Jaecoo 5 Review

Omoda and Jaecoo will soon mark their second year of operations here in Singapore. And the brands seem to have struck quite a chord with residents here: You won't have much difficulty spotting the Jaecoo J6 on our roads, and the Omoda E5 has seen reasonable success as well.

But now ready to complement Jaecoo's lineup here in Singapore is this new all-electric Jaecoo 5. Does it have what it takes to carry the torch from these two other models?

The Jaecoo 5 gets rectangular head lights and taillights that contribute to its clean and handsome exterior design

Strong and ready styling

If we were to judge it on its design alone, this Jaecoo 5 should be well poised for success. This Jaecoo 5 may not feature as distinctive a set of head lights as the Jaecoo 6 or sport its rugged unpainted bumpers, but it still manages to project the same strong, off-roader-like appearance that has undoubtedly contributed to the success of the Jaecoo J6.

And this Jaecoo 5 also has plenty of appealing features of its own. From its slab-sidedness to its charming rectangular head lights and taillights, it has a minimalist ethos that has its own appeal that should see shoppers making a beeline for a closer look when they step into the showroom.

Highlights in the cabin of this Jaecoo 5 include the 12.3-inch infotainment screen, as well as the blue stitching that appears on the seats and steering wheel

Pleasant and easy drive

And if they should opt for a test drive, I reckon there's little about this Jaecoo 5 that they will find too disagreeable.

Drive off in this car and the first thing that you'll notice is just how easy it is to place it on the road. That aforementioned boxy exterior helps, of course, but also worth mentioning here is the fact that the driver is accorded a tall and commanding seating position.

The steering here is also nicely paced for commuter work and family transport duties, even if it is largely devoid of feedback. And your passengers also should raise no complaints about the ride.

The infotainment unit in the Jaecoo 5 is easy to navigate and comes with some pleasant colours as well

The suspension here delivers a ride that is pliant and comfortable, and passenger comfort is further bolstered in the Jaecoo 5 by some cushy seats and the fact that there's plenty of leg and head room for all.

Our drive in this Jaecoo 5 saw the car averaging an energy consumption of 7.8km/kWh, which translates into a range of close to 450km - an impressive figure given that the car's claimed range only stands at 402km.

This Jaecoo 5 is not entirely without fault, however. The regenerative braking here always comes on only a moment after you've released the accelerator pedal. This works great for smooth driving if you've got them set into its weakest setting. But those who prefer their electric cars set to deliver a high level of regenerative braking will need to get used to releasing the go-faster pedal earlier than they would in other cars.

The Jaecoo 5 comes with a 58.9kWh battery that can be charged at a maximum power of 130kW via a direct current charger

And rather practical as well

Not that this should matter too much, for the Jaecoo 5 charms even when standing still.

Those seated within will likely have their attention captured by the car's 13.2-inch infotainment screen. Locked into a portrait orientation, it comes with a charming background and proves easy to navigate.

As with many other cars from Chinese brands, this infotainment screen also houses the controls for a host of features including your cabin ambient lighting and driver assistance systems so the rest of the cabin can be nearly devoid of buttons and thus make use of such a clean and elegant design.

Head room and legroom for rear passengers is generous despite the car's compact exterior dimensions

Those bemoaning the loss physical air-conditioning controls can also take solace in knowing that there's a handy bar at the bottom of the infotainment screen so quick changes to cabin temperature and fan speed are still possible. And if you've got Android Auto running on this infotainment system note that this bar can still be quickly recalled by swiping upwards from the bottom of the screen.

The more critical amongst you will note that a lot of this cabin also makes use of plenty of hard grey plastics, but this cabin avoids feeling too drab thanks to the use of some blue stitching that appears on the seats, steering wheel and doors.

Looking for an affordable all-electric crossover? The Jaecoo 5 should please with its cabin space and smart exterior design

All at the right price

So, could this Jaecoo 5 be the car for you? At $169,999, it's keenly priced against alternatives such as the $171,888 BYD Atto 2 or the $178,888 Dongfeng Vigo, while offering a slightly larger battery alongside more power (all prices as of press time, inclusive of COE). These alone mean it should rank high on the list of any buyer looking for an all-electric crossover.

But those still on the fence can also consider that this Jaecoo 5 has impressed us with its accomplished ride and drive. And if you're looking are looking for a car with that projects the same strong and adventurous image as the Jaecoo J6 but would rather drive something that’s less on the nose with its styling, then this Jaecoo 5 must be it.

Don't be surprised to see this become the next big hit from the brand.

Looking for an all-electric crossover? These reviews might interest you:

The Skoda Elroq is handsome and mighty sensible as well

But maybe the attractive and refined Kia EV5 is what you're looking for?

There's also the sporty and practical MGS5 to think about!