2025 Jaecoo J8 review: Quick drive

7NEWS

2 days ago

The Chinese new model onslaught shows no sign of abating, and the next instalment of it will see Chery's lifestyle-focused Jaecoo luxury SUV sub-brand launch in Australia in the first quarter of 2025.
The first model it will roll out is the J7 mid-sized SUV, but the range will gradually be fleshed out with both smaller and larger offerings in the J5 and J8, respectively.
The Jaecoo J8 is a medium-large seven-seat family SUV that's also available with five- and six-seat configurations. It could conceivably be cross-shopped against the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-80.
In case you're wondering about the origins of the Jaecoo moniker, it's an amalgamation of the German word Jäger (meaning 'hunter') and 'cool'. Where its sister brand Omoda (sold here under the Chery banner) is pitched primarily at a youthful audience, Jaecoo targets a slightly older demographic of which most will have a couple of kids in tow.
We took the opportunity to get a sneak preview of the Jaecoo J8 in Dubai, where the vehicle is shortly due on sale.
Given that Jaecoo is an offshoot is Chery, it's no surprise the J8 leverages existing hardware – it's essentially a rebadged Chery Tiggo 9.
As such, the Jaecoo rides on the Chinese carmaker's T1X monocoque chassis and features CDC suspension comprising electronically controlled adaptive dampers that react within milliseconds to information about the road surface relayed by sensors and cameras.
The J8 is conventionally sized for a seven-seat SUV, measuring in at 4820mm long, 1930mm wide and 1710mm tall. By comparison, the Santa Fe is 4830mm long, 1900mm wide and 1720mm tall. The Jaecoo has a 2820mm wheelbase, while the Hyundai's wheelbase spans 2815mm.
Despite its largish dimensions, the J8 is by no means excessively lardy as the FWD base model tips the scales at a relatively lithe 1764kg, while the fully loaded AWD Flagship weighs 1892kg.
The job of propelling this mass is shouldered by Chery's 'Kunpeng Power' 2.0-litre TDGi turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which pumps out 195kW and 400Nm. Hooked up to the turbo motor is a smooth-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
On paper, a four-pot engine might seem a bit weedy for a full-size SUV, but performance is decently sprightly and the transmission is relatively seamless – more on this later.
How much does the Jaecoo J8 cost?
Exact pricing for the UAE is yet to be nailed down, but a company spokesman suggested the entry-level, front-wheel-drive Comfort model will cost around AED125,000 (A$53,420), while the range-topping Flagship all-wheel drive variant that we tested will be pegged around AED155,000 (A$66,240).
If similar pricing were to be reflected in Australia, it would put the Jaecoo in a competitive price bracket against its logical rivals.
What is the Jaecoo J8 like on the inside?
Arguably, the Jaecoo J8's most appealing facet is its plush Nappa leather-lined cabin, but we should of course point out that we tested the fully loaded Flagship variant.
Jaecoo's interior designers have borrowed liberally from the Mercedes-Benz design manual, and that's no bad thing. If you've sat in a recent Benz, you'll find familiarity in the expansive horizontal display panel that houses both the digitised instrument cluster and the infotainment touchscreen.
Also distinctly Mercedes-esque – in both style and function – are the column-mounted transmission shifter, door-panel-mounted seat adjustment knobs and squared-off rotary vent outlets.
The level of fit and finish is exemplary and there's good use of contrasting colours and materials. Our test car featured beige Nappa leather upholstery and faux brushed aluminium trim on the dashboard, door panels and centre console, with some piano black inserts thrown in for good measure.
There are a few hard plastic bits (including the faux aluminium trim), but these don't overly detract from a cabin that otherwise has a genuinely premium ambience. Consequently, the J8 could even make sense for buyers who might fancy a Merc or BMW but can't quite make the stretch financially.
There's not much to fault in terms of ergonomics either, as all-around visibility is generally good, while the seats are superbly comfortable – this goes particularly for the captain's chairs in the second row with their ample adjustability and massage functions.
That said, access to the small third-row seats (suitable only for children) is cumbersome, as the occupants of said pews need to clamber up and then navigate through the narrow gap between the two second-row chairs to access the rear.
However, opting for the seven-seat version (which has a bench in the middle row) should make life easier for third-row dwellers as the second-row seats in this variant can be tilted forward for simpler access to the back.
Another minor annoyance is the lack of physical buttons for the HVAC settings, but at least there's a permanent tab on the bottom of the infotainment screen with fan and temperature settings – so you don't need to scroll through additional screens just to turn the fan up or down or notch, or to make the cabin warmer or cooler by a degree or two.
There are a sufficient number of storage cubbyholes in the cabin. Tucked under the floating centre console is a little shelf for keys and loose change, while a large lidded bin is housed behind the centre console. The door pockets, too, are generously sized.
However, luggage space in the seven-seat version is a paltry 200 litres with the rear pews in place. The five-seat version offers a more usable 717 litres, which can be expanded to 2021 litres by folding down the rear bench.
What's under the bonnet?
The Jaecoo J8 is currently offered in the UAE with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces 195kW of power and 400Nm of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels only, or through an all-wheel drive system, depending on the variant.
A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain is offered in other markets. It includes a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors to produce total system outputs of 450kW and 915Nm – which is quite a lot of grunt.
How does the Jaecoo J8 drive?
If one were to sum up in very simple terms what the Jaecoo J8 is like to drive, it would be pleasant but unspectacular.
On the plus side, the J8 feels a bit sprightlier than we'd expected, given that its propulsion comes from a 2.0-litre engine, which seems a small displacement for a vehicle that's this large.
Jaecoo quotes a 9.0-second 0-100km/h sprint for the AWD J8 (the FWD model is 0.2s quicker) and, while this figure doesn't sound particularly impressive, there's never a perception of sluggishness or lacklustre performance.
Rolling acceleration is also adequately sprightly, as the seven-speed dual-clutch auto is quick to kick down when you stab the throttle. This means overtaking slow-moving cars on single-lane country roads is never a problem.
The engine and dual-clutch transmission team up to deliver seamless performance, and refinement levels aren't compromised by excessive noise or coarseness, even if you work the 2.0-litre motor hard.
Ride quality and overall noise levels are also impressive, so the J8 stands up as a credible alternative to the Euro SUV brigade if you're a value-conscious buyer, or simply don't have the budget for the latter.
Minor irritations when mooching around town include a brake pedal that tends to be grabby in stop-start traffic. In addition, you'll find during back-and-forth parking manoeuvres the steering-column-mounted transmission lever needs a resolute nudge with the brake pedal firmly depressed, otherwise 'D' or 'R' won't engage – a casual flick of the stalk won't do it.
Dynamically, the J8 is a middle-of-the-road offering as its agility and cornering behaviour are neither class-leading nor mediocre. Then again, most prospective buyers won't care too much as the Jaecoo isn't positioned as a sporting SUV by any stretch.
As for off-road ability, the J8 has no less than seven drive modes (including dedicated modes for sand, mud and snow), and its torque-vectoring AWD system is supplied by GKN, which also provides Land Rover with similar tech. With two multi-plate clutches at the rear axle, each wheel can be driven independently.
Even so, the fact the J8 Flagship is equipped with road-biased 50-series Michelin Primacy tyres on 20-inch rims is a clue to its orientation as more urban warrior than an outback tamer. Approach and departure angles of 20 degrees and 17 degrees respectively are nothing to write home about in any case.
It hardly matters though, as the typical usage patterns of prospective owners will likely include the daily schlep to and from office, the school run and – possibly – the odd excursion for camping, mountain biking and the like, which will entail nothing more than light-duty off-road use, and for all of this the J8 will happily oblige.
What do you get?
Among the Jaecoo J8's USPs is a generous quota of mod-cons and safety features, so the vehicle potentially represents strong value for money vis-à-vis its competitors. Of course, we're yet to see how the J8 will be specced and priced in the Australian market.
2025 Jaecoo J8 equipment highlights:
19-inch alloy wheels
Auto LED headlights
Auto high beam
Power tailgate
Panoramic sunroof
Dual-zone climate control
Leather seats
Leather multifunction steering wheel
8-way power-adjustable driver's seat
Driver seat position memory
Heated and ventilated front seats
Multicolour ambient lighting
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wireless charger
Dashcam driving recorder
2 x 12V power outlets
4 x USB ports
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
12-speaker Sony sound system
Flagship AWD adds:
20-inch alloy wheels
6-seat layout with captain's chairs in second row
Nappa leather upholstery
4-way electric adjustment of second-row seats
Ventilated second-row seats incl. massage function
Black suede headliner
Rear console with cupholders
Metal pedals
Head-up display with augmented reality
14-speaker Sony sound system
Is the Jaecoo J8 safe?
No independent crash test results are available for the J8 yet, but one could infer from the five-star ANCAP scores earned by its Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and Omoda 5 stablemates that the Jaecoo is likely to fare well in terms of safety ratings.
Standard safety equipment in the UAE includes:
Dual front, side and curtain airbags
540-degree surround-view camera
Autonomous emergency braking
Adaptive cruise control
Front collision warning
Lane departure prevention
Traffic jam avoidance assistant
Front and rear radars
Leading vehicle departure alert
Intelligent avoidance
Flagship adds:
Emergency lane-keep assist
Blind-spot detection
Lane change assist
Driver monitoring system
Rear collision warning
Reversing lateral emergency braking
Door open warning
Automatic parking assist
How much does the Jaecoo J8 cost to run?
In the UAE, Jaecoo vehicles are backed by a seven-year/250,000km warranty, but we'd expect Chery Australia's seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty to apply here too.
That said, we'll wait for official confirmation closer to the brand's local launch.
CarExpert's Take on the Jaecoo J8
All told, the Jaecoo J8 is a polished and well-rounded offering that should be able to hold its own against established players in the seven-seat SUV segment.
Solid although unspectacular in its driving characteristics, the J8's fortes lie in its premium cabin ambience (for its price) and overall refinement. We'll deliver a more emphatic verdict once Australian pricing and specs are known.
Pros
Impressive premium feel, well equipped
Clean, albeit slightly generic styling
Strong and refined performer
Cons