It seems like a new Chinese-built SUV arrives in Australia every week.
And now here’s another one, the completely new one Jaecoo J5which will soon land in local showrooms.
It’s the little brother of the J7, which Chery’s adventurous sister brand launched earlier this year, and is offered with three different powertrains – petrol, hybrid and fully electric, as tested here.
The J5 competes against models such as Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, MG ZS, Nissan Qashqai and many others in the ever-growing compact SUV segment.
We got behind the wheel of the range-topping battery-powered Jaecoo J5 last week on a flying visit to Chery’s headquarters in Wuhu, China, for an exclusive preview drive before it arrives in Australia.
How much does the Jaecoo J5 cost?
Jaecoo Australia has confirmed that the J5 will be offered locally with a choice of three powertrain options, including an entry-level variant with a conventional 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, a mid-range hybrid and the range-topping battery-electric version we’re testing here.
Interestingly, the EV variant will be the first to hit showrooms from next month, with the petrol and hybrid models following in February next year.
Final pricing hasn’t been determined yet, but the J5 is expected to significantly undercut the larger J7, with a drive-away price of under $30,000 for the gasoline version and a sticker of under $40,000 for the electric vehicle.
Keep an eye on Daily Sparkz for more details closer to the J5’s official launch.
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What does the Jaecoo J5 look like inside?
The interior of the five-seater Jaecoo has a lot to offer, even if it has a very minimalist design.
Firstly, it’s much roomier than its compact exterior dimensions suggest, with generous headroom in both rows of seats and plenty of legroom in the rear to allow two adults or three children to travel comfortably on the bench seat.
And there’s 480 liters of cargo space in the trunk, which is more than most compact SUVs and about the same as some higher-end soft-roaders.
This is mainly because the J5 rides on a 2,620 mm wheelbase, its front and rear axles are pushed to the extreme limits, and the flat floor with a battery pack mounted underneath offers more freedom of interior storage.
It looks even airier when the electronic roller blind, which covers the entire length of the panoramic sunroof, is retracted and bathes the dark-colored interior in light.
The front seats are comfortable and supportive, although the bottom cushion is a bit short and there are plenty of adjustments for all sizes.
The outboard rear passengers enjoy almost the same comfort as the front passengers, separated by a fold-down armrest in the middle. However, if you sit in the middle of the back seat, you sit higher and rely on the two sides for lateral support.
Still, there’s a single rear vent and a USB port at the back of the center console to keep you fresh and charge your mobile devices.
Materials are generally of good quality, with a mix of cloth and leatherette coverings for the seats, black plastic in the door panels, piano black accents on the center console and soft-touch fabric on the top of the dashboard.
According to Jaecoo, the J5 is the world’s first certified pet-friendly car with accreditation from German authority TÜV SÜD for its antibacterial and scratch-resistant organic silicone seat covers.
As for its overall design, the J5 follows a similar theme as its bigger brother J7 with a simple T-shaped dashboard layout. The horizontal section includes an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster in front of the driver and a set of air conditioning vents on the passenger side.
To be honest, the small instrument cluster is all you need and puts all the important information in plain view. Maybe the addition of a head-up display would be a good compliment, but it’s not a deal-breaker.
To compensate, the center console is bisected by an oversized 13.2-inch portrait-orientation infotainment touchscreen, positioned at an angle and flowing into a felt-lined dual phone holder with a single 65W wireless charger on the left side.
Behind it are two cup holders that run at a 45-degree angle across the console and a deep compartment with a lid and armrest. There is additional open storage space underneath with USB and 12V sockets.
The only physical buttons are under the infotainment screen for the three different driving modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – as well as for the hazard lights and for unlocking the doors. Otherwise, all other functions are controlled via the display.
Thankfully, there’s a logical menu structure with phone-style widgets and shortcuts for ventilation, vehicle settings and a home button at the bottom of the screen.
There’s even a built-in karaoke function with optional wireless microphones so your passengers can sing along to their favorite music.
What’s under the hood?
The Jaecoo J5 EV features a single electric motor that produces 155kW of power and 288Nm of torque, driving the front wheels via a single-speed gearbox.
The drivetrain is powered by a 58.9 kWh battery, which can deliver a range of 402 km in the WLTP cycle. Jaecoo claims it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 175 km/h.
It’s capable of fast charging at 80 kW DC, and Jaecoo says it can charge from 30 to 80 percent in about 28 minutes.
How does the Jaecoo J5 drive?
Consider this a taste test rather than a full assessment of the J5’s on-road handling, as we only drove it on public roads in China and on Chery’s test track – neither of which are representative of the range of conditions it will face in Australia.
Still, after a few hours behind the wheel, we can say that the J5 is an impressive little device that, if priced right, could attract new electric vehicle buyers.
Just over 400 km of range is enough to convince city dwellers who only commute within city limits and appreciate the seamless acceleration, brisk performance and conservative regenerative braking properties.
However, the J5 feels more normal than many other electric vehicles. It delivers decent performance without ever putting too much strain on the front wheels, and even in the most aggressive setting of its three-stage regenerative braking, it doesn’t move your head forward as soon as you lift off the accelerator.
The overall dynamic character also feels good, with confident handling and positive – if lifeless – electric power steering. But again, we’ll reserve our final judgment on the J5 when we get to experience it first-hand on Australian roads soon.
The same goes for assessing its comprehensive suite of ADAS safety systems, which strangely seemed far less intrusive in China than we’ve seen on other Chery vehicles in Australia, despite the chaotic behavior of Chinese drivers who pay little attention to road markings.
What do you get?
As mentioned above, Jaecoo Omoda Australia has not yet revealed final specifications for the J5 for all three of its local powertrain variants.
Highlights of the Jaecoo J5 EV equipment – expected:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Exclusive EV front design
- LED headlights and taillights
- Mixed faux leather and fabric trim
- Dual zone climate control
- 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster
- 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Embedded satellite navigation
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless phone charger
- DAB+ digital radio
- Sony audio system with six speakers
- Ambient interior lighting
Is the Jaecoo J5 safe?
The Jaecoo J5 has yet to be tested by an independent NCAP authority, but Jaecoo Omoda expects it to achieve the five-star rating of its J7 sibling thanks to a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance and accident avoidance systems.
Standard security features include:
- 8 airbags including front center, driver’s knee
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keeping assistant
- Blind spot detection
- Rear cross traffic warning
- Speed sign recognition
- Speed limit assistant
- 360 degree parking display
How much does it cost to run the Jaecoo J5?
Like all Jaecoo Omoda models, the J5 is expected to come with the same after-sales provisions, including an eight-year, unlimited mileage warranty with free roadside assistance and maximum price servicing for the same period.
It will also fall under Jaecoo’s Future Price Promise program, which guarantees a minimum value for all models of the Chinese car brand over certain periods of time, regardless of how the vehicle was purchased – either through dealer financing, third-party financing or directly.
Daily Sparkz’s opinion on the Jaecoo J5
Our first impressions of the Jaecoo J5 are pretty positive.
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It looks cute from the outside and is more spacious than you’d think on the inside, making it attractive to hip city dwellers and young families. It also has a decent range and drives more like a regular car than most electric vehicles.
If the price is right, the Jaecoo J5 compact electric SUV could be a game-changer, bringing a lot of attention to one of Australia’s newest Chinese car brands.
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MORE: Discover the Jaecoo showroom
