What is it?

Jaecoo is jumping on a large bandwagon of Chinese car firms in the UK. It’s the sister brand to Omoda and both are part of the Chery group – one of China’s largest car firms.

The J7 is the first model to come to the UK under the Jaecoo name, and it comes with some of the latest in-car technology as well as being a rival to cars like the Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson.

In China, the J7 has been around for a few years, but that hasn’t stopped the brand from selling it further afield. The question is, what’s it like to drive? We’ve been finding out.

What’s new?

The J7 fits into the overcrowded world of SUVs, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t got a USP.

It comes with a vast array of standard equipment and is priced from under £30,000 – making it exceptional value for money.

Jaecoo is expanding its dealer network too. Currently, it has over 70 dealer partners located all over the UK – making servicing, parts and repair work easy to come by.

What’s under the bonnet?

Our test car comes equipped with the plug-in hybrid variant. It boasts a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor and an 18.3kWh battery pack.

This setup enables the car to produce 201bhp and will achieve 0-60mph in 8.2 seconds. But, the firm claims that the J7 will achieve up to 403mpg. In the real world, we’ve been averaging around 50mpg – which isn’t too bad. But, Jaecoo does say that the car can go up to 56 miles on electric power alone.

There is a 1.6-litre petrol engine that comes with the added benefit of four-wheel drive, but our PHEV test car has to make way, being driven by the front wheels.

What’s it like to drive?

Around town, the J7 begins to shine with its lofty driving position, and thanks to its boxy design, makes parking a doddle. Our car’s plug-in hybrid drivetrain means urban city driving can be done on silent electric power.

How does it look?

When a new SUV is launched, it’s difficult to differentiate it from another. Happily, that’s not the case with this Jaecoo.

Its bold and brash front radiator grille looks like it's been pinched from a Rolls Royce and there are plenty of chrome design cues dotted about the place.

The flush door handles make the side profile sleeker, and they help improve the car’s aerodynamics.

The Jaecoo’s overall appearance is bold and chunky, giving it a more rugged appeal than more traditional SUVs – making the J7 have its own unique character.

What’s it like inside?

Passengers inside the J7 will have no problem getting comfortable due to the acres of head and legroom. The rear doors open wide, allowing for greater access inside and the flat floor makes seating a middle passenger not too much of a chore.

Storage up front is good with two cup holders, a centre armrest with an underneath storage compartment and an average-sized glove box. The front door bins are large, too.

However, boot space differs depending on which version you choose. Our PHEV car comes with 412 litres – far off the 500 litres you get from the petrol variant.

What’s the spec like?

The J7 represents excellent value for money with the standard petrol model coming in at £29,435 or £35,065 for our plug-in hybrid test car.

All cars come with LED headlights, a wireless phone charger, a 14.8-inch infotainment screen, a 10.3-inch digital driver’s display and a premium Sony sound system.

However, there are no physical buttons to control even the simplest items. This makes the car’s ergonomics confusing and frustrating to use on the move.

The car comes with lots of driver safety assistance systems as standard and is easy to navigate through the car’s touchscreen. However, the driver's attention monitoring is very sensitive, which could become annoying – even just taking your eyes off the wheel to adjust the climate control will upset it.

But, the petrol variant gets a lot more physical dials and knobs inside its cabin, making it a lot more user-friendly. It’s just unusual why the PHEV version has to do without any physical buttons.

Verdict

Don’t think that the Jaecoo J7 is another mundane and poor-performing Chinese SUV. It comes with daring looks – whether you like them or not – and is very well-equipped.

There’s a vast amount of interior space, and the car comes with the firm’s seven-year warranty, too.

However, its driving experience needs work, with a lot of its European, Korean and Japanese competitors scoring better in this department.