Jaecoo 7 Plug-in Hybrid

Test driven the J7 as a possible replacement for an aging station wagon. Has a range rover evoque look (Chery builds cars for JLR ). A little short - 100 mm in length more may make it look more elegant. However space utilization is good despite being on 4560 mm.

Managed only the EV mode as test drives are a little too short to savour the full prowess of the car. Silent and strong torque and before you know it you are attracting a speeding summons. Steering a bit light and the rear view mirror was vibrating so the image was not clear. That was a bit of a disappointment. However with double glazing the car was very silent and ride comfortable but a little soft. Everything was controlled by the screen - felt like I was driving a large handphone!

Rear seats were comfortable and reasonable headroom in the rear as well.

Tested this model at Ubi. But first checked out the build and materials, which both I find impressive. The welding on the door frames are smooth and clean. Those sealant between mating portions are even and neat too. Interior has a lot of soft touches materials all round. In short, I don't have an impression of the car being budget like legacy offerings from Japs and Koreans. It is conti-like in terms of build, materials used and solidity.

Had 2 different test drive with Allan, who is very patient in explaining the various features of the car. I must I am very impressed with the overall drive and comfort of the car. The overall feel is good and while the price is almost the same as an X1, the plug-in hybrid technology is probably one of the leading brands in the industry.

Took a test drive and I have to say it exceeded my expectations in all areas. Chinese cars have really come a long way. It felt the same as some continental EVs and yet has the assurance of 1.5L turbo charged engine with a huge petrol tank. I can't understand how a 3 speed gearbox can work with a petrol engine but it was definitely a smooth drive.

Perhaps the menu system is potentially complicated as there is a (long) main menu and then within each menu item there are sub-menus... But I suppose after the initial setup, there won't be many settings that require frequent changing.

Interior is sleek and clean but some may find "Too" Clean? But all in all, where else can we get 340hp at below $250k without being an EV?