowler.co.uk.
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