We scoffed, until we could scoff no more. Australian’s have softened to the Chinese PHEV, and increasingly they’re becoming the preferred new car. Despite some obvious teething problems, the 2025 Jaecoo J7 SHS Summit further disrupts a dwindling status-quo.
It’s not merely consumer behaviour either (that boat was already rocked last year by more than 6000 BYD Sealion 6 purchases), but a reckoning about cost versus quality, and in the case of the J7 Super Hybrid, new benchmarks for PHEV range.
Looking past the ambiguous “for this wild life” market positioning, the express purpose of the Jaecoo J7 (and Chery’s export-only subsidiary) is to outdo the go-to offerings in the segment, with top-shelf technology at an absurdly low price point.
Driver assistance and convenience technology, all of which is integrated into a Tesla-style centralised 14.8-inch touch screen, is as plentiful as any range-topping 5-seater SUV. But it’s the powertrain that is a game changer.
A highly sophisticated series-parallel hybrid system built in-house by Chery manages a staggering 1200km combined range. Between a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and permanent magnet synchronous motor, a ridiculous combined 255kW/525Nm is produced.
It is – for what it is – genuinely fast, which is even more absurd in something with a potential 1.0-litre/100km consumption and 20-minute DC fast charging. By the end of our lengthy road test, we hit 3.4-litres/100km.
That was using predominantly medium energy recovery and hybrid mode. Early in our test we were able to meander around town with total consumption hovering around the claimed 1.0-1.2-litres/100km.
From a 22kw AC public fast charger, a 15.75kWh charge was finished after two hours and 22 minutes. Now consider that the SHS is packaged up, ready to go with hyper competitive drive away pricing of $47,990.
Albeit a fraction more expensive than the aforementioned BYD, the power advantages and similar long-range configuration make the J7 SHS arguably the best value 5-seater small-medium SUV Australian money can buy.
Offered in a single front-wheel drive trim, and up against exclusively 5-seater PHEV SUVs of comparable size – the Outlander, CX-60 and so on, you’re saving ten or twenty thousand dollars. So the question is, what makes it logical as well as frugal?
It’s all well and good cramming it with features, but can you live with it? Our verdict, yes. Perfectly. But only for the right person. That’s because it’s not without a few of oversights and shortcomings – the J7 is, for all it’s impressive feats, a car of compromises.
It will drive very comfortably indeed, including where you might least expect it, like on the motorway at full tilt. For a car that is clearly not bred for cornering, it pays the difference with a steady hand in a straight line and durable comfort over long distances.
Similarly, it packs seventeen individual driver assistance aids ranging from autonomous emergency braking, forward collision assist and an advanced driver monitoring system. However, there are some tweaks needed.
if you are new to the car and haven’t customised the brake pitch control to ‘high’ and steering force mode to ‘sport’ in vehicle settings, you will be caught off guard by weak brake sensitivity and floppy steering.
The ride is remarkably quiet – not only during electric-only drive, but overall road noise is a whisper at speed and over coarse surfaces. You will notice soon after getting behind the wheel that the rear window is tiny, and visibility is minimal.
Conventional visibility is instead exchanged for computerised visibility and high-definition surround view cameras, including a reverse camera, in-built dash cam and one of the best 360-degree (bird’s eye) parking cameras this writer has seen in a car this year.
Cameras superseding windows and mirrors is just one of many indications that Jaecoo assume something about the prospective buyer of the SHS: you’re a willing participant in the brave new automotive world.
In this world there’s no need to turn your head, and no need to rely on dexterity for in-car functions, so anything you’re used to pushing, turning, and clicking (climate control dials, ignition, EPB, volume and so on) has all been integrated into that gigantic touchscreen.
Even accessing ‘quick functions’ like mirror adjustment, central locking and stability control is done by swiping downwards on the screen. Everything else is fully customisable from within the unit, including drive and power modes and vehicle settings.
The same goes for the automatic tailgate operation, comfort, lighting, sound and connectivity. Intelligent voice command helps with some hands-free functionality. It’s not ideal for the Australian drawl, but within a narrow range of commands isn’t too bad.
Meanwhile the gear selector has been ironically moved back to the steering column, and starting and stopping the ignition is a matter of getting in and out of the car. Interior styling is kept minimal and subdued but is sophisticated in it’s own right.
Care has been given to making it comfortable and convenient, with leather throughout, six-and four-way power adjustable driver and passenger seats, a 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster and head-up display, USB-A and C, and wireless device charging.
The cabin possesses a reasonable feeling of robustness, and customisable LED lighting throughout adds some atmospheric charm. Arm room is sufficient even for a bigger bloke, and a bridge console serves as both a unique styling choice and augments storage options.
Rear leg and head room is excellent, while 60:40 split rear seats offer more storage flexibility. Again, however, none of the plusses are without compromise. An insistence on forward-thinking does at times lose sight of the present-day reality.
For example, the loss of dials doesn’t necessarily expedite any of the basic in-car functions you might want to fiddle with. The footwell feels short, and despite tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment it never seems quite enough to compensate.
We also found the Bluetooth to be glitchy at times. A boot capacity under 500-litres is a little small for the segment, topped in size by both the Sealion 6 and Outlander. An underfloor compartment does however provide a practical cavity for weekend equipment.
For the sake of diplomacy, we will limit opinion on the exterior styling to this: heavily influenced by recognisable competitors. If you don’t mind a smirk from someone in an actual Range Rover and you’re in it for efficiency and leftover cash, don’t worry about it.
And hey, if you are Range Rover owner – imitation is the highest form of flattery. The most striking exterior feature is certainly the ‘waterfall’ grille, which gives some much-needed teeth to a face with otherwise soft features.
A sloped roofline flowing into a roof spoiler renders a sporty aesthetic for an SUV; the sleek look accentuated by power retracting door handles sitting flush with the body. As with the interior the outside is decked with features.
Those include automatic LED headlights with intelligent high-beam, a panoramic sunroof, heated power adjustable mirrors and various creative trim add-ons. Maybe the biggest compromise with this car though is none of the features.
With the caveat that a ‘petrol head’ writer is highlighting it, its biggest fail, for want of a better term relates to the soul of the car. It is staggering in efficiency, generous in capability, emblematic of possibility and change – but this is not a car that makes you feel.
It doesn’t feel like it has your individuality and enjoyment in mind. Then again, it never really claimed to do such a thing. If your motivations are new tech, avoiding the servo, a cushioned, quiet ride, and advanced driver assistance, it may very well be the perfect SUV.
You can find out more about the 2025 Jaecoo J7 SHS Summit online, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One.
To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was provided by Jaecoo-Omoda Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to test this vehicle.
