The UK has a brand-new SUV contender, and JAECOO has made one thing very clear from the outset: it’s not here to blend in. Their all-new 7 is the brand’s first model for the UK, and it arrived swinging with a bold design, genuine off-road credentials, and a frankly generous equipment list — all wrapped up in what JAECOO calls an “affordable premium” package.
At first glance, the JAECOO 7 looks like it means business. There’s a strong, upright stance, a distinctive waterfall grille and sharp LED lighting that gives it real road presence without tipping into cartoonish territory. It’s square-jawed enough to look rugged, but the detailing is refined, modern and clean, with flush door handles and tidy proportions that stop it feeling overly macho. It’s an SUV that wants to look tough — but also quite posh about it.
That dual personality continues once you step inside. The cabin is airy, light-filled and surprisingly plush for a car that starts just north of £30,000. Materials feel solid and well chosen, the layout is clean and uncluttered, and there’s space for five adults to sit comfortably without anyone feeling short-changed. One of the real highlights is the enormous 1.1 metre panoramic sunroof, which floods the interior with light and gives the JAECOO 7 a sense of openness you don’t always find in this class.
JAECOO hasn’t held back on tech either. The central Infotainment screen dominates the dashboard, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. In front of the driver there’s a digital display, while higher-spec versions also gain a head-up display, projecting key information neatly into your line of sight. Add in ambient lighting, Silent Glass glazing to keep road noise at bay, and an optional upgraded Sony sound system, and you’ll find that the 7 gives you a lot of car for your money.
Then there’s the equipment list — which is where the JAECOO 7 really starts to flex. Heated front seats come as standard, with ventilated seats available on Luxury trim, along with electric seat adjustment and an air purification system. Parking is way easier, with a clever 540-degree camera, which includes a Transparent Chassis view that shows what’s going on underneath the car — particularly handy if you’re squeezing into a tight space or venturing off-road.
Powertrain choice is another big part of the JAECOO 7’s appeal. Buyers can opt for a traditional petrol setup or step into something more advanced with the brand’s new Super Hybrid System, or SHS. The petrol option uses a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing 145 PS, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and available in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It’s not blisteringly fast, but it’s smooth, capable and perfectly suited to everyday driving, with enough punch for motorway work and overtaking.
The one we had on test is the Super Hybrid version. It combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an advanced hybrid system and an 18.3kWh battery, delivering a total of 204 PS and a healthy 310 Nm of torque. On paper, it can manage up to 56 miles of electric-only driving and a frankly headline-grabbing 403 mpg on the WLTP cycle, along with a total range of up to 745 miles. Perhaps most interestingly, the system never allows the battery to fully deplete, meaning you’re always running with some electric assistance rather than reverting to a conventional hybrid feel.
The SHS model can also be plugged in, with fast charging up to 40kW allowing a 30–80 per cent top-up in around 20 minutes, and it even offers Vehicle-to-Load functionality, letting you power external devices from the car itself. Picknick in the garden? DJ’ing at a festival? Charging Ben’s eBike? The JAECOO 7 has you covered.
If your adventures take you off the beaten track, the all-wheel-drive JAECOO 7 is keen to show it’s no soft-roader. With seven driving modes, a 600mm wading depth, and approach and departure angles of 21 and 29 degrees respectively, it’s properly equipped for muddy tracks and rough terrain. There’s also a Bosch-developed integrated power brake system that can simulate a locking differential, sending drive to where it’s needed in just a fraction of a second. Nifty 😊
Underneath, the chassis has been tuned specifically for European roads by JAECOO’s R&D centre in Germany, with suspension and steering settings designed to strike a balance between comfort and control. MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear setup mean it should cope well with pothole-ridden UK roads. Huzzah!
As with many Chines brands, Safety is seen as a standard feature, not an optional extra, and JAECOO is no different. Fitted with 16 advanced driver assistance systems as standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert…the list goes on! (Thing is, these safety systems are a must have nowadays if you want to get that NCAP 5 rating)
All of this would be impressive enough on its own, but the real sting in the tail is the pricing. The JAECOO 7 starts from £30,115 on the road for the Deluxe trim, with Luxury models priced from £33,945 for the petrol version and £35,165 for the Super Hybrid. Every model is backed by a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty, with no mileage limit for the first three years — a strong statement of confidence from a brand new player in the UK market.
So, is the JAECOO 7 a genuine disruptor? On paper, it certainly looks that way. It offers the space, tech and comfort buyers expect from a modern mid-size SUV, adds real off-road ability for those who want it, and undercuts many established rivals on price while matching — or beating — them on equipment. For a brand-new nameplate, that’s a seriously confident debut.
Thank you all, and enjoy!
Annabelle 😊
