Chery invited us to Wu Hu, China to try out a wide variety of the Jaecoo vehicle range.
We wrung the cars over a variety of obstacles, including an asphalt gymkhana course and some challenging off-road terrain.
The event, part of the OMODA & JAECOO International User Summit, showcased everything from pure electric to hybrid power.
The cars we tried will also eventually make their way into the Singapore market, giving us first-hand insights into what can we expect from these two brands.
Held at the WuHu Longshan Testing Ground, the on-road test drives mainly focused on the Jaecoo J5 and J8.
Even though we didn’t get to try out the electric variant of the J5, the plug-in hybrid version performed amicably. The Chery staff have also assured us that what we saw in the hybrid version (at least for the interior) was going to be identical to the EV variant.
The Jaecoo J5 will most likely make its debut in Q3 of 2025. We did a deeper dive into the car in another article, check it out here.
To showcase the toughness of their range of models, Chery also allowed us to try out the cars on a mixed dirt course.
After we were done, the Jaecoo J6, J7 and J8 were caked in mud, but each car offered an enjoyable and different experience on the course.
A special shoutout goes to the J6, whose dual electric motors meant that you could effortlessly hoon it around the loose mud, sideways even. This model is essentially an electric answer to the Suzuki Jimny, and its retro-futuristic boxy looks make it stand out amongst its siblings.
This model would see Singapore shores in Q4 of 2024 alongside the J7. The Jaecoo J8 will follow suit shortly after, arriving in Q2 of 2025.
The Jaecoo J7 and J8 follow more traditional SUV styling, and both feature a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) platform that promises better efficiency.
The main difference between the two is size; the J7 is a 5-seater, while the J8 can be had in either a 7 or 6-seater with captain chairs.
Regardless of which model we drove, all featured modern tech in the cabin, nice materials, and refined powertrains.
Safe to say, Omoda and Jaecoo would have quite the lineup once these vehicles make their way into the showroom.
Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
Check out more green rides here, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV and on TikTok!
