The first details of the Jaecoo J7 ‘full hybrid’ have been revealed in the UK, proving a strong hint at what to expect in Australia.
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Specification details for the Jaecoo J7 Hybrid have been revealed overseas, providing the strongest hint yet at what to expect for Australia, should it be given the green light for local sale.
The new Jaecoo J7 full-hybrid is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, producing a combined 165kW from its petrol and electric drive systems.
The hybrid system is believed to be similar to that of the front-wheel-drive two-motor hybrid system used in the J7 plug-in hybrid, with one electric drive motor, and one operating as a starter-generator – albeit less powerful overall.
Fuel figures for the UK market put WLTP fuel consumption at 4.4 litres per 100km. Jaecoo boasts a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 8.3 seconds for the J7 Hybrid.
Entry-level versions of rival hybrid are rated as low as 4.9L/100km for the Hyundai Tucson, 5.2L/100km for the GWM Haval H6, and 4.7L/100km for the outgoing Toyota RAV4, with the new-generation model yet to be confirmed.
Jaecoo also claims the 1.5-litre engine boasts a high thermal efficiency rating of 44.5 per cent, relating to how much of the fuel used results in power produced, rather than lost as heat.
For comparison, Toyota’s ‘Dynamic Force’ 2.5-litre hybrid in the outgoing RAV4 claims 41 per cent thermal efficiency.
The Jaecoo J7 range in Australia, so far, includes the J7 powered by a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine, producing 137kW, or the J7 SHS plug-in hybrid with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and electric motors providing a combined 255kW.
The J7 Hybrid will adopt the ‘SHS’ Super Hybrid System badging already used on plug-in hybrid models, with the systems to be known as SHS-P for plug-in hybrid versions and SHS-H for full hybrid variants.
Two variants will be offered in the UK market, where the J7 is known as the Jaecoo 7.
The Jaecoo 7 SHS-H Pure will come with ‘tweed’ fabric upholstery, dual-zone climate control, a refrigerated centre console, six-speaker audio, and a 13.2-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Jaecoo 7 SHS-H Deluxe adds an eight-speaker sound system, a larger 14.8-inch infotainment display, and eco-leather upholstery, along with other minor additions.
Pricing in the UK starts from £29,195 ($AU55,060) for the J7 SHS-H Pure, or £32,795 ($61,850) for the Deluxe.
British pricing for the entry-level Jaecoo 7 petrol starts from £28,865 ($AU54,440), while in Australia, the cheapest J7 is $37,990 drive-away, suggesting the J7 could kick off from under $40,000 if it comes to Australia.
The Jaecoo J7 Hybrid has not been confirmed for Australia at this stage, with a Jaecoo spokesperson telling Drive: “While we are currently reviewing a number of international models for the Australian market, the Jaecoo J7 SHS-H is yet to be confirmed for local showrooms.”
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Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
