The Jaecoo J8, tested here in its Track front-wheel drive trim, demands attention. Sure people are still getting accustomed to all of the Chinese vehicles pouring into Australia, but we’ve been besotted with this brand thus far.
Everything about this particular model is big. The waterfall grille, big, the body, big, the luxury features, big, the price – well that’s not so big, but more on that later. The colour range is not so big either: Ocean Blue, Carbon Black, Arctic White, and Iridium Silver.
As you engage with the car, the first thing you notice is the retractable door handles. They look sleek, but their function is noisy and legitimately makes you think you’ve scraped the J8 on something as you accelerate away.
The Jaecoo is fitted with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine offering 183kW and 385Nm. They’re decent numbers, and you’ll certainly find yourself gliding through traffic with ease. We weren’t super confident pulling out to overtake on the freeway though.
That’s because power deliver is a little laggy. Mind you, the size of the vehicle demands presence, so that helps. While get up and go isn’t the focus, we feel like the driving experience can be best described as classy, comfortable and simply easy.
The suspension is light and soft, and glides over potholes like they don’t exist. The slightly negative consequence of that, is the fact it can feel a little boat-like on occasion. Fuel economy is an impressive 8.3-litres/100km from the Jaecoo’s 65-litre tank.
Inside is where the J8 Track really shines though. Giving legitimate Range Rover vibes, without the price tag, everything is top notch. Jaecoo dubs the experience as that of a “moving lounge room” and while that’s a marketing slogan, it’s hard to argue with, in reality.
That’s further enhanced by the an ultra-wide head-up display and dual 12.3-inch displays that ooze accessibility and adds to the clean interior look. Air conditioning controls are integrated into the touchscreen infotainment setup, but it somehow works to add to this interior.
Having two suede lined phone holders, one with charging abilities, is a win too, but the speakers in the driver’s head rest, designed to give privacy, missed the mark for being too quiet, even at full volume.
Poor attempt at an interactive headrest aside, the massage front seats, with multiple options and levels of intensity, are glorious – as is the heating and ventilation in these forward pews. Add in loads of room and sunshades in the rear doors, and it also wins in the family stakes.
Rear vents and charging ports complete a setup that’s a sure way to keep those whipper snappers happy, and let’s be frank, quiet. Safety tech is high on the agenda too, and is, dare we say it, actually helpful.
You’ll find ABS, stability and traction control, brake assist, hill descent control, ISOFIX anchors, a reversing camera and 360-degree surround view monitor, front and rear parking sensors, intelligent start/stop, and autonomous emergency braking.
Emergency lane keep, lane departure and adaptive cruise control feature, as does traffic jam assist, integrated cruise assist, blind spot detection, lane change assist, rear collision warning, rear cross traffic alert, and rear cross traffic braking.
There’s a door opening warning and speed control assist, as well as driver monitoring. We know that getting these right was a focus for Jaecoo parent brand Chery, and we are pleased to see this has translated into a solid setup across the entire ADAS safety suite.
The only safety feature we could fault, even though it’s a good idea, is the fact you can’t start the car without your seatbelt on. That aside, the ghost car setup in the surround view monitor, showing exactly where your wheels are positioned, is a standout.
It might not seem like much, but when you’re trying to park and you can’t see the lines of the spot, it’s genuinely handy. In the trim tested here, the J8 starts at $46,990 drive away. Its AWD Ridge sibling, which has additional features, starts at $51,990 drive away.
The Jaecoo is backed by an 8-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with the same coverage in capped price servicing and roadside assistance. It’s a fantastic option for anyone in need of extra space, who doesn’t need full off road capability or larger towing capacity.
You can find out more on the Omoda 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 provided by Omoda Jaecoo Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle. Images supplied.
