Name: New Jaecoo 7 models and Specifications
Brand: JAECOO

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The 1.5T PHEV is a plug-in hybrid, so it combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to produce 201bhp with 0-62mph taking 8.5 seconds. An 18.3kWh battery powers the electric motor to deliver an official electric-only range of 57 miles.

1.5T PHEV

This four-wheel-drive version with 145bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine is paired with an automatic gearbox, with 0-62mph taking 11.8 seconds.

1.6T

Entry-level Deluxe trim is very well equipped, with full LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, faux-leather upholstery, heated and electrically adjustable front seats, a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone-charging, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a powered tailgate. It’s only available with the front-wheel drive petrol version.

Deluxe

Luxury trim is only available with the four-wheel-drive and PHEV versions. It comes with a larger 14.8in infotainment screen, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, cooled front seats, heated outer rear seats, rear privacy glass and a Sony sound system.

Luxury

JAECOO

1.6T Deluxe 5dr 7DCT

1.6T AWD Luxury 5dr 7DCT

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1.5T PHEV Luxury 5dr Auto

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Jaecoo 7

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

In non-PHEV petrol form, the Jaecoo 7 is similarly priced to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/tucson/4x4/review/n103">Hyundai Tucson</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a>&nbsp;but more expensive than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c5-aircross/hatchback/review/n18246">Citroën C5 Aircross</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/hs/hatchback/review/n20298">MG HS</a>.&nbsp;

The PHEV is less expensive to buy than the equivalent C5 Aircross, Tucson and Sportage, but more than the HS. We suspect it will be the version to go for if you’re looking for a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-company-cars/n22605">company car</a> because of its good electric-only range and subsequently low official CO2 emissions and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-guide/n9352">BIK tax rating</a>.&nbsp;

The MG HS PHEV and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/seal-u/estate/review/n26815">BYD Seal U</a> Comfort both sit in a cheaper tax band – and an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> will cost less than any of them in BIK tax.

The Jaecoo 7 is expected to depreciate at a similar rate to the Sportage and Tucson. The HS, by comparison, will lose less of its value.

The non-PHEV version won’t be as cheap to run as some <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUVs</a>. The front-wheel-drive version can officially average 37.7mpg&nbsp;while the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">four-wheel-drive</a> model can only manage 35.3mpg. Those figures are similar to the HS, but the Sportage and Tucson are more efficient, with official averages above 40mpg.

The Jaecoo 7 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a> can officially average 403mpg, and while you’re unlikely to see that figure in the real world, it should be much cheaper to run than the petrol if you plug it in regularly and charge at home. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/fastest-charging-electric-cars/n26105">maximum charging rate</a> is 40kW, which means a 30-80% top-up should take around 20 minutes. That’s faster than most PHEVs, including the Sportage.

Standard equipment is very generous, with the entry-level Deluxe model offering full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/headlight-bulbs-what-types-are-there-and-which-is-best/n19332">LED headlights</a>, faux-leather upholstery, heated and electrically adjustable front seats, a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone-charging, wireless <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-cruise-control-and-should-you-have-it-on-your-next-car/n26822">adaptive cruise control</a>&nbsp;and a powered tailgate. It’s only available with the front-wheel-drive petrol version.

Luxury trim adds a few more goodies, such as the larger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment screen</a>, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, cooled front seats, heated outer rear seats, rear privacy glass and a Sony sound system.

No matter which trim you go for, all Jaecoo 7s come with plenty of safety equipment, with automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>), blind-spot monitoring, a driver monitoring system, lane-departure warning and road-sign recognition offered as standard. It has a full five-star <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> safety rating.&nbsp;

The Jaecoo 7 hasn't featured in our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars/n26137">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> so we don't know how reliable it will be, but it comes with a seven-year, 100,000-mile <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/best-new-car-warranties/n26485">warranty</a> for peace of mind. Kia gives you seven years of cover too, while Toyota gives you up to&nbsp;10 years, but most rivals have much shorter warranties.

“The driver monitoring system in the Jaecoo 7 is very sensitive. In one instance it was telling me to look ahead at the road while I was quickly trying to adjust the interior temperature on the touchscreen.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Used Car Writer</a>

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The Jaecoo 7’s engine line-up kicks off with a 145bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine. It drives the front wheels and is similar to what you get in the petrol-powered <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/omoda/5/4x4/review/n26843">Omoda 5</a> (also a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a>) but produces slightly less power.

The engine pulls reasonably well when accelerating off the line&nbsp;but it could do with more oomph at higher speeds. That’s evident by its official 0-62mph time of 10.3 seconds – slightly slower than a non-PHEV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/hs/hatchback/review/n20298">MG HS</a>.&nbsp;

The same engine is offered with all-wheel drive (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">AWD</a>). We’ve yet to test it, but it does come with Sand, Mud, Snow and Off-road driving modes, which adjust the AWD system to suit the terrain you’re on.

The 1.6-litre petrol comes with a seven-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">automatic gearbox</a> that changes gears quickly and smoothly once up to speed but can be hesitant when driving around town. There's no <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/which-cars-come-with-a-manual-gearbox/n26678">manual gearbox option</a>.

The Jaecoo 7 is also available as a petrol plug-in hybrid (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>), with what's modestly called the Super Hybrid System (SHS). It combines a 1.5-litre engine with an electric motor to produce 201bhp and comes with a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">CVT auto gearbox</a>. The official 0-62mph time is 8.5 seconds, and we managed 7.6 during testing.

The PHEV's 18.3kWh battery delivers a competitive official electric-only range of 57 miles – which is more than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/tucson/4x4/review/n103">Hyundai Tucson</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage</a> PHEVs but less than the equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/hs/hatchback/review/n20298">MG HS</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan/estate/review/n17357">Volkswagen&nbsp;Tiguan</a>.

The battery never fully depletes, with the engine charging it up when it’s running low. That way, the car operates like a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-hybrid-cars-you-dont-have-to-plug-in/n17700">regular hybrid</a> to help save fuel, although you'll need to&nbsp;plug&nbsp;in the car regularly to maximise efficiency. It averaged 48.7mpg after we drained as much out of the battery as we could.&nbsp;

The hybrid system itself is quiet and refined. It's near-enough silent when running in electric mode, and the engine is smooth and hushed – that goes for when it fires up, as well as under strong acceleration.

Thanks to its double-glazed windows, the Jaecoo 7 is generally quiet on motorways, with wind and road noise kept in check well for the most part, but coarse surfaces suddenly whip up a lot of road noise.

Some PHEVs have grabby brakes because of the transition between mechanical and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-regenerative-braking-and-how-does-it-work/n25212">regenerative braking</a>, but the Jaecoo 7's are smooth and progressive, allowing you to stop gracefully.

Those are the positives, but unfortunately&nbsp;the rest of the driving experience is full of negatives. The PHEV’s impressive sprint time aside, acceleration can be a messy affair. When you put your foot down from a standstill the front tyres often struggle for grip, even in dry conditions.

The ride is constantly fidgety over lumps and bumps, with the regular petrol version worse than the PHEV. It’s not great when you encounter harsh imperfections either – you’re often met with a loud thump.

The Jaecoo 7 leans heavily in the corners – more so in the heavier PHEV – and struggles for grip during sharper turns. The steering feels light and unnatural, making the car difficult to place accurately on twisty country roads. And the jerky&nbsp;on/off switch of an accelerator pedal makes it difficult to drive smoothly.&nbsp;

Overall, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/hs/hatchback/review/n20298">MG HS</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan/estate/review/n17357">VW Tiguan</a> are much better to drive and give you a more comfortable ride.

The Jaecoo 7's safety systems affect the driving experience too&nbsp;because they’re particularly sensitive. The lane-keep assist can cause the steering to suddenly become stiff if you’re anywhere near a white line. The driver monitoring often bongs at you for glancing at the sat-nav, putting up a message saying you’ve been distracted “for a long time”.&nbsp;

You can turn the systems off&nbsp;but it involves delving through menus and pressing multiple on-screen icons. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/symbioz/estate/review/n27041">Renault Symbioz</a> has a customisable safety button that makes life&nbsp;much easier.

“The Jaecoo 7 PHEV's forced power-saving mode stood out to me as a useful feature. It allows you to use the engine to charge up the battery so you can drive on electric power later without stopping to charge.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Used Car Writer</a>

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

15t-phev

Chinese cars have a reputation for having unconventional names, and this new Jaecoo 7 family SUV is the latest example.

Its name – specifically the Jaecoo element – combines the German word Jaeger and the English word cool. The full translation is "hunter cool", which is said to reflect the brand’s goal of creating stylish vehicles that are capable both on and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">off-road</a>.

Jaecoo itself is a subsidiary of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/chinese-cars-everything-you-need-to-know/n26813">Chinese car maker</a>&nbsp;Chery – one of the world's biggest automotive brands. It was formed in 2023 alongside sister brand Omoda with the aim of disrupting the UK car market with a range of petrol, hybrid and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a>.

Models launched so far include&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/omoda/5/4x4/review/n26843">Omoda 5</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/omoda/5/4x4/review/n27188">Omoda E5</a>&nbsp;and now this Jaecoo 7 – which&nbsp;despite its name&nbsp;is not a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seater</a> (you'll need the Jaecoo 8 for that).

So&nbsp;does the Jaecoo 7 have what it takes to hunt down the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">best family SUVs</a> on sale, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/tucson/4x4/review/n103">Hyundai Tucson</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/hs/hatchback/review/n20298">MG HS</a>? Or will it struggle to compete in a hotly contested market? Read on to find out…

<h3><a href="https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90474827/d77b5cae5b94&amp;rdt=4" target="_blank">The 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey is live, tell us about your car now</a></h3>

It’s very easy to find a comfortable driving position in the Jaecoo 7. It comes with a six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat as standard, and the steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake. Plus, the seats are supportive with&nbsp;adjustable lumbar support on all versions.

Forward visibility is very good – you sit high up with a great view over the bonnet through the upright windscreen. Side visibility is equally good.

The rear view is limited by wide rear pillars and a small back window. Fortunately you get what Jaecoo calls a 540-degree camera, which gives you a transparent view around the car on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment touchscreen</a> when you're manoeuvring.

The size of the touchscreen depends on the trim you go for. On entry-level Deluxe cars, it measures 13.2in while on Luxury models it's 14.8in. No matter the trim, all cars come with the same software installed.

The touchscreen's graphics are sharp, it's&nbsp;quick to respond when you touch it and the home screen lay-out is reasonably simple, but things get&nbsp;complicated for some functions. For example, there’s no volume knob – you have to dive through submenus in the car’s settings. For such a simple adjustment, it’s a bit of a faff.

The car has no physical climate controls either – you adjust them on the touchscreen. And when you're using the standard <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> that means swiping&nbsp;up and tapping the climate icon to bring the settings up. Physical controls and dials would be much less distracting to use while driving.

All versions of the Jaecoo 7 have a&nbsp;crisp and clear 10.3in digital driver's display. You can choose between traditional dials or a more simple lay-out – although you have to dive into the touchscreen to switch between them&nbsp;(as opposed to using the steering-wheel controls, as you can on some cars).

Unusually, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>&nbsp;and non-PHEV versions have slightly different interiors. In the non-PHEV car&nbsp;you get a physical gear selector, an engine start/stop button and a drive mode dial, while in the PHEV you get drive mode shortcut buttons and a column-mounted gear selector (it doesn’t get a start/stop button). They also have different window switches and door panel designs.

Interior quality, for the most part, is very good&nbsp;and everything feels tightly screwed together. There are some pleasant soft-touch plastics and faux-leather materials on the upper dashboard and doors, but also some cheap and scratchy plastics lower down the dash, such as on the glovebox.

“All versions come with faux-leather seats as standard, which is great, but I did find the leather on the entry-level Jaecoo 7 to be a bit grainy and cheap.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Used Cars Writer</a>

The Jaecoo 7 is a competitively priced family SUV that's available as a plug-in hybrid

No matter where you’re sitting in the Jaecoo 7, there’s no shortage of space. In the front, there’s a good amount of head, leg and shoulder room, with a large gap between the driver and front passenger.

There are plenty of places to store your odds and ends too, with two wireless charging pads, a large central cubby and a big storage tray under the centre console.

In the back seats there’s acres of head and leg room, and passengers can slide their feet under the front seats with room to spare. Those more than 6ft tall won’t have any trouble getting comfortable in the outer two seats, but if you sit in the middle you might struggle because of the&nbsp;hard and raised seat base.

The floor is flat in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a> version&nbsp;so there’s plenty of foot space. For the petrol car, there’s a very small hump in the floor, but it’s almost flat.&nbsp;

The boot in the Jaecoo 7 is quite small on paper, with just 412 litres of space whichever engine you go for. For comparison, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/hs/hatchback/review/n20298">MG HS</a> offers 507 litres of storage and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage</a> 562 litres. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c5-aircross/hatchback/review/n18246">Citroën C5 Aircross</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a>&nbsp;have <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791">bigger boots</a>&nbsp;too.

The space itself is reasonably practical and you shouldn’t have much trouble with fitting in your family’s holiday luggage. Plus&nbsp;the boot opening is square with no loading lip. The petrol model has an adjustable boot floor while the PHEV has some underfloor storage for the charging cables.

The back seats split 60/40 and fold down to create a flat load&nbsp;bay. You get the same split in the Qashqai, while the C5 Aircross, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/tucson/4x4/review/n103">Hyundai Tucson</a> and the Sportage have a more versatile 40/20/40 split.&nbsp;The Jaecoo 7's back seats don’t tilt or slide like they do in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/kuga/4x4/review/n57">Ford Kuga</a>.

“The Jaecoo 7 has two sets of electric seat controls for the front passenger seat, including one&nbsp;on the side of the seat back. If I were 10 years old, I'd find that great for&nbsp;annoying a parent in the front seat.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Used Car Writer</a>

deluxe

luxury

Even with its smart interior, generous kit list and long warranty, the Jaecoo 7 is best avoided. Its driving experience is poor, with its fidgety ride, wayward handling and over-sensitive safety systems meaning moments of peace are all too rare. If you do buy one, the PHEV version makes the most sense – it’s well priced and potentially very efficient.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

&nbsp;

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