2026 Jaecoo 8 SUV: seven-seat Skoda Kodiaq rival to arrive next year
The newest UK offering from Jaecoo will be a large family SUV with up to seven seats...
On sale 2026 Price from £36,000 (est)
In Chinese culture, the number eight is considered lucky because it’s pronounced similarly to a word meaning “to generate wealth”. So it goes without saying that the new Jaecoo 8 will have a lot to live up to when it arrives next year – though with the amount of kit it’s expected to offer at a keen price, it has the potential to make its owners feel very rich indeed.
The Jaecoo 8 is already on sale in other markets across the globe, arriving as a rival to the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tayron. It’ll be the Chinese brand’s fourth offering in the UK after the launches of the Jaecoo 5, E5 and 7 SUVs.
While UK specifications haven’t yet been revealed, in Australia – another right-hand-drive market – the Jaecoo 8 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine pumping out 245bhp. That’s punchier than the Kodiaq and most versions of the Tayron.
Given that the Jaecoo 8 is expected to be closely related to the recently-revealed Chery Tiggo 9, there’s also the chance it could be offered with plug-in hybrid power. For reference, the latter model uses a ‘Super Hybrid’ system, combining a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a large battery and two electric motors for a total output of 422bhp and an impressive official all-electric range of 91 miles. However, only pure petrol versions are available in Australia, so we’ll have to wait and see when the Jaecoo 8 is eventually revealed in UK spec.
The Jaecoo 8 comes with either front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, depending on trim. Both versions come matched to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Inside, the Jaecoo 8 gets dual 12.3in screens, one for infotainment and the other for digital instruments. There’s also a head-up display, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and 14-speaker sound system as standard. In various markets, the 8 can be configured with five, six or seven seats.
In Australia, two trim levels are available, with entry-level models receiving full LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, a powered tailgate, adjustable lumbar support for the driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic air conditioning and wireless phone charging.
In case that’s not enough, top-spec models come with heated and ventilated rear seats, adaptive suspension, interior ambient lighting and parking assist.
Prices aren’t yet announced, but we’d expect them to start at a premium compared with the smaller Jaecoo 7, which starts at £30,115. It’s likely the 8 will undercut the Skoda Kodiaq, which is priced from £39,025.
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