Our opinion on the Jaecoo 7
Jaecoo will be an unfamiliar name to most UK buyers, but it’s part of a Chinese group which, worldwide at least, is much better known. Jaecoo is a sub-division of Chery and was created as an SUV maker for export markets. Chery also owns the Omoda brand, which is another recent newcomer to Britain. Indeed, the Jaecoo 7 and Omoda 5 share the same platform.
In both instances, loads of kit is provided as standard, but unlike Omoda, Jaecoo is pitched with a little more upmarket intent. That’s evident in the styling; the imposing front grille is hardly shy or retiring, while other areas – particularly at the back – have more than a hint of the Range Rover Velar. This all comes at a price that pits this medium-sized SUV against smaller models from European and Far Eastern rivals.
About the Jaecoo 7
Jaecoo is a brand owned by Chery, which is China’s biggest car exporter, and has been for the past 20 years or so. In 2024, it sold more than 2.6 million cars, which is more than the BMW Group managed to shift.
While Chery also owns Omoda, that brand is designed with affordable luxury in mind, while Jaecoo is meant to be seen as the generally more premium marque. The Jaecoo 7 has a more rugged aesthetic and is targeting the likes of the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and MINI Countryman. However, we doubt Jaecoo can steal sales away from those particular models at this early stage.
The range is simple with just three engine and drivetrain variants to choose from: a front-wheel drive 1.6-litre petrol, a four-wheel drive 1.6-litre petrol, and a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid. There are only two trim levels, with our preferred Deluxe trim coming with all the basics and the front-wheel drive petrol, while the pricier Luxury is reserved for the four-wheel drive version and the plug-in hybrid.
The Jaecoo 7 has some very well established competition to face in the SUV world, so our expert road testers were quick to put this relative newcomer up against the well-known Skoda Kamiq in a twin test. Unfortunately for Jaecoo, the 7 couldn’t quite defeat its Czech competitor due to the latter car’s practicality, refinement and engine range. However, the Jaecoo did impress our road test team with its interior space, on-board equipment and standard of aftersales care.
Jaecoo 7 prices and latest deals
Prices for the Jaecoo 7 range from just over £30,000 for the petrol-powered model and rise to just shy of £35,000 for the PHEV.
You can save on the list prices if you build your ideal Jaecoo 7 through the Auto Express Buy A Car service, where you’ll get top offers from local dealers. You can also check out the latest Jaecoo 7 leasing deals. We can even help you to sell your existing car for a great price with Auto Express Buy A Car.
Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
The least expensive model in the range is equipped with a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which makes 145bhp and 275Nm of torque. Switch the engine on, and it sounds a little noisy at idle. It’s also loud on other occasions, but these aren’t always its own doing; instead, it’s the fault of the seven-speed automatic gearbox.
The laggy transmission is lethargic when moving off from rest, and makes the four-cylinder petrol unit groan as it pulls away. You can take manual control of the shifts, but doing so doesn’t improve things.
Given its claimed power figures, the Jaecoo 7 never feels as lively as you might expect. A Volkswagen Group car with a 1.5 TSI petrol engine offers similar power and torque stats, but feels quicker – even in models that match the Jaecoo’s size.
The 7 is available with four-wheel drive, but this will be a tough model for most buyers to justify. The extra driven wheels blunt performance even more: the 0-62mph time increases by 1.5 seconds to 11.8 seconds, and CO2 emissions rise from 169g/km to 182g/km. It also costs around £3,500 more than the front-wheel-drive version, although it does get more standard kit.
The plug-in hybrid version offers much better straight-line speed than the standard petrol model. Thanks to its 18.3kWh battery, the PHEV can cover an impressive 56 miles in electric-only mode, based on WLTP data. The engine doesn’t cut in too often, and when the battery level drops low, the engine fires up to recharge it.
Town driving, visibility and parking
Slightly dull handling isn’t the end of the world, but elsewhere the Jaecoo 7 trails most rivals for sophistication. At low speeds around town, the ride can be a touch fidgety, but the petrol model isn’t quite as bouncy as the heavier plug-in hybrid.