The JAECOO J7 was launched as the first model of their line-up, offering a stylish and modern vehicle at a competitive starting price of R549 900. The SUV is designed to offer drivers the option to take their vehicle offroad without sacrificing forward-thinking technologies.
In a market increasingly crowded with value-driven alternatives, the J7 makes a compelling case. The J7 presents an intriguing proposition: a feature-rich, road-ready SUV that does not ask drivers to compromise on style or substance to stay within budget.
The drive
The J7 has a lively, responsive drive, though a tad too energetic at times. Counterintuitively, Eco mode often delivers the most enjoyable everyday experience, smoothing out the drive. While on the highway it is more enjoyable to switch modes, but Sport sometimes seems to only add noise without the expected bump in performance. Where the J7 does impress is in its ability to handle steep inclines and overtaking with confidence.
With a 4-cylinder, turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine, the test unit, the JAECOO J7 Glacier produces peak outputs of 145 kW of power and 290 Nm of torque. This is matched to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission – which is standard across the range.
The Glacier features front wheel drive but all wheel drive through the All Road Drive Intelligent System (ARDIS) is available in the range topping Inferno. This is what refines the off-road driving experience, allowing effortless navigation through mud, sand and several other types of terrain, ensuring the driver does not need to worry about varied surfaces.
Its fuel consumption was something of disappointment. When I received the car, the average fuel consumption was 8.9L/100km but by the time I swapped it with Eugene, from our Driving Expressions comment, it was at 10L/100km. This is despite a claimed fuel consumption of 7L/100km.
Admittedly, this was only after using a quarter of a tank or about 200km. It included primarily stop-start driving over a weekend of errands. Thus a more time driving and more highway trips could make a difference. It started going up as soon as I started driving, however, and just kept on climbing – if I owned the car my fuel anxiety and the fuel consumption would rise as quickly as each other.
The design
JAECOO says the design aesthetic of the J7 is modern yet classic. Its avant-garde exterior includes LED lights at the front and rear. An imposing grille with horizontal lines dominates the front end and features bold JAECOO badging. Flush-fitting, electrically retractable door handles enhance aerodynamic performance and its modern styling.
Inside, the JEACOO is completed with soft touch material on the centre console, door panels and the dash. It also features a leather steering wheel and seats. This contributes toward the feeling of luxury and modernity created by the J7. It also makes use of mixed textures and materials on the dash making for a unique and appealing aesthetic.
The interior design also makes a bold statement about the value offered by Chinese brands. The full dash makes use of soft touch materials unlike other, more expensive vehicles tested recently that forgo this luxury.
An aspect of the interior design that did not appeal was that the bolts holding panels together are visible and not covered. It contrasts with the rest of the interior which exudes luxury and its high-tech specifications.
Stepping inside
The J7 Glacier has a decent sound system in the form of an 8-speaker Sony sound system. The front has speakers spread between the bottom and top of each door. The rear also has their own speakers.
Something I have never seen before is the ability to easily adjust the passenger seat from the driver’s seat. This is because the controls to adjust the seat are located on the right of the seat rather than the passenger’s left, negating the need to lean over the seat should you need to adjust for rear passengers or items.
Imitation is the highest form of flattery and the J7 certainly knows how to do this. The style of the electronic seat adjustment, the pop-out door handles and chrome accents are all reminiscent of vehicles traditionally at higher price points. This is the second vehicle new vehicles to the market following this strategy. The question is whether it offers the confidence legacy brands do.
At first, I though JAECOO made the mistake of leaving out the ability to change the AC with a quick touch of a button. Eventually I saw that these buttons were actually there but placed in the centre console just above where one would normally change the driving mode.
Once you are aware of its location, it is quite intuitive albeit somewhat limited with only three buttons and no way to quickly adjust airflow. Personally, I like having the option there as well especially as changing this on the infotainment screen is not easy especially while driving.
Something that puzzled me was a space just below the transmission which did not quite fit a phone comfortably, so it did not feel quite like that was its purpose. A passenger remarked that it looked like a tissue holder. If that was its purpose, it is not something that suits the SUV’s aesthetics but could be handy for parents.
Another feature that was intuitive and clever in the J7 is a double level centre cubby. There is a padded tray toward the top that makes it an ideal place to keep items like keys or spare change and below that is the traditional larger centre cubby.
The JAECOO J7 has a wireless charger and a place to keep your phone next to that should you not want to use the wireless charger. Additionally, there is an aircon vent blowing directly into this area to help keep your phone cool which is both handy in the case of overheating from the charger or from exterior heat because there are times when the sun shines directly on that area.
One of my biggest gripes with the J7 was despite having place to clip the floor mats down, there were no clips on the vehicle with which to do this. Consequently, the mat slides around especially as you climb back into the car. This also poses a safety risk if you forget to readjust before driving.
The JAECOO J7 also features the newest in infotainment systems with a 14.8-inch tablet touchscreen. Sometimes, however, it tended to not be positioned well in that it reflected the sun off the screen, making it difficult to see in the sun’s full glare.
Other features in the JAECOO J7 include electronically opening tailgate, power-adjustable seats, keyless entry and exit, seamlessly connecting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, start button, digital driver information screen, a 360° panoramic camera system, LED headlamps, front foglamps, automatic windscreen wipers, ambient lighting, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, four USB ports, satellite navigation and dual-zone climate control as standard.
The Glacier adds 19-inch alloys, panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats (with a memory function), a heads-up display, and an integrated dashcam.
Safety
All trims in the JAECOO J7 come standard with a 360-degree camera, lane-change assist, rear traffic alert, blind-spot detection, 7-airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag and an airbag between the driver and passenger), and front radar.
The Glacier also features adaptive cruise control, emergency lane-keeping, forward collision warning, and traffic jam assist, keeping occupants safe on the road, inter-seat airbags, automatic emergency braking, intelligent high-beam control, rear cross-traffic assist and more.
Something I have not seen before is that the driver is alerted when it is not safe for passengers to exit the vehicle. Additionally, if the vehicle ahead moves but you are not paying attention, the J7 Glacier beeps to return your attention to the road. The alert that warns you when you are distracted at other times, however, becomes slightly annoying sounding an alert when you are already focused on the road.
The JAECOO J7 is a vehicle packed with tech, with a modern design and a punchy drive at a very competitive price point. For many buyers the only hesitation may be that it is a new brand to South Africa and may not have the confidence of a legacy brand. Yet South African buyers are proving that the value proposition offered by brands like JAECEOO is something worth taking a chance on.
Good to know
Engine: 4-cylinder, 1.6L turbopetrol
Transmission: 7-speed dual clutch
Fuel consumption: 7L/100km (claimed)
Fuel consumption: 10L/100km (achieved)
Power: 145 kW
Torque: 290 Nm
Price: starting from R549 900
Warranty and service plan: standard with a 5-year/70 000 km service plan and a 5-year/150 000 km mechanical warranty. An engine warranty spanning 10 years or 1 million kilometres is also included in the purchase price.
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