The Jaecoo J5 has had a bit of a slow roll out since its reveal in China back in October. In the months after, we’ve seen the car a number of times – including an electric version – but details and an on-sale date remain nebulous. Fortunately, it looks like the SUV will enter markets sooner rather than later, as it’s been confirmed that deliveries will begin in the UK later this year.
Before that, the J5 (known simply as the Jaecoo 5 in Britain) will make its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, following in the footsteps of the larger J7 last year. The car will be piloted up the hillclimb route by an all-female racing team, the company stated.
Bucking the trend of electrification, the J5 will be sold in petrol form at first, powered by Chery’s ubiquitous 1.6 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. No output figures have been released so far, but expect them to mirror the J7’s – 197 PS and 290 Nm of torque, likely sent to the front wheels through that car’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Two variants will be offered in the UK – the Pure will come with automatic halogen (not LEDs, surprisingly) headlights, a six-speaker Sony sound system, Level 2 semi-autonomous driving, six-way power-adjustable front seats and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Stepping up to the Luxury model will net buyers a panoramic glass roof, eight speakers, wireless charging and heated and ventilated front seats.
Sporting a rather Range Rover Evoque-like design (although not nearly as derivative as the Chinese-market Chery Tiggo 7 Sport), the J5 sports slim rectangular head- and taillights, an upright Jaecoo waterfall grille, conventional pull-type door handles, a slim full-width air intake and a horizontal crease that joins the headlights, the clamshell bonnet and the taillights.
Meanwhile, the minimalist interior features a waterfall-style centre console housing the 13.2-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen plus dual smartphone holders (including a Qi wireless charger on the left side), twin cupholders and some open storage underneath. There’s also a four-spoke steering wheel from the Omoda C9.
Jaecoo calls the J5 a “pet-friendly” SUV and to that end it features “extended” seats for extra comfort for your furry friends, plus a powerful cabin filter that sucks out pet hair from the air. The car also gets an “intelligent” temperature control system and an antibacterial “health device” that inhibits bacteria growth, and the company says it will produce pet accessories such as a feeding device and boarding steps for smaller pets.
Aside from the petrol model, the J5 will also be offered as a pure EV, equipped with a single front motor producing 211 PS (155 kW) and 288 Nm of torque, getting it from zero to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds. A 60.9 kWh pack – likely a BYD-sourced Blade lithium iron phosphate unit – delivers a range of 470 km on the NEDC cycle; expect a WLTP figure closer to 400 km.
Omoda | Jaecoo Malaysia has previously stated that the J5 will be launched at the end of the year, but given that there are a couple of other models ahead of it in the queue – the J8 (which finally launches next Friday) and the Omoda 7 – and the company’s propensity to launch cars behind schedule, expect it to be pushed back to next year.
GALLERY: Jaecoo J5 EV at Bangkok Motor Show 2025
