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2025 Jaecoo J8 review: Driving fast

China’s new model offensive shows no signs of abating, next phase will see Chery focus on lifestyle Jacko The luxury SUV sub-brand will be launched in Australia in the first quarter of 2025.

The first model it will launch is the J7 mid-size SUV, but the range will gradually be fleshed out with smaller and larger J5 and J8 products respectively.

this Jieku J8 It is a medium-to-large seven-seat family SUV, also available in five- and six-seat configurations. It could conceivably be cross-shopped with the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-80.

If you’re wondering about the origin of the Jaecoo nickname, it’s a combination of the German words Jäger (meaning “hunter”) and “cool.” Its sister brand Omoda (sold under Chery) targets a younger audience, while Jaecoo targets an older crowd, most of whom have two children.

We took this opportunity to preview the Jaecoo J8 in Dubai, which will be launched soon.

Given that Jaecoo is a division of Chery, it’s no surprise that the J8 makes use of existing hardware – it’s essentially a rebadged Chery Tiggo 9.

As such, Jaecoo uses the Chinese automaker’s T1X monocoque chassis and uses CDC suspension, which includes electronically controlled adaptive dampers that react within milliseconds to road information from sensors and cameras. .

The dimensions of the J8 are conventional for a seven-seat SUV, with a length of 4820 mm, a width of 1930 mm, and a height of 1710 mm. By comparison, the Santa Fe is 4830mm long, 1900mm wide and 1720mm tall. The Jaecoo’s wheelbase is 2820mm, while Hyundai’s is 2815mm.

Despite its larger size, the J8 is by no means overly bulky, as the FWD base model weighs a relatively light 1764kg, while the fully loaded AWD Ultimate weighs in at 1892kg.

The task of pushing this mass is shouldered by Chery’s “Kunpeng Power” 2.0-litre TDGi turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which develops 195kW and 400Nm. Connected to the turbo engine is a smooth-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

On paper, the four-cylinder engine seems a bit weedy for a full-size SUV, but performance is quite lively, and the transmission is relatively seamless—more on that later.

What is the price of Jieku J8?

Specific pricing in the UAE has yet to be confirmed, but a company spokesperson said the entry-level front-wheel-drive Comfort model will cost around AED 125,000 (AU$53,420), while the range-topping flagship all-wheel-drive model will cost around AED 125,000. (A$53,420). The version we tested costs around AED 155,000 (AU$66,240).

If similar pricing were adopted in Australia, Jaecoo would be priced more competitively than its reasonable rivals.

What does the inside of Jaecoo J8 look like?

Arguably the most attractive aspect of the Jaecoo J8 is its luxurious Nappa leather-lined cabin, but we should of course point out that we tested the fully loaded flagship version.

Jaecoo’s interior designers borrowed heavily from the Mercedes-Benz design playbook, and that’s no bad thing. If you’ve been in a recent Mercedes-Benz, you’ll be familiar with the large, horizontal display panel that houses the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen.

The column-mounted transmission shifter, door panel-mounted seat adjustment knobs and square rotating air vents are all distinctly Mercedes in style and function.

The level of fit and finish is exemplary, with good use of contrasting colors and materials. Our test car had beige Nappa leather upholstery and faux brushed aluminum trim on the dash, door panels, and center console, with some piano black inserts added for good measure.

There are some hard plastic parts (including faux aluminum trim), but these don’t overly detract from the overall ambience of the cabin, which otherwise has a real premium vibe. So the J8 might even make sense for buyers who might like a Mercedes or BMW but can’t afford it financially.

There’s nothing to fault about the ergonomics, with overall visibility good and the seats very comfortable – especially the second-row captain’s chairs, which have plenty of adjustability and a massage function.

That said, accessing the tiny third-row seats (which are only suitable for children) is cumbersome, as passengers on those benches need to climb up and then pass through the narrow gap between the two second-row chairs to gain access to the rear.

However, opting for the seven-seat version (with a bench in the middle row) should make life easier for third-row residents, as the second-row seats in that version can tilt forward for easier access to the back.

Another minor annoyance is the lack of physical buttons for HVAC settings, but at least there’s a permanent tab at the bottom of the infotainment screen with fan and temperature settings – so you don’t need to scroll through other screens to turn the fans up or down or concave port, or warm or cool the cabin a degree or two.

There are a sufficient number of storage compartments in the cabin. There’s a small shelf beneath the floating center console for keys and change, while a large lidded bin is housed behind the center console. The door pockets are also generous in size.

However, luggage space in the seven-seat version is a measly 200 liters (with the rear seats in place). Available space in the five-seat version is 717 liters, which can be expanded to 2021 liters by folding the rear seats.

What’s under the hood?

The Jaecoo J8 is currently available in the UAE with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 195kW of power and 400Nm of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels only, or via an all-wheel-drive system, depending on the model.

Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains are also available in other markets. It includes a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors, producing a total system output of 450kW and 915Nm – that’s a lot of power.

How does Jieku J8 drive?

If I could sum up the driving experience of the Jaecoo J8 in very simple terms, it would be that it’s enjoyable but not spectacular.

On the plus side, the J8 feels a little livelier than we expected, since its power comes from a 2.0-liter engine, which seems like a small displacement for such a large vehicle.

Jaecoo quotes a 9.0-second 0-100km/h sprint for the AWD J8 (the FWD model is 0.2 seconds quicker), and while that number doesn’t sound particularly impressive, the performance never feels sluggish or lackluster.

Rolling acceleration is brisk enough, too, because the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission downshifts quickly when you step on the gas. This means overtaking slow-moving cars on single-lane country roads is never a problem.

The engine and dual-clutch transmission combine to deliver seamless performance, with refinement never compromised by excessive noise or harshness even when you’re hard at work with the 2.0-liter engine.

Ride quality and overall noise levels are also impressive, so if you’re a value-conscious buyer or simply don’t have the budget for the latter, the J8 can serve as a solid alternative to Europe’s SUV brigade.

Some minor quibbles when wandering around town include the brake pedal tending to grab in stop-and-go traffic. Additionally, you’ll find that the steering column-mounted shifter requires a firm press of the brake pedal during back and forth parking maneuvers or the “D” or “R” won’t engage – a flick of the stem won’t do it.

Dynamically, the J8 is a middle-of-the-road car, as its agility and cornering performance are neither class-leading nor mediocre. But then again, most potential buyers won’t care too much because the Jaecoo is not positioned as a sports SUV in any way.

In terms of off-road capabilities, the J8 has no less than seven drive modes (including special modes for sand, mud and snow). Its torque vectoring all-wheel drive system is provided by GKN, and Land Rover also provides similar technology. The rear axle has two multi-plate clutches, allowing each wheel to be driven independently.

Even so, the fact that the J8 flagship wears road-biased 50-series Michelin Primacy tires on 20-inch wheels suggests it’s positioned more as an urban warrior than an outback tamer. Regardless, the approach and departure angles of 20 and 17 degrees are nothing to write home about.

But that doesn’t matter as a potential owner’s typical usage pattern is likely to include daily commuting to and from the office, the school run, and possibly the odd trip like camping, mountain biking, etc. which simply require light-off-road use, and the J8 will happily accommodate it all .

What do you get?

The USP of the Jaecoo J8 includes a host of modern amenities and safety features, so the car is likely to offer good value for money compared to its rivals. Of course, we’ve yet to see specs and pricing for the J8 in Australia.

2025 Jieku J8 equipment highlights:

  • 19-inch alloy wheels
  • Automotive LED headlights
  • automatic high beam
  • Electric tailgate
  • panoramic sunroof
  • Dual zone climate control
  • Leather seats
  • Leather multifunction steering wheel
  • Driver’s seat 8-way electric adjustment
  • Driver’s seat position memory
  • Heated and ventilated front seats
  • Multi-color ambient lighting
  • 12.3-inch digital instrument panel
  • 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • wireless charger
  • driving recorder driving recorder
  • 2 12V power sockets
  • 4 USB ports
  • Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
  • 12-speaker Sony sound system

Flagship all-wheel drive adds:

  • 20-inch alloy wheels
  • 6-seat layout, with captain’s chairs in the second row
  • Nappa leather interior
  • 4-way electric adjustment of second row seats
  • Ventilated second-row seats, including massage function
  • Black suede headliner
  • Rear console with cup holders
  • metal pedal
  • Head-up display with augmented reality capabilities
  • 14-speaker Sony audio system

Is Jieku J8 safe?

There are no independent crash test results for the J8 yet, but it can be inferred from the five-star ANCAP scores achieved by its siblings the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and Omoda 5 that the Jaecoo is likely to perform well in terms of safety ratings.

Standard safety equipment in the UAE includes:

  • Dual front, side and curtain airbags
  • 540 degree surround camera
  • autonomous emergency braking
  • adaptive cruise control
  • forward collision warning
  • lane departure prevention
  • Traffic avoidance assistant
  • front and rear radar
  • Leading vehicle departure warning
  • Intelligent avoidance

Flagship additions:

  • Emergency lane keeping assist
  • Blind spot detection
  • Lane change assist
  • driver monitoring system
  • rear collision warning
  • Reversing lateral emergency braking
  • Door opening warning
  • Automatic parking assist

How much does the Jaecoo J8 cost to run?

In the UAE, Jaecoo vehicles come with a seven-year/250,000km warranty, but we expect Chery Australia’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty to apply here as well.

That said, we’ll be waiting for official confirmation from the brand on a local launch.

CarExpert’s thoughts on Jaecoo J8

All in all, the Jaecoo J8 is a refined and well-rounded offering that should stand out among established contenders in the seven-seat SUV segment.

The J8’s driving characteristics are unspectacular but solid, and its strengths lie in its premium cabin ambience (for its price) and overall refinement. We’ll have a stronger verdict once we know Australian pricing and specs.

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More: All About Jaecoo J8

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