The Jaecoo 7 Has Landed In The UK: Here’s What It’s Like

Introducing the Jaecoo 7: motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby drive a charmless but budget-friendly SUV.

Car Review: Jaecoo 7

JT – Xin nian kuai le!

JT-P – And a Happy New Year to you, too. That’s the Chinese New Year, of course, which started on February 17 and always coincides with a new moon.

2025 is the year of the Wood Snake in Chinese zodiac – the folk tale about a race between different animals.

Interesting. Is the Wood Snake why we headed to the Forest of Bowland to test our Jaecoo 7?

Good spot! That and the fact there are some snake-like bends to explore in the Lancashire countryside. Not that the Jaecoo is designed for that type of driving. There’s very little punch to the 7’s 1.5-litre. It’s also a pretty squidgy ride on uneven or twisty roads.

Yes, the plug-in hybrid engine is quiet and refined on the motorway but not designed for a snake-ish wiggle. The steering is too light, the automatic gearbox can be hesitant, and there’s plenty of lean navigating tight bends. A shame, really: the 7 is a pretty car.

In the onslaught of Chinese brands, the Jaecoo stands out. That’s mostly thanks to a huge front grille and svelte lines. Jaecoo is part of Omoda, and both marques will be sold alongside each other. There are more than 70 dealers already in the UK – almost double that by the end of the year.

Most people won’t have heard of Omoda either, but it sells nearly as many cars as Tesla. Probably more soon, as Elon Musk’s popularity nosedives.

Back to the 7, which, by the way, is a five-seater. If you need seven seats, buy the forthcoming and humungous Jaecoo 8, obviously… While there are negatives, the Luxury SHS 7 model we drove was blessed with a 18.3kWh battery that’s good for some 40 miles in real-world driving conditions – great for short city commutes on battery power only.

And the battery never runs out because the engine adds some charge, too. If you must make a quick getaway, the hybrid manages 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds, although the 7 scrabbles for grip from a standing start. Our car was two-wheel drive but there’s an all-wheel drive model for gentle off-roading.

Best of all, the Jaecoo is surprisingly posh on the inside, with good materials and a classy dashboard. Some models have a massive 15-inch touchscreen, with lots of storage space. A compartment under the centre armrest is air conditioned, too – great for keeping drinks cold. The driver’s seat offers six-way electrical adjustment and forward visibility is very good. Reversing is helped by a neat camera system.

As usual, it’s a shame the climate system is controlled by the touchscreen, rather than physical dials – far too distracting. Boot space is average at 412 litres. However, the yin to the yan is price.

Correct, the Jaecoo 7 is fantastic value. The entry-level, 1.6-litre petrol models starts at just under £30,000, while our hybrid is still remarkably competitive at £35,000.  That’s supported by a 7-year/100,000-mile warranty.

There is no doubt Chinese cars are set to flood the UK market over the next few years. Jaecoo has hit the ground running with the 7, and future cars will, no doubt, iron out the gremlins.

DISCOVER

Explore more about the Jaecoo 7 at jaecoo.co.uk

Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby is Director of Programmes at London College of Fashion, studying for a PhD in sustainable e-textile design.