Jaecoo J5 enters the compact SUV fight with strong value and a tech-heavy cabin
Image: Jason Woosey
The Jaecoo J7 has garnered praise for its smooth lines and commanding on-road presence, and while it is significantly less expensive than some of the premium SUVs it might be seen as emulating, it is still priced slightly above the mass-market benchmark.
That changes with the introduction of its smaller sibling, the Jaecoo J5. Whereas the J7 costs between R519,900 and R689,900, the J5 has bookends of R339,900 and R479,900, and is offered in four specification grades: Core, Vortex, Glacier and Inferno.
Although it makes every effort to emulate the appearance of its larger stablemate, its smaller proportions do result in a more chunky appearance, which might not be to everyone’s liking. But with a stronger value proposition, it certainly has the ingredients to succeed.
Power comes from the Chery Group’s 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine, which delivers 115kW and 230Nm to the front wheels through a CVT transmission.
While it sounds perfectly adequate on paper, we found real-world performance at Gauteng altitudes to be merely acceptable rather than effortless. Steeper hills and overtaking require the engine to be worked hard, which results in that familiar CVT drone. With a kerb weight of 1,453kg, the J5 is relatively heavy for its size.
The Jaecoo J5 brings modern tech and solid value, but performance is only adequate.
Image: Jason Woosey
That said, and given the cost pressures at this end of the segment, we still feel that Jaecoo has opted for a sensible mechanical combination, with the added benefit that the CVT is less likely to result in expensive repair bills down the line than those complicated but competent dual-clutch gearboxes that have become the norm.
As for fuel consumption, our unit consumed around 10.0 litres per 100km in mixed conditions, according to the onboard readout.
On the road, the J5 provides a comfortable and relaxing ride quality, while light steering makes it easy to manoeuvre around urban chaos. Sporty it’s not, but it’s certainly not pretending to be.
The interior takes a modern, minimalistic and uncluttered approach, with a large 13.2-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
There was a moment of frustration after connecting my iPhone because CarPlay took over the whole screen, leaving no access to the digital climate functions. But then I discovered that a small swipe at the edge of the screen brings up the climate menu – which ideally shouldn’t have been obscured in the first place.
The Jaecoo J5 interior focuses on a clean, modern design with a tech-heavy layout.
Image: Supplied
Although the lack of physical climate controls is not ideal, the J5’s screen interface is otherwise relatively user-friendly, and the graphics look crisp, modern and premium.
Further connectivity is provided via USB-A and USB-C ports in the front of the cabin, but those in the back will have to share a single USB-A outlet.
The J5’s cabin materials are relatively impressive at the price point, and practicality is on par with what you might expect, although rear legroom is more adequate than generous. The boot has a capacity of 480 litres, expanding to 1,284 litres when the rear seats are folded.
The Jaecoo J5 Core base model ships with 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth seats, a 9.0-inch infotainment screen, a two-speaker audio system, automatic climate control, rear parking sensors, auto headlights and wipers, dual front airbags, traction control, Hill Descent Control and a two-year/30,000km service plan.
The Vortex adds the aforementioned 13.2-inch touchscreen, along with electrically retractable exterior mirrors, front side airbags, tyre pressure monitoring and a five-year/75,000km service plan.
Strong value and modern design define the Jaecoo J5 in the compact SUV space.
Image: Jason Woosey
Further to that, the Glacier grade gains a panoramic moonroof, leather seat upholstery, a powered driver’s seat, side curtain airbags and driver assist features including Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Jam Assist, Auto Emergency Braking and Lane Keeping Assist, among others.
The Inferno tops the range with additional luxuries such as a 540-degree panoramic view camera, front parking sensors, an upgraded eight-speaker sound system, wireless charging pad, powered tailgate, 18-inch alloy wheels, Lane Change Assist, Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.
The new J5 immerses the Jaecoo brand into the hotly contested compact SUV segment, where it offers strong all-round value for money and impresses with its high-quality and high-tech interior.
There are a few niggles, such as an overly screen-reliant interface and a CVT gearbox that can get noisy under pressure, but other than that, it appears to be a solid proposition. But in a crowded segment where buyers are spoiled for choice, it's going to have to work hard for its market share.
IOL Motoring