Electric Jaecoo E5 offers 248-mile range for competitive £27k price tag
The new Jaecoo E5 is the all-electric twin to the combustion-engined Jaecoo 5, and it’s very keenly priced...
On sale October Price from £27,505
The Jaecoo E5 is a very important model for the relatively-new Chinese brand, which has been selling cars on UK shores since the start of this year. That’s because it’s the first of its offerings to be fully electric.
Indeed, the new Jaecoo E5 is essentially the all-electric equivalent to the petrol-powered Jaecoo 5, and it’s set to take on the highly-competitive small electric SUV market.
At the heart of the E5 is a 61.1kWh battery, which promises a range of up to 248 miles. That’s an increase on the 233 miles of the Ford Puma Gen-E, but the Kia EV3 and Peugeot e-2008 can travel further still.
Charging speeds are relatively unimpressive compared with rivals, at 80kW. That means a 30-80% top-up should take around 27 minutes from a public charger, but most other models in the class can facilitate faster speeds of up to 100kW. On the bright side, the E5 does have vehicle-to-load capability, which means you can power external devices using the car’s battery.
That battery pack sits alongside a 204bhp electric motor driving the front wheels, allowing the E5 to accelerate from o-62mph in 7.7sec. It’s indeed punchier than an e-2008, but the EV3 is slightly quicker – and if you want even more speed, you’d be better off with a Smart #1.
Outside, you might notice that the Jaecoo E5 bears some resemblance to a certain range of luxury SUVs. Indeed, with its boxy stance and squared-off front end, the E5 could easily be mistaken for a Land Rover offering – but you won’t have to dig nearly as deep into your pockets to put the Jaecoo on your driveway.
Inside, the E5 gets a 13.2in portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen kitted out with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as a voice assistant as standard.
There’s room for five passengers inside, and it gets a 480-litre boot space – less than the 523 litres in the Puma Gen-E, but more than what you get in an EV3. For reference, the Kia Niro EV has 475 litres of boot space, and it managed to swallow seven carry-on suitcases when we tested it.
If you regularly carry furry friends in the boot, you might be pleased to know that the E5 comes with a dedicated pet mode, which keeps them safe inside the car while parked.
Two trim levels are available with the E5: Pure and Luxury. Entry-level Pure trim comes equipped with a six-speaker Sony sound system, six-way manually adjustable front seats and a set of autonomous driving aids.
Stepping up to Luxury trim adds a panoramic sunroof, wireless smartphone charging, heated and ventilated electrically adjustable front seats, ambient lighting and an additional two speakers for your Sony sound system.
It’s also worth noting that you get a 540-degree camera to help you park as standard – a feature that is only available on top-spec versions of the petrol-powered Jaecoo 5. The camera gives a view around and underneath the car.
Despite its Land Rover-esque looks, the Jaecoo E5 is positioned as a much more budget-friendly alternative. Prices start at £27,505, undercutting mainstream rivals like the Puma Gen-E and the Peugeot e-2008. Indeed, it’s cheaper than the vast majority of other compact electric SUVs. That being said, it’s unclear if Chinese brands like Jaecoo will qualify for the Government’s Electric Car Grant, and the firm doesn’t currently offer its own manufacturer discount.
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