Chinese carmakers are penetrating South Africa’s car market thick and fast, and it seems every second week there’s a new entrant from the land of the Red Dragon.
Ever heard of GAC? They’ve just arrived. Want to take a detour with a Jetour? Soon you will be able to.
While most of the Chinese players initially focused on the more affordable end of the SUV market, we’re now seeing a bold move upstream, with the likes of GWM’s imposing Tank 500 recently surpassing the million-rand mark.
The subject of this test, the Jaecoo J7, also represents a move upmarket for its parent company Chery, and it slots right into the middle ground of the urban SUV segment.
Launched back in April 2024, the Jaecoo J7 is available in three variants - 1.6T Vortex (R549,900), 1.6T Glacier (R599,900) and 1.6T Inferno AWD (R679,900).
Though not exactly cheap by Chinese car standards, it does at least look like an expensive piece of machinery and many onlookers gave our test car a very clear thumbs up.
The J7’s exterior styling is certainly easy on the eye, with ultra-smooth body lines and concealed door handles giving it an almost Range Rover-like presence.
It’s quite imposing upfront too, with that huge, vertically-slatted grille.
With a similar footprint to its Chery Tiggo 7 sibling, the 4.5-metre-long J7 is slightly larger than a Toyota Corolla Cross but smaller than a Rav4.
Interior space is not what I’d call abundant. Placing my average-sized frame in the back seat behind my driving position there was enough room to ensure I didn’t feel cramped but there wasn’t much leg-stretching space.
The boot, with its 412 litre official capacity, is a bit on the shallow side thanks to a full-sized spare wheel.
All in all, this vehicle should serve a smallish family perfectly fine, providing their holiday packing intentions are not too ambitious.
The cabin materials impart a high-class feel and the cockpit area is almost completely digital, with a large Tesla-like 14.8-inch touchscreen jutting out from the centre of the dashboard.
The infotainment system is fairly user-friendly but you have to use the screen to control almost all of the car’s functions, including climate control, although there are aircon and demist buttons on the centre console as well as a rotary dial for the drive modes.
Thankfully accessing the climate controls on the screen isn’t too much of a pain as there is a permanent short cut at the bottom of the screen layout.
The J7 Glacier and Inferno models are packed with high-end features, such as a panoramic sunroof, ventilated leatherette seats, head-up display and a wide range of driver assist gizmos, including adaptive cruise control.
What’s the Jaecoo J7 like to drive?
All Jaecoo J7s are powered by the familiar 1.6-litre direct injection turbocharged petrol engine that also does duty in the Chery Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8.
Producing 145kW and 290Nm, the engine pairs with a seven-speed dual-clutch automated gearbox. The flagship Inferno has all-wheel drive, while the Vortex and Glacier are front-driven. With a 200mm ground clearance and seven driving modes, it should be better off the beaten track than your average urban SUV.
Performance is sufficiently brisk to satisfy the average SUV owner, but the drivetrain felt a bit unrefined to me. There’s a gruffness to the engine and it’s not very responsive to throttle inputs. The dual-clutch gearbox, as you’d expect form such a set-up, does shift smoothly in everyday driving however.
Fuel consumption in our car averaged 9.4 litres per 100km over a wide range of driving conditions, but intense urban driving will see the readout climb above the 10 l/100km mark.
The ride quality is rather comfortable, even with the substantial 19-inch alloys fitted to the Glacier and Inferno models (the base Vortex gets 18” alloys). Jaecoo has rather sensibly opted for a softish suspension set-up for the J9.
The steering is lacking in the way of feel and feedback, which might irk those who enjoy the act of driving, but it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for most.
VERDICT
The Jaecoo J7 turns heads with its classy looks and should appeal to those looking for a luxurious SUV that doesn’t venture into million-rand territory.
You might get better value from the Chery Tiggo 7, which is similar beneath the skin but cheaper to buy, but the Jaecoo arguably has more aspirational value and for many buyers that will no doubt seal the deal.
IOL Motoring