Omoda & Jaecoo Malaysia is keeping the Jaecoo J7‘s impressive sales momentum going with some deals for its SUV. The company is offering new buyers a choice of either a five-year/100,000 km free service package (similar to the year-end promo last year) or a 0.8% “interest subsidy” that should result in lower monthly instalments.
The service package includes labour and parts such as 5W-30 engine oil and the associated filter and washer, spark plugs, the dual-clutch transmission oil and brake fluid. On the all-wheel-drive model, Jaecoo will also replace the transfer fluid, torque transfer device fluid and rear final drive fluid.
As for the J7 PHEV, Jaecoo is essentially resuming the launch promo from earlier this year by offering a ten-year/1,000,000 km warranty on both the engine and battery. The electric motor and electronics continue to be covered by an eight-year/160,000 km warranty, while the dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) has a seven-year/150,000 km warranty.
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Priced from RM138,800, the J7 petrol is powered by a 1.6 litre turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder engine, producing 197 PS and 290 Nm of torque and paired with a seven-speed DCT. The AWD variant costs an extra RM10,000 at RM148,800.
Meanwhile, the RM158,800 PHEV mates a 143 PS/215 Nm 1.5 litre turbo mill with a single-speed DHT and a 204 PS/310 Nm electric motor, resulting in a total system output of 347 PS and 525 Nm. Fuel consumption is rated at 4.9 litres per 100 km, and with an 18.3 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, the WLTP-rated electric range is 88 km, meaning a total range of 1,200 km.
Eight months on from its first preview in Malaysia, the Jaecoo J7 PHEV will finally be launched this month. This news was confirmed three weeks ago, but Jaecoo Malaysia has officially gotten the ball rolling on its teaser campaign with an image it has just shared on its Facebook page.
The photo above was taken during a fuel efficiency drive last month, in which a group of Malaysian and Singaporean motoring journalists (including yours truly) drove a mammoth 1,066 km from Singapore to Hat Yai. During the trip, our car managed to average 3.8 litres per 100 km almost entirely on highways and still had 190 km of range remaining, as estimated by the car’s trip computer.
The J7 PHEV will be launched in front-wheel-drive form to start, locally assembled with an estimated price of RM170,000; given Jaecoo’s form over the past year, we expect the actual car to retail far less than that. As the name suggests, the car is the plug-in hybrid version of the popular J7, with a few visual and ergonomic tweaks to go with the powertrain change, including new aero wheels.
Under the bonnet is of course where the single biggest difference lies. Out goes the 1.6 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, replaced by a hybrid-specific 1.5 litre unit that produces 143 PS and 215 Nm of torque. This is augmented by a 204 PS/310 Nm electric motor and a single-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) for a total of 347 PS and 525 Nm.
So equipped, the car can get from zero to 100 km/h seven tenths of a second quicker at 8.5 seconds, but the biggest beneficiary is fuel consumption, which drops to a claimed 4.9 litres per 100 km; even the battery depleted, this figure only rises to 5.99 litres per 100 km.
Meanwhile, the BYD-sourced 18.3 kWh Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery delivers a WLTP-rated electric range of 88 km, and together with the comparatively large 60 litre fuel tank, Jaecoo claims an overall range of 1,200 km. As the test suggests, the carmaker has been quite conservative with those figures.
The J7 PHEV won’t be the only Jaecoo launched this year – the company also plans to debut the all-electric J6 and the larger three-row J8 soon.
The popular Jaecoo J7 will soon get a new plug-in hybrid variant simply called the J7 PHEV. The car was originally slated for a launch in November or December but that timeline has clearly slipped, although it should still be arriving very soon.
In the meantime, we have managed to get our hands on an example and have thus provided you with a full gallery of this intriguing petrol-electric SUV. The first plug-in hybrid sold officially not from an established premium brand, the J7 PHEV will also be the first to be priced under the RM200,000 mark, with estimated pricing of RM170,000 for this front-wheel-drive model.
The PHEV version may look very similar to the regular J7 but there are a few changes, with those under the bonnet being the obvious ones. Out goes the 1.6 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine out of the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, replaced by a 1.5 litre unit from that car’s smaller sibling, the Omoda 5. In hybrid-specific form, it makes 143 PS and 215 Nm of torque, which is 54 PS and 75 Nm less than the pure petrol J7.
Making up for the shortfall is an electric motor that produces 204 PS and 310 Nm, hooked up with the engine via a single-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). Combined, they produce a claimed 347 PS and 525 Nm of torque, although the performance figures don’t quite reflect those lofty figures – the J7 PHEV gets from zero to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds (still seven tenths of a second quicker than the petrol model, mind) on its way to a top speed of 180 km/h.
More impressive is the car’s efficiency. Fuel consumption is quoted at just 4.9 litres per 100 km, and even with the battery depleted, this figure only rises to 5.99 litres per 100 km. The BYD-sourced 18.3 kWh Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery delivers a WLTP-rated electric range of 88 km, and together with the comparatively large 60 litre fuel tank, Jaecoo claims an overall range of 1,200 km.
Those figures are evidently very conservative – a contingent of Malaysians and other nationalities recently drove a J7 PHEV from Guangzhou to Wuhu on a single tank and battery charge, a distance of over 1,300 km. Along the way, the group managed to drive 125.2 km on electric power alone.
The J7 PHEV supports up to 40 kW of DC fast charging power, taking 20 minutes to top up the battery from 30 to 80% charge. It also accepts up to 6.6 kW of AC charging, providing a full charge in around 3 hours and 20 minutes.
Visual tweaks that distinguish the PHEV variant from the rather Land Rover-inspired J7 include new aero-design 19-inch alloy wheels (similar to the Omoda E5‘s but with different covers), sleeker door mirrors, a chequered flag motif on the door trim strips and the deletion of the petrol model’s fake tailpipes.
Inside, the PHEV is set apart through a cleaner door card design that dispenses with the ornate grab handles (there are also no more physical door mirror switches), along with a revised centre console without the large drive mode selector and gearlever – the latter replaced by a simple stalk on the steering column. In its place is a row of physical buttons, including for the EV and HEV powertrain modes, while the 10.25-inch digital instrument display gets new graphics.
Despite the addition of a large battery under the boot floor, the PHEV actually offers more luggage space at 500 litres, thanks to the jettisoning of a full-size spare tyre (there’s a tyre repair foam canister instead). This can be expanded to 1,265 litres by folding the rear seats.
Provisional specs for the Malaysian market include full LED head- and taillights, front and rear fog lights, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control with a single rear vent, power-adjustable front seats with memory, heating and ventilation functions, front passenger seat shoulder switches, faux leather upholstery, a panoramic glass roof and a powered tailgate with proximity-based hands-free opening.
In terms of tech, you get the full works – a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, a head-up display, a 14.8-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, a Qi wireless charger, a 360-degree camera system with a “transparent” function, a built-in dash cam and an eight-speaker Sony sound system.
The J7 PHEV will also come with a full complement of driver assistance systems, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go and curve speed control, lane centring assist, an Intelligent Evasion System (IES), front departure alert, a camera-based driver attention monitor, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert with auto brake, a door opening warning and auto high beam. Eight airbags and stability control are fitted as standard, of course.
The J7 PHEV will be offered in three colours – Khaki White, Moonlight Silver (with a black roof) and Carbon Crystal Black, all with a black interior; this China-built tester is painted in Olive Grey, which won’t be offered here. Like the petrol-powered J7, the car will be CKD locally assembled from the get-go at the Chery Corporate Malaysia plant in Shah Alam.
The Jaecoo J7 now comes with five years of free maintenance, parts and labour included. This promo is for vehicles registered before December 31, 2024. The increasingly popular SUV from the Chery Group was launched in July with a seven-year or 150,000 km warranty, and early birds also received a 10-year, one-million km engine warranty.
The neat and rather handsome J7 is Jaecoo Malaysia’s first product, and it’s an SUV that uses the same platform as the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro. At 4,500 mm long, 1,865 mm wide and 1,680 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,672 mm, it’s in the size ballpark of the Toyota Corolla Cross and slightly smaller than a Mazda CX-5.
Jaecoo is being marketed with a heavy off-road, rugged slant, and relevant stats are shared – the J7’s ground clearance is 200 mm, wading depth is 600 mm, while approach and departure angles are 21 and 29 degrees, respectively.
Speaking of which, you can have the Jaecoo with AWD, which also brings seven driving modes to the party – besides the usual Eco, Normal and Sports, there’s Sand, Mud, Snowfield and Off-road too. Both the AWD and 2WD variants come with a 1.6-litre turbo-four with 194 hp and 290 Nm of torque, hooked up to a seven-speed wet dual-clutch automatic by Getrag.
The AWD can get you further, but it’s also slower at 9.9 seconds from 0-100 km/h. The front-wheel drive version is seven tenths quicker to the mark at 9.2 seconds. Top speed is 180 km/h for both. Similarly, there’s also a fuel economy advantage for the 2WD – the claimed figure is 7.0L per 100 km versus the AWD’s 7.7L per 100 km.
Kit wise, both share the same long list of standard equipment. The exterior sports 19-inch two-tone alloys (red brake calipers peeking through), LED front and rear lights (full width at the back, of course) and a powered tailgate. Inside, the J7 gets leather seats, dual-zone climate control with N95 air purifier (single rear vent, why?), a 50W cooled wireless charger, 64-colour ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof.
Also on the list are a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.8-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen, head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, eight Sony speakers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, ‘boss switches’ for the front passenger seat, heated/ventilated front seats with memory, keyless entry, remote start with cabin climate pre-conditioning and rear privacy glass, among other items.
Locally assembled at Chery’s Shah Alam plant, the Jaecoo J7 is priced at RM138,800 for the 2WD and RM148,800 for the AWD.
Jaecoo Malaysia has revealed estimated pricing for the Jaecoo J7 PHEV, which is set to be launched in November or December. The plug-in hybrid SUV, which will be delivered to customers starting in February 2025, is set to retail at around RM170,000 for the 2WD model and RM180,000 with AWD.
Company officials revealed these details to the media during the public preview of the J7 PHEV at Sunway Pyramid, which runs from today until October 27. Visitors will be able to view the car in an enclosed space and experience a video wall through the inside of the vehicle.
As for the car itself, the J7 PHEV utilises a fifth-generation hybrid-specific version of the 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the Chery Omoda 5, producing 143 PS and 215 Nm of torque. This is paired with a 204 PS/310 Nm electric motor and a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) for a total system output of 347 PS and 525 Nm.
Those figures are far higher than the petrol J7’s 197 PS and 290 Nm, and so equipped, the car is able to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds – seven tenths of a second quicker than the regular J7 AWD.
Juicing the motor is an 18.3 kWh Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery sourced from BYD, delivering a WLTP-rated pure electric range of 88 km. Fuel consumption is quoted at 4.9 litres per 100 km, and even with the battery depleted, this figure only rises to 5.99 litres per 100 km. Together with a comparatively large 60 litre fuel tank, Jaecoo claims an overall range of 1,200 km.
Those figures are evidently very conservative – a contingent of Malaysians and other nationalities recently drove a J7 PHEV from Guangzhou to Wuhu on a single tank and battery charge, a distance of over 1,300 km. Along the way, the group managed to drive 125.2 km on electric power alone.
Visual tweaks that distinguish the PHEV variant from the rather Land Rover-inspired J7 include new aero-design 19-inch alloy wheels (similar to the Omoda E5‘s but with different covers), sleeker door mirrors, a chequered flag motif on the door trim strips and the deletion of the petrol model’s fake tailpipes.
Inside, the PHEV is set apart through a cleaner door card design that dispenses with the ornate grab handles, along with a revised centre console without the large drive mode selector and gearlever – the latter replaced by a simple stalk on the steering column. In its place is a row of physical buttons with EV and HEV buttons. The 10.25-inch digital instrument display also gets new graphics.
Provisional specs for the Malaysian market include full LED head- and taillights, keyless entry, push-button start, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats with memory, heating and ventilation, faux leather upholstery, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, a 360-degree camera system with a “transparent” function, a panoramic glass roof and a powered tailgate.
Certain items have been labeled as TBD as the local specification has not been fully finalised. These include front and rear fog lights, a head-up display, eight-speaker Sony sound system, the 14.8-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen, Qi wireless charging, dash cam, blind spot monitoring and eight airbags.
You will, however, get a full complement of driver assistance systems, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go and curve speed control, lane centring assist, an Intelligent Evasion System (IES), front departure alert, a camera-based driver attention monitor, rear cross traffic alert with auto brake, a door opening warning and auto high beam.
The J7 PHEV will be offered in three colours – Khaki White, Moonlight Silver (with a black roof) and Carbon Crystal Black, all with a black interior. Like the petrol-powered J7, the car will be CKD locally assembled from the get-go at the Chery Corporate Malaysia plant in Shah Alam.
A contingent comprising Malaysia and six other nations recently drove the Jaecoo J7 PHEV some 1,300 km from Guangzhou to Wuhu, China without refuelling or recharging.
The 13-hour journey saw the group navigate various driving environments including heavy traffic, national roads and intercity expressways. An all-electric range of 125.2 km was achieved, beating the spec sheet’s 106 km NEDC range.
The plug-in hybrid SUV carries a 1.5 TGDi petrol engine and a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) with a front axle e-motor that’s fed by a 18.3 kW battery. Total system output? 347 PS and 525 Nm of torque. Full hybrid running gives you a claimed 4.9 litres per 100 km, or 5.99 litres per 100 km in a power-depleted state. The fuel tank holds 60 litres.
The J7 PHEV will be offered in two variants in Malaysia: 2WD and AWD. The former gets Standard, Sport, and Economy modes; the latter adds Sand, Mud, Snow and Off-Road for a total of seven drive modes. Also, this plug-in hybrid can be DC-charged up to 40 kW, and there’s vehicle-to-load (V2L) to power external appliances.
You can register your interest for the Jaecoo J7 PHEV, which will be previewed to the public from October 23-27 at Sunway Pyramid ahead of its Malaysian launch later this year, with deliveries expected to commence in February 2025.
How much? Well, the regular petrol Jaecoo J7 goes for RM138,800 (2WD) and RM148,800 (AWD), so why not take an educated guess?
This is the plug-in hybrid version of the Jaecoo J7 that was officially launched in Malaysia in July, when it arrived in 2WD and 4WD variants. The J7 PHEV is powered by a 1.5 TGDi petrol engine paired with a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) with an e-motor on the front axle, and the setup packs combined outputs of 347 PS and 525 Nm of torque.
For comparison, the pure-petrol version of the Jaecoo J7 is powered by a 1.6 litre turbocharged petrol engine that outputs 197 PS and 290 Nm of torque, transmitted to the front wheels, or all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The J7 PHEV brings a claimed 88 km of pure-electric range, while full hybrid running attains a claimed fuel consumption figure of 4.9 l/100 km, or 20.4 km per litre. With the full reserves of its battery and 60-litre fuel tank, the J7 PHEV manages over 1,200 km of range, according to Jaecoo.
Setting apart the J7 PHEV from most other plug-in hybrid vehicles is its ability to take DC fast charging, as indicated by the presence of a CC2 charging port. Its electrical capabilities also include V2L (vehicle-to-load), offering external power output to appliances from the vehicle.
Inside, the dashboard architecture of the J7 PHEV largely mirrors that of the petrol J7, where a 10.25-inch driver’s instrument display joins a 14.8-inch, portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment display.
Where the two differ in in the centre console, with that of the plug-in hybrid doing away with the transmission selector, and the pair of cupholders are oriented side-by-side in the PHEV, rather than in tandem on the petrol variant. The rotary drive mode selector from the petrol variant makes way for a row of simplified buttons in the PHEV variant.
At the launch of the petrol-powered J7, the SUV went on sale in Malaysia at RM138,800 for the 2WD variant and RM148,800 for the 4WD variant, and so the plug-in hybrid version of this model is likely to be slightly pricier than the 1.6 litre petrol-powered duo. Click here to register your interest in the Jaecoo J7 PHEV.
Jaecoo Malaysia says that customer deliveries of the J7 AWD are taking place ahead of schedule. Over 500 units of the SUV have been handed over to customers to date, following the first 500 units delivered to dealers earlier this month.
“We deeply appreciate the excitement of our customers who are looking forward to driving their dream Jaecoo J7 SUV home or on adventures off the beaten track. Alongside our commitment to deliver vehicles on schedule, Jaecoo Malaysia is taking the necessary time and effort to ensure all vehicles are of the highest quality that meet stringent international safety standards,” said Chery Corporate Malaysia’s executive VP Leo Chen.
Next up is deliveries of the 2WD variant of the J7, which Jaecoo Malaysia says will reach dealerships ahead of the initial September scheduled date. The J7 is CKD locally assembled at Chery’s new Shah Alam plant. It was launched on July 19.
Meanwhile, Jaecoo Malaysia has announced an owners club called J-Club. Customers are automatically enrolled and benefits mentioned include servicing offers, social activities such as glamping and car care workshops, exclusive invites for events featuring artist collaborations and auto shows, and even a chance to visit Chery’s factory in China.
“The premium ownership experience with Jaecoo is a journey. We are very excited to continue journeying with our customers beyond the handover process through our elite J-Club. Benefits include assurance of a dedicated and highly trained Jaecoo service personnel matched to every owner for complete peace of mind,” said Jaecoo Malaysia VP Emily Lek.
The first J-Club gathering will be on September 7 at Sentul Pavilion, KL. Members will be kept up to date with the latest happenings via email, WhatsApp, WeChat and the J-Club Facebook page.
Both the AWD and 2WD variants of the Jaecoo J7 come with a 1.6-litre turbo-four with 194 hp and 290 Nm of torque, hooked up to a seven-speed wet dual-clutch automatic. Sitting in the size ballpark of the Toyota Corolla Cross, the first Jaecoo model for Malaysia is priced at RM138,800 for the 2WD and RM148,800 for the AWD – full details and review here.
The Jaecoo J7 has gotten quite a reception since it was launched last month, thanks to prices starting just slightly higher than the related Chery Tiggo 7 Pro – and significantly below initial estimates. In fact, yours truly has already seen one in his housing area, such is the speed the Chery-owned brand is working at.
There’s a reason for that. The company has announced it has delivered the first 500 units of the J7 to dealers – just three weeks after its launch – putting it well within its planned timeframe of the third quarter of the year (although it should be noted the launch itself was postponed slightly from its original schedule of the first half of the year). Jaecoo Malaysia said it has been building up a self-sufficient ecosystem and network over the past seven months for this moment.
Initial units leaving the Chery Corporate Malaysia Shah Alam plant – exclusive to the Jaecoo brand at the moment – are all-wheel-drive cars, priced at RM148,800 on-the-road without insurance. The next batch of J7s, slated to be delivered in September, will be of the RM138,800 two-wheel-drive model.
“It has been a great year for Jaecoo beginning with an exciting preview period which led to an overwhelmingly positive reception during the official launch of the J7, said Chery Corporate Malaysia executive vice president Leo Chen. “We are very excited to deliver the first 500 units of our J7 and we are equally excited to place customers in the driver’s seat of Malaysia’s hottest premium off-road SUV.”
The J7 is being positioned as a more premium alternative to the usual C-segment SUVs, what with its mildly Land Rover-inspired design, a higher level of interior fit and finish and massive 14.8-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen. Both variants are powered by the same 1.6 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the Tiggo 7 Pro, making 197 PS and 290 Nm – routed through a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.
Aside from the driven wheels (and additional drive modes on the AWD model), the equipment list is also identical between the two, including automatic LED headlights, 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels, keyless entry with remote start, push-button start, power-adjustable seats with memory, heating and ventilation, a head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 50-watt Qi wireless charger, a panoramic glass sunroof, a 360-degree camera, an eight-speaker Sony sound system and a hands-free powered tailgate.
The list of driver assists is also vast and includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go and curve speed reduction, lane centring assist, an intelligent evasion system, rear collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert with auto brake, front departure alert, a door opening warning, auto high beam and park assist.
“Our focus is on maintaining a steady momentum of delivering orders for the J7 in the coming months,” said Jaecoo Malaysia vice president Emily Lek. “We are also very happy to share that our network is ready to immerse our customers in the Jaecoo “From Classic, Beyond Classic” premium customer experience, from vehicle handovers to after-sales service.”
New brand, new car. The Jaecoo J7 was officially launched in Malaysia last week, marking the entry of Chery’s SUV sub-brand that’s supposed to be more rugged and premium – think Land Rover. By the way, Chery is Jaguar Land Rover’s long-time local partner in China, and some elements might have rubbed off. Does the J7 look like a LR/RR? Hafriz Shah doesn’t think so.
In any case, the first Jaecoo looks neat and handsome with plenty of interesting details – our full walk-around video will show you all the quirks and features of the SUV. The body sits on the same platform as the recently-launched Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, and at 4,500 mm long, 1,865 mm wide and 1,680 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,672 mm, it’s in the size ballpark of the Toyota Corolla Cross and slightly smaller than a Mazda CX-5.
Jaecoo is being marketed with a heavy off-road, rugged slant, and relevant stats are shared – the J7’s ground clearance is 200 mm, wading depth is 600 mm, while approach and departure angles are 21 and 29 degrees, respectively.
Speaking of which, you can have the Jaecoo with AWD, which also brings seven driving modes to the party – besides the usual Eco, Normal and Sports, there’s Sand, Mud, Snowfield and Off-road too. Both the AWD and 2WD variants come with a 1.6-litre turbo-four with 194 hp and 290 Nm of torque, hooked up to a seven-speed wet dual-clutch automatic by Getrag.
The AWD can get you further, but it’s also slower at 9.9 seconds from 0-100 km/h. The front-wheel drive version is seven tenths quicker to the mark at 9.2 seconds. Top speed is 180 km/h for both. Similarly, there’s also a fuel economy advantage for the 2WD – the claimed figure is 7.0L per 100 km versus the AWD’s 7.7L per 100 km.
Kit wise, both share the same long list of standard equipment. The exterior sports 19-inch two-tone alloys (red brake calipers peeking through), LED front and rear lights (full width at the back, of course) and a powered tailgate. Inside, the J7 gets leather seats, dual-zone climate control with N95 air purifier (single rear vent, why?), a 50W cooled wireless charger, 64-colour ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof.
Also on the list are a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.8-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen, head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, eight Sony speakers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, ‘boss switches’ for the front passenger seat, heated/ventilated front seats with memory, keyless entry, remote start with cabin climate pre-conditioning and rear privacy glass, among other items.
The J7 is well-stocked in the safety department, with a 540-degree camera (AVM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Curve Speed Assistance (CSA), Departure Ahead Inform (DAI), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK) and Front Collision Warning (FCW).
There’s more. Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA), Intelligent Evasion System (IES), Intelligent Headlamp Control (IHC), Lane Changing Assistance (LCA), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Rear Cross Traffic Braking (RCTB) and Traffic Jam Assist (TJA). There’s also TPMS, hill descent control and hill hold for the electronic parking brake.
Locally assembled at Chery’s new Shah Alam plant, the Jaecoo J7 is priced at RM138,800 for the 2WD and RM148,800 for the AWD. In addition to a seven-year, 150,000 km warranty, an early bird package adds in a 10-year, one-million km engine warranty. Join Hafriz in our in-and-out video tour of the J7 and tell us what you think of this new SUV entry – was your head turned?
Chery subsidiary, Jaecoo has officially launched the J7 SUV in Malaysia today, and the model arrives in this market in two variants – the J7 2WD and and J7 AWD, priced at RM138,800 and RM148,800 respectively. The Jaecoo J7 for the Malaysian market is a locally assembled (CKD) model, assembled in Shah Alam, Selangor.
In addition to a seven-year, 150,000 mileage warranty, the early bird package for the just-launched SUV brings a 10-year, one-million km engine warranty; terms and conditions apply.
The J7 shares its platform with the Chery Tiggo 7, and in terms of exterior dimensions, the J7 measures 4,500 mm long, 1,865 mm wide, 1,680 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,672 mm, bringing it into the size ballpark of the Toyota Corolla Cross and slightly smaller than the Mazda CX-5.
For off-roading, the J7 boasts of ground clearance of 200 mm, a wading depth of 600 mm, while approach and departure angles are 21 degrees and 29 degrees, respectively.
Both variants are powered by the same 1.6 litre turbocharged petrol inline-four cylinder engine producing 194 hp and 290 Nm of torque, and both share the seven-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission by Getrag. In addition to added driven wheels, the AWD brings seven driving modes; Eco; Normal; Sports; Sand; Mud; Snowfield; and Off-road.
The 0-100 km/h acceleration run is elapsed in 9.9 seconds for the AWD, while the 2WD variant does the same run just over half a second quicker at 9.2 seconds. Top speed for both is 180 km/h, with a rated fuel consumption of 7.7l/100 km (AWD) and 7.0l/100 km (2WD).
For payloads, the J7 is rated for a maximum towing capacity of 1,300 kg while its roof is rated for up to 75 kg. Its luggage compartment holds up to 412 litres.
Both the AWD and 2WD variants are matched in their equipment specifications. Rolling stock consists of 19-inch ‘Aurora’ two-tone alloy wheels, while exterior equipment includes LED daytime running lights and dual-tier LED headlamps, plus a powered tailgate.
Inside, there is leather upholstery for the seats, climatised front seats, dual-zone climate control (with rear vents), a 50-watt air-cooled wireless charger, 64-colour ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof. Displays come courtesy of a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a head-up display.
Also part of the comfort and convenience feature set are a heat-insulating acoustic windshield, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, chauffeur mode for the front passenger seat, driver and front passenger electric seats with memory package plus heating and ventilation (welcome function and electric lumbar adjustment for the driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control with N95 air purifier system, keyless entry, remote start with cabin climate pre-conditioning, and rear privacy glass.
For smartphone connectivity, the J7 comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while audio output comes courtesy of a Sony premium audio system with eight speakers.
Safety and driver assistance kit in the J7 consists of 540-Degree Panoramic Camera (AVM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Curve Speed Assistance (CSA), Departure Ahead Inform (DAI), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), and Front Collision Warning (FCW).
Also included are Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA), Intelligent Evasion System (IES), Intelligent Headlamp Control (IHC), Lane Changing Assistance (LCA), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Rear Cross Traffic Braking (RCTB), and Traffic Jam Assist (TJA).
Joining the safety kit list are driver monitoring systems, hill assist, hill descent control, multi-collision braking, speed limit reminder, tyre pressure monitoring systems and an electric parking brake with hill hold.
In Malaysia, the Jaecoo J7 is covered by a seven-year, 150,000 mileage warranty, and customers will also be provided with round-the-clock roadside assistance. The J7 is offered in a total of four exterior colours; Model Green, Khaki White, Carbon Crystal Black, and Moonlight Silver.
The company took the opportunity to debut the first CKD locally-assembled J7, which will finally be launched on July 19 after a protracted teaser campaign that began at the start of the year. The plant will likely also produce other Jaecoo models that have been confirmed for Malaysia, including the larger J8 and the all-electric J6. A research and development centre, meant for Chery’s right-hand-drive conversions, will also be built at the compound, as will a test track.
Chery did not provide any specifics regarding the plant, such as the amount of investment, area or annual capacity. A Jaecoo spokesperson did confirm, however, that the facility is capable of single and double shifts and is scalable according to local demand. She also said the factory has been built with exports to the ASEAN region in mind and supports internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.
To recap, Jaecoo is positioned as Chery’s upscale off-road-focused brand, similar to Land Rover – something the J7 aims to emulate with its boxy, minimalist design. Based on the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, the car will be offered in front- and all-wheel-drive variants, estimated to be priced at RM150,000 (around RM20,000 higher than the Tiggo 7 Pro) and RM160,000 respectively.
Both are powered by the Tiggo 7 Pro’s 1.6 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 197 PS and 290 Nm of torque, getting it from zero to 100 km/h in eight seconds flat. A seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission is fitted as standard.
A total of seven drive modes are available, four of which – Snow, Mud, Sand and a general Off-Road setting – are exclusive to the AWD model. Standard kit includes full-LED headlights, 19-inch “Aurora” two-tone alloy wheels, flush pop-out door handles and keyless entry with remote engine start.
Inside, you’ll find push-button start, heated and ventilated powered seats, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, 64-colour ambient lighting, a panoramic glass sunroof, cooled armrest storage, a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, a 14.8-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen, a 50-watt cooled Qi wireless charger, an eight-speaker Sony sound system, a 360-degree camera system and a powered tailgate.
In terms of driver assists, the J7 is equipped with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist, emergency lane keeping, an intelligent evasion system, rear collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert with auto brake, front departure alert, a door opening warning, auto high beam and park assist.
The Jaecoo J7 PHEV that was first unveiled at Auto China 2024 in Beijing last month has also been shown at the recent Malaysia Autoshow 2024, where the brand also previewed its all-electric J6.
Under the bonnet of the J7 PHEV is a 1.5 litre TGDi petrol engine that boasts of a thermal efficiency of 44.5%, according to Jaecoo. This is mated to a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) with an electric motor in front, coming together to bring a combined output of 347 PS and 525 Nm of torque.
For comparison, the ICE version of the Jaecoo J7 is powered by a 1.6 litre turbocharged petrol engine that outputs 197 PS and 290 Nm of torque, transmitted to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Electricity reserves offered by the J7 PHEV enable the plug-in hybrid SUV to travel up to 88 km on battery power alone, while full hybrid running offers a claimed fuel consumption of 4.9 l/100 km, or 20.4 km per litre. Run in full hybrid mode, Jaecoo says the J7 PHEV can attain a combined range, with a full 60 litre fuel tank and fully charged battery, of more than 1,200 km.
What sets the Jaecoo J7 PHEV apart from most plug-in hybrid vehicles is its ability to take DC fast charging, as shown by the presence of a CCS2 charging port on the J7 PHEV. Its electrical capabilities also include V2L (vehicle-to-load), offering external power output to appliances from the vehicle.
While specific details on the J7 PHEV are still thin on the ground, it would appear that the plug-in hybrid is coming closer to its Malaysian market arrival, given that the show car is a right-hand-drive unit. Dashboard architecture is carried over from the pure ICE-powered J7, where a 10.25-inch driver’s instrument display is accompanied by a 14.8-inch, portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment display.
Where the J7 PHEV cabin notably differs is in the centre console, with the omission of the transmission selector lever on the petrol variant, with the pair of cupholders now side by side rather than set in tandem longitudinally. The drive mode rotary selector on the petrol J7 is now part of a simplfied row of buttons on the J7 PHEV.
At its preview in January this year, the Jaecoo J7 has been estimated to be priced from around RM150k for the FWD variant, and from RM160k for the AWD variant in the petrol-powered forms. What do you think of the J7 plug-in hybrid?
While the Jaecoo J7 is just about to be launched in Malaysia – it is already open for booking, estimated to be priced between RM150k to RM160k – Chery’s premium sub-brand has unveiled a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the stylish SUV at Auto China 2024 in Beijing. It looks pretty much the same as the standard car, but its numbers are sure to impress.
Under the hood is a 1.5 litre TGDi petrol engine, described as a fifth-generation hybrid-specific version of the unit with best-in-class thermal efficiency of 44.5%. Paired with a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) and an electric motor at the front, it has a combined output of 347 PS (255 kW) and 525 Nm of torque. For a quick comparison, the regular J7 has a 1.6 litre TGDi engine with 197 PS and 290 Nm of torque.
The J7 PHEV can run on battery power alone for up to 88 km, and in full hybrid mode it’s claimed to achieve fuel consumption as low as 4.9 l/100 km (20.4 km/l). Jaecoo says the latter allows for a combined range (with full battery and fuel tank) of over 1,200 km, though it has to be said that this is purely a theoretical claim with its 60 litre fuel tank. As is usual with PHEVs, real-world fuel consumption can be significantly higher once the battery runs out of juice.
Unlike most other PHEVs though, Jaecoo’s electrified SUV has DC fast charging capability, as seen with the CCS2 port on the display vehicle. However, no details on the battery size or charge speeds are available as of yet. Another feature present here that is not commonly seen on plug-in hybrids is V2L external power output capability. Neat stuff, perfect for glamping sessions during off-road adventures.
Visually, new 19-inch wheels with an aero-optimised enclosed design (similar to the ones on Chery Omoda E5) mark out the PHEV variant, along with the additional charge flap on the right side and the lack of visible exhaust outlets round the back. Of course, the petrol engine does still have exhaust pipes, but they are hidden out of view, in line with this being a cleaner, new energy variant.
The aero-optimised wheels apparently help reduce the J7’s drag coefficient to 0.318 Cd, which is relatively low for a blocky, upright SUV. The Range Rover-like fancy flush door handles (a standard J7 feature) play a role here too.
There’s no word yet if the Jaecoo J7 PHEV will be sold in the Malaysian market, but for now it’s looking promising, especially considering the incredible rate at which Chery and Jaecoo are growing. Anyway, do you see the J7 PHEV as the best of both worlds, or would you just prefer a regular ICE variant alongside pure-EV offering? Discuss below!
It’s tough being a new car brand in 2024. For the longest time, the market was dominated by national carmakers alongside established names from Germany and Japan, with bit players like the Koreans and the French fighting for scraps. Just ten years ago, any suggestion that Chinese cars would register anything more than a blip on the local vehicle sales charts would’ve gotten you laughed out the room.
But when Proton started selling Geely-based products in late 2018, the penny dropped. Suddenly the public was getting comfortable with buying handsome, well made and (relatively) affordable cars from the Middle Kingdom. Fast forward to today and you have a wealth of mostly SUV options from China from the likes of BYD and Chery, both of which are reporting strong sales.
Success, however, breeds familiarity – and with it, contempt. Almost every car you see on the road right now is a middling family crossover with either a small turbocharged engine or an electric motor, many of which come from China. And that’s before sales of budding brands like GAC or MG have truly taken hold. You start to see how difficult it would be for any new brand to stand out.
Enter Jaecoo, a new brand developed by Chery. This upstart young marque is positioning itself as a more upmarket and rugged alternative to its parent company – think of it as Land Rover for the masses. Its new J7, set to reach customers’ hands in the third quarter of the year, is being touted for its off-road capabilities – rare in this day and age. But do its claims actually hold water? We wade through some of that water (and plenty more besides) at the Malaysia 4WD Training and Experience Centre (M4TREC) to find out.
