New owners of the Jaecoo J7 SHS Summit may find themselves starting games of ‘guess the price’ with family and friends – as the surprise on their faces will make it too hard to resist.
Initially, they’ll do a lap of this mid-size SUV’s exterior, which seems faintly British with its short front and rear overhangs, long wheelbase and tapering, shooting brake-style SUV silhouette, leading to a subtle rear spoiler.
Next, they’ll see the large, 19-inch aerodynamic wheels – which look pricey – as do the jewel-like projector LED headlights, waterfall front grille, and full-width LED tail-light – unmissable at night.
But the cogs really start turning when they press unlock and the flush door handles pop out electrically. Inside, the cabin seems upholstered wholly in something that feels like leather, while there are dashes of what looks like brushed aluminium, and then two generously large and bright digital displays – often found in higher priced vehicles.
Clearly, this is no base variant, either, with the panoramic sunroof, head-up display, 50-watt wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate control, and front seats that are both heated and ventilated – and more.
And when you tell them this is a plug-in hybrid, able to do up to 106km (NEDC) on nothing but electricity alone, thanks to its 18.3kWh lithium-ion battery, with a total petrol-electric range of 1200km, they’ll be impatient to give you their guess.
Whatever they say, the look on their face when you tell them it’s $47,990 drive-away is likely to be priceless.
Meet Jaecoo – a new brand offering value-packed premium vehicles
Manufacturing handsome premium SUVs with high-tech powertrains, and offering them for attainable prices, is sure to endear new-brand Jaecoo to Australians.
“We’ve been very warmly received by the Australian market,” says Roy Munoz, chief commercial officer of Jaecoo Australia.
“Certainly having Chery and other Chinese brands pave the way has made it easier. The J7 Super Hybrid is accounting for about 50 per cent of our sales. Consumers are seeing extreme value in that product.”
Jaecoo currently offers two highly-equipped, competitively priced SUVs from the mid-size J7 to the larger J8 SUV. Pricing-wise, the plug-in hybrid-equipped J7 SHS is positioned in between.
As well as space, the J8 majors on cabin luxury – and with massage front seats, plus fully reclining rear chairs, feels literally twice the price when you first sit in it. “It’s like you’ve paid an economy fare and got a free upgrade to business class,” says Munoz.
Jaecoo is part of the Chery Group, founded in 1997. Last year, Chery sold more than 2.6 million new cars globally.
Jaecoo was launched in Australia in a glittering, supersized event at Centennial Park, Sydney, attended by Australian celebrities and hosted by Drive’s own Jess Lydka Morris.
How the J7’s Super Hybrid System helps Aussie families save on petrol
Jaecoo’s Aussie maxim “for this wild life” will resonate with new owners from young couples to families – even empty-nesters. And they’ll find exactly what they need to live these words, thanks to the J7 SHS’s 1200km of get-in-and-go, road-trip-ready range – as-verified by Drive.
“That takes away range anxiety or the need for public charging,” says Munoz. “The Super Hybrid is perfect for the EV-curious buyer.”
The J7’s advanced Super Hybrid System pairs a fuel-efficient, direct-injected 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with a single-speed hybrid automatic transmission and permanent magnet synchronous electric motor.
Under the J7’s floor is a relatively large, 18.3kWh lithium-ion battery that can be recharged using home AC power (up to 6.6kW), taking as little as 160 minutes. With electricity significantly cheaper than petrol, by charging your J7 SHS at home each night, you could save your family a small fortune in petrol bills each year, compared to even a conventional hybrid SUV.
The J7 is even DC public fast recharger compatible up to 40kW. In just 20 minutes on a road trip, the battery can be replenished from 30 to 80 percent capacity.
The system intelligently switches between four modes – Full Electric, Series Hybrid, Parallel Hybrid and Energy Recovery (Regen). In Full Electric mode, the J7 SHS offers instant torque, smooth and near-silent acceleration using only its 150kW/310Nm electric motor.
In its Hybrid modes, the J7 seamlessly switches between petrol and electric power to offer the full 1200km of combined range. Unlike some other hybrids, the J7 SHS runs on the cheapest 91RON unleaded petrol.
“The J7 for us is about bringing that convenience, that flexibility and, really, a nod to the greener future,” says Nariné Salmasi, General Manager Marketing ANZ, Jaecoo Australia. “We’re also partnering with like-minded brands like Greenfleet in Australia to show that we’re thinking about the community and how to give back, and keeping future-focused with the environment as well.”
“8+8+8” – the three numbers winning over Australian hybrid SUV buyers
Jaecoo majors on design, engineering, efficiency and value – but also wants to be known for customer service. Jaecoo offers what it calls “8+8+8” – an eight-year new-car warranty – Australia’s longest with unlimited kilometres. There are also eight years of included roadside assistance, when serviced at authorised Jaecoo dealerships; and eight years of capped price servicing, helping families plan budgets years into the future. “We want to be a peace-of-mind purchase, and have that really resonate with consumers,” says Salmasi.
Future Price Promise: How Jaecoo guarantees your car’s value
One of the biggest costs with new car ownership can also be one of the biggest unknowns – depreciation. Jaecoo takes out this guesswork with its industry-first Future Price Promise, guaranteeing a minimum future value on J7 and J8 models, regardless of how the vehicle is financed. “We want to say to consumers that we’re here to stay and we’re really thinking about you not just at the time of sale, but way beyond that as well,” says Salmasi. “That we really want to keep you in the Jaecoo family and take care of you.”
Five-star safety and unbeatable value: Jaecoo J7 SHS
As well as the Super Hybrid powertrain, the $47,990 drive-away J7 SHS is equipped as standard with a 360-degree surround-view monitor (for easier and safer parking), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, in-built satellite navigation, an eight-speaker Sony sound system and electrically opening and closing tailgate, acoustic glass windscreen – as well as a full suite of the latest in active and passive safety technology.
With a five-star ANCAP safety rating, the J7 SHS comes with eight airbags, front and rear parking sensors, autonomous emergency braking, emergency lane-keeping, lane departure warning, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic emergency braking and a fatigue-detecting Driver Monitoring System.
And while most SUVs on the road seem to be converging to the same fundamental design, a Jaecoo – looking like it should be parked in the driveway of some modern architectural home – is one vehicle unlikely to blend into traffic anytime soon.
