One of the newest Chinese brands in Australia, Jaecoo is essentially the upmarket arm of Chery (think Lexus to Toyota or Infiniti to Nissan). Its first local offering is the J7 mid-sized SUV, and it’s impressive to say the least.
Not only does it look like a beast, with Range Rover meets Escalade on a budget vibes, the interior and tech are outstanding. It gets better though. The price tag is $37,990 drive away for the Track front-wheel drive mid-spec we’re testing.
Now for those who don’t know much about Chinese brands, there’s a mix of cheap and cheerful at one end of the scale, while at the other end, is exceptional value – delivered through quality materials and high-end tech.
The Jaecoo sits in the latter camp, with this model featuring a 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster and 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto feature, alongside an 8-speaker Sony stereo.
Power-adjustable, heated synthetic leather front seats provide a comfortable place to sit, and you’ll also find dual zone climate control, ambient lighting, a wireless phone charger and a powered tailgate.
Feeling genuinely luxurious, the J7 Track even offers the capability to adjust the front passenger seat from a dedicated control panel. There are three top tether points for car seats, and a decent amount of leg and headroom in the second row.
That’s in addition to a USB-A and USB-C outlet for charging. If you are planning on hauling kids and their belongings around, there’s 584-litres of boot space, with the ability to extend that to 1,349-litres if you fold down the rear seat.
The interior is quite minimalist in its design, while still featuring some classy touches, like a tissue box recess behind the two cup holders. It’s small features like these that add perceived value to this car.
Externally, we’re swooning over the Jaecoo J7’s design. The large waterfall grille (with 20 vertical lines, for those who care) and sleek LED headlights, combined with hidden door handles, just ooze timelessness.
Offered in Carbon Black, Arctic White, Forest Green, Ocean Blue and Lunar Silver (the latter three with an optional black roof), the J7 rides on 18-inch alloy wheels. Under the bonnet is a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivering 137kW of power and 275Nm of torque.
That’s paired to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission, and this is where the Jaecoo falters. While ride quality is fantastic, this mid-sized SUV feels like it trips over itself, struggling to know which gear it should be in.
It makes for a clunky driving experience, especially when you decide you need some extra power. Push the accelerator and you’ll find yourself waiting for the lag to kick in. It’s the same regardless of whether you’re in Eco, Normal or Sport.
For those playing the numbers game, the 2025 Jaecoo J7 Track (2WD) is rated to just 750kg towing capacity. Fuel economy is 7.0-litres/100km (both claimed and actual), and pretty decent for a vehicle of this size.
Safety tech has been done well, with the long list of features not being too infuriating, or gas lighting you into thinking you’re a bad driver. In the Track you’ll find forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking and lane keep assist.
Lane departure warning and prevention, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, integrated cruise assist, rear cross traffic alert and braking, a door opening warning, speed limit information and speed control assist all feature.
A driver monitoring system rounds out the package. While it may not be perfect, for the price, and the inclusions, it’s genuinely hard to not at least check out the Jaecoo J7. We were seriously impressed by what it offered, even if it could do with better power delivery.
Jaecoo is set to expand the J7 range too, with a super hybrid on its way, as well as a J8 sibling. It’s backed by an 8-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with an identical period of capped price servicing and roadside assist (conditions apply).
It’s no secret that Chinese car makers are here to shake up the Australian market and while some should have never left the factory and been put on a boat, others are a welcome addition. The J7 is very much in the latter camp.
You can find out more on the Jaecoo website, 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 supplied by Audi Australia for independent review purposes.
