Jaecoo J5 EV review: Range Rover tastes on a Corolla budget

The J5 is Jaecoo's first fully electric offering in new Zealand, joining the plug-in hybrid J7 in the brand's local line up. Essentially an Omoda E5 with Jaecoo's chunkier styling, the J5 features some undeniably familiar styling cues that are rather reminiscent of Range Rover.

However, this is no cheap and cheeky knock-off Range Rover design like when JLR sued Chinese carmaker Landwind over (and won), rather it is essentially officially sanctioned knock-off Range Rover styling.

You see, Jaecoo's parent company Chery has an extensive 50:50 joint venture with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in China called the Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Company Ltd that builds JLR vehicles for the Chinese market and sees the two collaborating on platform development.

This relationship is so deep that the joint venture is reviving the Freelander name as a standalone brand. So you would have to think that JLR is well aware of the J5's looks and is obviously okay with it.

The J5 lands in New Zealand in EV form only, but is available in other markets in petrol or super hybrid forms, where it is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine. The EV version we get here packs a 58.9kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery and a single 155kW/288Nm electric motor mounted on the front axle.

Perhaps most impressively, however, is the fact that it lands here at a startlingly sharp price of $42,990, and given it wears its JLR-influenced design on its sleeve, promises a premium experience for a very mainstream price.

On the outside: what are the Jaecoo J5 EV's main design features?

The most striking thing about the Jaecoo J5's exterior is that aforementioned undeniable resemblance to a Range Rover. The rear end, in particular, with its distinctive taillight design, looks like it was lifted directly from the Range Rover Sport, and while the front is less direct, it carries a premium, squared-off posture that wouldn't look out of place on a baby Range Rover.

The J5 is a genuinely attractive small SUV that looks far more expensive than its price tag suggests.

This intentional design choice, presumably made with JLR's blessing, pays off handsomely: the J5 avoids the generic "cookie-cutter" look that plagues many new electric SUVs, instead presenting a handsome, distinctive, and upmarket appearance.

While its18-inch alloy wheels (shod with Continental tyres) look a tiny bit undersized - something that is a common design trait on Chinese SUVs - the overall look is handsome and cohesive, and complemented by a sophisticated colour palette of earthy, stone-like tones that enhance its premium feel.

Overall, the J5 is a genuinely attractive small SUV that looks far more expensive than its price tag suggests, even if you might have to explain to curious onlookers that it's an "officially sanctioned Range Rover knock-off."

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Jaecoo J5 EV's cabin like?

The premium, JLR-esque feeling continues inside with a minimalist yet distinctive cabin that is centered around a large, 13.2-inch vertical touchscreen that is elegantly integrated into the centre console, rather than looking like a tacked-on tablet.

The ride quality is a standout feature, being impressively compliant and well-controlled, soaking up bumps with a sophistication you wouldn't necessarily expect from something costing $43k.

The dashboard architecture has subtle hints of Range Rover in its clean, horizontal lines, and the steering wheel feels premium, featuring lovely, satisfyingly clicky touch controls. While most functions are handled by the screen, Jaecoo has wisely kept physical stalks for indicators and wipers, and easily accessible physical controls for the mirrors.

A quick swipe down on the screen reveals shortcuts, while a swipe up brings up climate controls, making it genuinely logical and easy to navigate.

However, it is the sheer quality of the J5's interior that impresses the most - it is frankly astonishing for a vehicle at this price point. Almost every surface is soft-touch, the synthetic leather seats are comfortable and of high quality.

It’s a genuinely high-quality, comfortable, and well-thought-out interior that punches far above its weight.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Jaecoo J5 EV like to drive?

The J5 offers a driving experience that is best described as supremely competent and just plain pleasant.

For a car priced under $43,000, the Jaecoo J5 is a superb package - it's a handsome, incredibly competent, and comfortable small SUV. 

With 155kW and 288Nm of torque sent to the front wheels, it feels sprightly enough, and weighing in at a relatively light (for an EV) 1710kg, it handles tidily, tucking into corners with sharp turn-in and predictable composure.

The ride quality is a standout feature, being impressively compliant and well-controlled, soaking up bumps with a sophistication you wouldn't necessarily expect from something costing $43k, however, it's not without its flaws.

The power delivery can occasionally be clumsy, especially in the wet, with the front wheels easily overwhelmed, spinning up with even moderate throttle application. While the traction control eventually intervenes, it allows a bit too much slip before reining things in, which requires the driver to be particularly judicious with the accelerator.

On a more positive note, the suite of driver assistance systems is excellent; the adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping aids, and various warnings are exceptionally well-calibrated, and are subtle, helpful, and never annoying, stepping in only when truly needed. This maturity in tuning likely stems from that JLR influence, resulting in a system that feels tailored to European tastes, which also happen to suit our market.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Jaecoo J5 EV's warranty and servicing situation?

The J5 iEV s covered by a comprehensive warranty package that includes a 7-year/unlimited kilometre vehicle warranty, while the high-voltage battery is covered by an 8-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. In addition to the warranty, Jaecoo also provides a 7-year AA roadside assistance program.

The company offers a range of fixed-price service plans, with standard service intervals of 12 months/15,000km.

On the whole: what do we think of the Jaecoo J5 EV?

For a car priced under $43,000, the Jaecoo J5 is a superb package - it's a handsome, incredibly competent, and comfortable small SUV. The WLTP range of 402km from its 58.9kWh battery is more than adequate, its performance is enjoyable, and it handles well.

[The J5] proves that you don't need a massive budget to get a premium-feeling, well-equipped, and handsome electric SUV.

It is also packed with an impressive amount of standard equipment, from a 360-degree camera and seven airbags to a full suite of intelligent safety assists.

Honestly, there are only two real complaints: the first is the tendency for the front wheels to spin under power, which could be easily fixed with a software tweak to the traction control. The second, a more perplexing personal niggle, was the apparent inability to find and adjust the audio system's equaliser settings - I simply could not find any equaliser settings anywhere. Which may just be a software issue... or a me issue, I'm not sure...

Aside from those minor points, however, the J5 is a deeply impressive and genuinely likeable vehicle. It's practical, stylish, has a high-quality interior, and offers a sophisticated ride. It also represents phenomenal value for money and proves that you don't need a massive budget to get a premium-feeling, well-equipped, and handsome electric SUV.

Jaecoo J5 EV FAQs

What kind of car is the Jaecoo J5 EV?

A medium-sized family SUV.

Does the Jaecoo J5 EV have hybrid or EV technology?

Yes, the J5 is fully electric.

What’s the energy economy of the Jaecoo 5 EV?

13.9kWh/100km.

Is the Jaecoo J5 EV safe? 

The J5 has a total of seven airbags and has not been tested by ANCAP yet, however, the Omoda E5 it shares its underpinnings with has a full 5 Star safety rating.

What safety and assistance features does the Jaecoo J5 EV have?

What are the Jaecoo J5 EV's main rivals?

• Omoda E5 EX ($44,990): the same underneath, good if you prefer curves.
• BYD Atto 2 Premium ($45,990): excellent quality and comfort, quite generic.
• Dongfeng Vigo ($39,990): even more budget price, but even more budget feeling.
• GAV Aion UT Lux ($43,990): a compelling alternative that is more hatch than SUV.
• GWM Ora 5 Ultra ($39,990): not quite here yet, but looks very promising.