Jaecoo J6 RWD Review

If the square-jawed J6 AWD (all-wheel drive) piqued your interest, but also caused it to wane when you learnt it was a Cat B COE model, don't despair. Jaecoo has introduced the Cat A J6 RWD (rear-wheel drive) variant.

It offers the same boxy design that has turned heads, along with nearly-identical levels of equipment as the J6 AWD. And, it is currently priced at $170,888, or $31,000 less than the Cat B model. That puts it in the same segment that includes rivals such as the BYD Atto 3, MGS5, and Aion V.

But does having fewer ponies and lower performance blunt the J6's appeal? Or does the move to Cat A work in its favour?

The special wrap also features key motivational phrases that reflect Sgcarmart's philosophies

Sticker surprise

The distinctive wrap on this test unit is a collaboration between Jaecoo and Sgcarmart that accompanied the launch of the Cat A J6 model. It features Sgcarmart's corporate colours, both firms' logos, and a poem composed by Julian Kho, our Media Team's general manager.

Both the Cat A and Cat B J6 models come in five colours: Carbon Crystal Black, Meteor Grey, Rainforest Green, Starlight Silver, and Khaki White.

Decades ago, it was easy to spot a lower-tier variant: It had smaller steel wheels, a less powerful engine, unpainted bumpers, and a pared-down equipment list. Today, re-categorising an EV is simpler: Detune it to meet the output ceiling, but maintain the equipment so that it remains attractive to buyers.

The one-size smaller wheels aren't obvious - this J6 looks just as outdoorsy as its more expensive sibling

Jaecoo has done just that to the J6. The only way to tell the RWD J6 apart from the AWD J6 is by noticing that the latter has one size larger wheels that come in a different design. Apart from that, both variants are identical, with unpainted bumpers and fenders that lend them the off-roader vibe.

It's the same story inside. Slide onto the driver's seat and the only difference between the two J6 siblings are that the Cat B version's front seats have massage functions, and it is equipped with a Dynamic Pioneer sound system, whereas the one in the Cat A model is a Premium Infinity system. However, both have eight speakers.

A panoramic sunroof remains standard, along with all the Advanced Driver Safety Systems (ADAS)

More importantly, both versions retain the same long list of safety features to help keep occupants secure. These include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Traffic Jam Assist (TJA).

That said, the similarity between the two also means that the bugbears remain unchanged. These include the short rear backrests, which aren't ideal for taller passengers, the quality of the plastics (which could be better), and the lackadaisical air-con throughput.

Fortunately, the front seats and outer rear seats are ventilated, and this helps keep the humidity at bay. Interestingly, since the controls for these are in the infotainment, the front occupants can 'torture' the rear ones by switching on the ventilation on a rainy day.

Apart from ventilated seats (four, no less), the car also has its own exterior recording system

City runabout

While the near-identical levels of equipment make the J6 RWD feel as good as the J6 AWD, the gap in their performance is palpable. There's no getting around the fact that the former only has one electric motor, while the latter has two.

The single-motor J6 offers 99kW (133bhp) and 220Nm of torque, figures that propel the boxy SUV from rest to 100km/h in 10.5 seconds. Of course, these numbers seem meagre compared to the dual-motor J6 that kicks out 205kW (275bhp) and 385Nm of torque and does the century sprint in 6.5 seconds.

Not surprisingly, there's some lag when you're moving off the line. However, the electric motor is silent on the go, so progress feel seamless. Besides, the Cat A J6 is more than enough for those who only drive in Singapore.

Keeping the drive mode in 'Eco' is one way to help improve efficiency and range

Because the Cat A J6 is rear-wheel drive and weighs 99kg less than the Cat B J6 (1,775kg vs 1,874kg), it feels more agile. So, although both SUVs have a turning circle of 11.4m, the lighter feel adds to your confidence when you find yourself in compact carparks.

The helm, too, is equally light. While some drivers will appreciate the effortlessness, the vague feel and lack of communication will make keener drivers continually wonder what the front wheels are up to. It's not a deal-breaker, but it is something you must get used to.

Without all-wheel drive, this J6 also has only half the number of driving modes compared to the Cat B model. You only get Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom. There's no 'Slippery', 'Beach', or 'Muddy' since this SUV is expected to be driven only on paved roads.

Sport mode, however, is more ideal because it improves the powertrain's responsiveness

But the one thing that this car needs is more range. The Cat A J6 has a 65.69kWh battery (it's 69.77kWh for the Cat B model), and given the lower output from a single motor, the WLTP city range is only 507km, versus 470km for the dual-motor. Meanwhile, the WLTP combined figure is 354km versus 342km.

One would expect better efficiency from a single motor and rear-wheel drive, but Jaecoo claims this J6 averages 4.7km/kWh whereas the more powerful one manages 4.2km/kWh.

A city slicker

The J6 RWD is aimed at suburbanites who want a rugged-looking SUV without the downsides of a traditional off-roader. Its turning circle is reasonable, the steering is light, and because it's not built on a ladder frame and the suspension doesn't have a lot of articulation, the J6 rides and handles well, too.

The cabin is well-equipped, and the rear seats, despite their short backrests, are not uncomfortable. There's a useful 450-litre boot (expandable to 1,238 litres) and an exterior box for soiled items. If you're tired of those generic-looking EVs, and can deal with the shorter than expected range, this is worth checking out.

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