On Test: The J7 from the Jaecoo stable

It might have taken a while to get behind the wheel of the Jaecoo J7, but I have to say that the wait was well worth it. When the J7 pulled into my driveway, I really likened it to another more upmarket and pricier large SUV. From the outside, it looks darn good, especially with that ‘catchy’ large front grille, slick body contours and a  sloping boot lid to accentuate the SUV stance. With the 19inch alloys, the J7 sits ready for action. Top marks for the cutting-edge exterior design.

Pic: Supplied

But what about the drive?

Smooth as you like with all the power you will ever need. But get onto the national roads, the J7 just glides away effortlessly.  The J7 is powered by an efficient turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine producing generous peak outputs of 145 kW and 290 Nm, and mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission as standard and incorporates the brand’s advanced new All Road Drive Intelligent System (ARDIS). I also took the J7 SUV off-road and here again I was certainly not disappointed with the capabilities of this go anywhere vehicle.  Combined fuel consumption was 8.2l per 100kms, which I found to be a tad on the heavy side.

The inclusion of ARDIS in the Inferno derivative completely redefines the off-road driving experience, allowing effortless navigation through mud, sand and several other types of terrain. This means drivers – who furthermore benefit from a 21° approach angle, a 29° departure angle, 200 mm of ground clearance and 600 mm of wading depth – needn’t worry about encountering varied surfaces.

An ideal weekend bundu-basher. There are seven drive modes, allowing the Jaecoo J7 to adapt to a wide variety of surfaces by dynamically adjusting the vehicle’s responses in real time. So, whether navigating urban streets or muddy terrain, the system handles each driving scenario with finesse and capability.

Interior

The interior is plush with ample and spacious seating for five adults. More than comfortable leather seats (front electronically controlled) and the dash console has been carefully thought of with soft-touch materials. Plenty of legroom whilst the boot is also big enough to load up the weekend sporting gear and head off to the mountains, the beach or downtown to the country club- 1 335l luggage capacity. The 14.8’ tablet ideally situated in the middle of the console is very easy to use.  It has to be one of the biggest tablet that I have come across. And off course, all the safety bells and whistles are all there. 

 

Pic: Supplied 

Standard Features

Specification levels are extremely generous across the line-up. Belying its entry-level positioning, for example, the Vortex grade includes items such as power-adjustable front seats, an electric tailgate, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, a 360° panoramic camera system, wireless smartphone charging, 18-inch alloy wheels (framing red brake callipers), LED headlamps, front foglamps, automatic windscreen wipers, 7 airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag), front radar and several added safety features.

The Glacier model (R599 900) upgrades to 19-inch alloys and a 14.8-inch touchscreen, while also gaining items such as innovative inter-seat airbags, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats (with a memory function), a head-up display, an integrated dashcam and a raft of extra driver-assistance features. The latter includes items such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-departure warning, intelligent high-beam control, rear cross-traffic assist and more.

 

Shannon Gahagan, National Brand and Marketing Manager for OMODA & JAECOO SA says: “The JAECOO J7 offers outdoor-loving customers something entirely new: far more toughness than a typical urban SUV but also more comfort and technology than traditional off-roaders. Add lofty levels of standard specification, a potent powertrain and highly competitive pricing, and you can see why we believe the J7 will take the local market by storm”.

 

Final Word

Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager Chery / Omoda & Jaecoo SA, says the new J7 perfectly embodies the brand’s “From Classic, Beyond Classic” philosophy and is as such the ideal model to introduce the innovative new marque to the country. In addition, South Africa is both the first right-hand-drive market to launch the J7 as well as the first in Africa.

“As South Africa’s first taste of JAECOO, the new J7 has an important role to play. Boasting high levels of sophistication and performance – not to mention a modern yet classic design aesthetic – the J7 will appeal to customers who love the great outdoors but are not prepared to compromise on either comfort or standard specification,” Liu said.

Pic: Supplied

 

Pricing

Jaecoo J7 1.6T Inferno AWD 7DCT – R679 900

The Jaecoo J7 come standard with a 5-year/70 000 km service plan and a 5-year/150 000 km mechanical warranty. An additional industry-leading engine warranty spanning 10 years or 1 million kilometres is also included in the purchase price.