Is the Jaecoo J7 plug-in hybrid the most underrated car?
04 Mar 2025|7,215 views
I have to be honest. I like my cars Japanese, and I like them familiar. There's always an honourable sense to familiarity, since that gives me ample confidence in knowing that the car I'm buying is reliable and there's a good chance I can relate to the brand as well.
Take Toyota for example. The brand has been around longer than my existence and it has been serving people with cars that are steadfast and safe, albeit boring. Sure, Toyota has made some exciting moves recently, with the Gazoo Racing (GR) arm producing lovely cars like the Supra, Yaris and 86 in Singapore, and that's great. But the bottom line for me is that I have heard of this brand, I have seen its cars on the roads all over the world and I have driven countless of them.
That brings me to my crucial question: Can I relate to China-made brands that are new to Singapore like Jaecoo?
The Jaecoo J7 PHEV sports a nice blend of rugged capability and modern sophistication
Jaecoo? Sounds Korean...
An all-new sub-brand of Chery, Jaecoo is a Chinese brand that was launched some time in May last year in Singapore, when the doors to the new OMODA-JAECOO showroom were grandly opened, alongside the official launch of the new Omoda E5 electric vehicle.
And it was only during the recently concluded Singapore Motor Show that the brand officially launched the Jaecoo J7 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and the all-electric J6, both of which sport a nice blend of rugged capability and modern sophistication.
The J7, with its plug-in hybrid powertrain, combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with an 18.3kWh battery that powers the electric motor to give the SUV a healthy dose of 342bhp and 525Nm of twisting force. Figures are undoubtedly impressive here, but the icing on the cake has to be the fact that the J7 offers a combined mileage of close to 1,200km when it's fully charged and refuelled.
The car still has a proper 1.5-litre engine, considering its disposition as a plug-in hybrid
To put that into perspective, you could spend a weekend getaway from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and back, all on a single charge and a tank of fuel.
Doesn't matter that it can go on full-electric mode for up to 90km, or that the tank is regularly-sized at 60 litres, or that it will hit the 100km/h mark from nought in 8.5 seconds. The fact that the Jaecoo J7 can last you easily three weeks before refuelling is nothing short of impressive.
How long did it last you?
I had the car for four days with a battery that was only half charged and a screen that showed 1,168km of mileage left before the car dies along the highway should I decide not to juice it up.
After four days of driving, the car still had over 1,000km of range left
I merely drove for 100km when I had the car. You would think that's ridiculous for a test drive, and I wouldn't blame you, really, because driving is genuinely a key factor when you're, well... test driving. Truth is, I didn't want to go out of my way to drive and expend the fuel. Just to see how long the J7 will last me in real-world situations, maintaining my current lifestyle and habits is a must.
So if I had to extrapolate the figures based on the time I spent with the car, the Jaecoo J7 will last me almost 47 days on a single charge and tank. And even if I were to tone this down a tad, the car will still be able to last me a month, at least, before I had to juice it up.
Aesthetic appeal meets functionality
The Jaecoo J7 PHEV will currently set you back $224,88 (as of 20 Feb 2025), which is to say it isn't exactly chump change. But considering all things current in our temperamental automotive climate, this figure is highly reasonable with the amount of car you're getting. And I'm not even going to bore you with the safety and driver assistance systems or the tech that's loaded with the PHEV.
You'll have to charge and fill this both up if you want to enjoy the full capability of endless mileage
Of course, the J7 doesn't exactly standout from cars like, say, the Toyota Corolla Cross or the even the Subaru Forester when it comes to comfort and handling. Plus, you'll be lugging an additional battery pack, which needs to be charged, to enjoy the range.
But where it lacks, the J7 more than makes up for it with its 1,200km mileage, soft materials used for its cabin, ample space for five adults and handsome good looks that will make your neighbour drool with desire. Sure, a lot of other cars can do these but certainly not the driving range. Isn't that the point of owning a car - to be able to drive as much as possible without contributing that much at the pumps?
Looking ahead...
I suppose in an ever-evolving landscape of automotive innovation, the Jaecoo J7 PHEV emerges as a standout, with its impressive range, spacious interior and good quality materials used all round. Sure, it may be an entrance of a new brand, but it's also a testament of intent from a lesser known brand aiming to make its mark.
So, yes, I like my cars Japanese, and I like them familiar, but can I relate to China-made brands that are new to Singapore like Jaecoo? Sure, why not?
I have to be honest. I like my cars Japanese, and I like them familiar. There's always an honourable sense to familiarity, since that gives me ample confidence in knowing that the car I'm buying is reliable and there's a good chance I can relate to the brand as well.
Take Toyota for example. The brand has been around longer than my existence and it has been serving people with cars that are steadfast and safe, albeit boring. Sure, Toyota has made some exciting moves recently, with the Gazoo Racing (GR) arm producing lovely cars like the Supra, Yaris and 86 in Singapore, and that's great. But the bottom line for me is that I have heard of this brand, I have seen its cars on the roads all over the world and I have driven countless of them.
That brings me to my crucial question: Can I relate to China-made brands that are new to Singapore like Jaecoo?
The Jaecoo J7 PHEV sports a nice blend of rugged capability and modern sophistication
Jaecoo? Sounds Korean...
An all-new sub-brand of Chery, Jaecoo is a Chinese brand that was launched some time in May last year in Singapore, when the doors to the new OMODA-JAECOO showroom were grandly opened, alongside the official launch of the new Omoda E5 electric vehicle.
And it was only during the recently concluded Singapore Motor Show that the brand officially launched the Jaecoo J7 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and the all-electric J6, both of which sport a nice blend of rugged capability and modern sophistication.
The J7, with its plug-in hybrid powertrain, combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with an 18.3kWh battery that powers the electric motor to give the SUV a healthy dose of 342bhp and 525Nm of twisting force. Figures are undoubtedly impressive here, but the icing on the cake has to be the fact that the J7 offers a combined mileage of close to 1,200km when it's fully charged and refuelled.
The car still has a proper 1.5-litre engine, considering its disposition as a plug-in hybrid
To put that into perspective, you could spend a weekend getaway from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and back, all on a single charge and a tank of fuel.
Doesn't matter that it can go on full-electric mode for up to 90km, or that the tank is regularly-sized at 60 litres, or that it will hit the 100km/h mark from nought in 8.5 seconds. The fact that the Jaecoo J7 can last you easily three weeks before refuelling is nothing short of impressive.
How long did it last you?
I had the car for four days with a battery that was only half charged and a screen that showed 1,168km of mileage left before the car dies along the highway should I decide not to juice it up.
After four days of driving, the car still had over 1,000km of range left
I merely drove for 100km when I had the car. You would think that's ridiculous for a test drive, and I wouldn't blame you, really, because driving is genuinely a key factor when you're, well... test driving. Truth is, I didn't want to go out of my way to drive and expend the fuel. Just to see how long the J7 will last me in real-world situations, maintaining my current lifestyle and habits is a must.
So if I had to extrapolate the figures based on the time I spent with the car, the Jaecoo J7 will last me almost 47 days on a single charge and tank. And even if I were to tone this down a tad, the car will still be able to last me a month, at least, before I had to juice it up.
Aesthetic appeal meets functionality
The Jaecoo J7 PHEV will currently set you back $224,88 (as of 20 Feb 2025), which is to say it isn't exactly chump change. But considering all things current in our temperamental automotive climate, this figure is highly reasonable with the amount of car you're getting. And I'm not even going to bore you with the safety and driver assistance systems or the tech that's loaded with the PHEV.
You'll have to charge and fill this both up if you want to enjoy the full capability of endless mileage
Of course, the J7 doesn't exactly standout from cars like, say, the Toyota Corolla Cross or the even the Subaru Forester when it comes to comfort and handling. Plus, you'll be lugging an additional battery pack, which needs to be charged, to enjoy the range.
But where it lacks, the J7 more than makes up for it with its 1,200km mileage, soft materials used for its cabin, ample space for five adults and handsome good looks that will make your neighbour drool with desire. Sure, a lot of other cars can do these but certainly not the driving range. Isn't that the point of owning a car - to be able to drive as much as possible without contributing that much at the pumps?
Looking ahead...
I suppose in an ever-evolving landscape of automotive innovation, the Jaecoo J7 PHEV emerges as a standout, with its impressive range, spacious interior and good quality materials used all round. Sure, it may be an entrance of a new brand, but it's also a testament of intent from a lesser known brand aiming to make its mark.
So, yes, I like my cars Japanese, and I like them familiar, but can I relate to China-made brands that are new to Singapore like Jaecoo? Sure, why not?
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