In the UK’s crowded car market, a new name has arrived to stand out, JAECOO.

As the premium off-road-focused stablemate to the fashion-conscious Omoda brand, both fall under the umbrella of Chinese automotive giant Chery.

Consequently, JAECOO is kicking things off with its first car, the brand new JAECOO 7 SUV.

It’s a family-sized SUV with a simple plan to give you the smart, rugged look of a posh 4x4 and a car full of modern kit, but without the hefty price tag that other brands such as BMW and Audi are known for.

As a result, it’s the sort of approach that makes you sit up and take notice.

On the face of it, the deal looks fantastic. The JAECOO 7 certainly looks the part, promising a lot of cars for your money. But we’ve all seen flashy newcomers before.

The real question to you, though, is whether it’s actually any good to live with and drive on our roads.

Is it a genuine bargain that can take on the big players, or is it a case of style over substance?

We got behind the wheel to see if it lives up to the hype, find out what’s what, and answer every question you may have before you decide to buy one.

So, let's find out if this is going to be your next best car to own or not.

Table of Contents

• First Impressions with its Exterior Looks and Design
• Inside the Cabin
• On the Road, How Does It Drive?
• Safety Features
• Models
• Pricing and Value
• Warranty and Peace of Mind
• So, is the JAECOO 7 Right For You?
• Related Latest News, New Car Reviews & Car Buying Guides
• Who is Hartwell?

First Impressions with its Exterior Looks and Design

There’s no getting away from it; the JAECOO 7 has a proper presence on the road.

For instance, here, it clearly ditches the curvy, crossover look that many rivals have adopted and instead goes for a strong, boxy and confident modern shape.

The design also looks like it has borrowed some cues from premium British 4x4s here in our view as well, giving it a look that feels far more expensive and closer to home than its price tag suggests.

As there is something about it, we feel that it just doesn't screen foreign Chinese manufacturer's cars. It looks like a solid staple that has been around for years.

Front Design

For instance, the first thing you’ll notice is the huge, imposing front grille.

JAECOO calls it a 'waterfall' design, for instance, and it most certainly has a look with a series of thick, vertical chrome-trimmed slats that give the car a very assertive face as a result.

This is then flanked by a split-headlight design and a thin, sharp set of LED Daytime Running Lights that sits high upright on the edge of the bonnet line, while the main headlight units are stacked vertically below, almost disguised as part of the bumper as well.

Overall, it’s a very modern and commanding look that makes a strong first impression. Well, at least, it did to us when we first laid eyes on it.

Side Profile

From the side, the JAECOO 7 also continues its muscular, 4x4-inspired theme.

Here, it has a strong shoulder line that runs the length of the car and some nice chunky, squared-off wheel arches that add to the rugged feel as well.

However, one of the standout features is the pop-out, flush-fitting door handles, which retract into the bodywork when locked or on the move.

It’s a high-end touch that you may see in a Lands Rover Velar or a Tesla Model 3 for sure, so you’d normally expect to find these on much pricier cars. These, in turn, then help to create a clean, streamlined look in our view.

The mirrors are then mounted on the doors rather than the window corner itself, which is another detail that just adds to its purposeful stance, we thought.

Roofline

The JAECOO 7's roofline then features what is often called a 'floating roof'.

Here, the pillars are blacked out, which creates the illusion that the roof is disconnected from the rest of the body, especially when paired with a contrasting colour.

The roofline itself is fairly flat and straight as well, maximising the headroom for your passengers inside before it slopes down gently towards the rear.

All UK models also come with a large panoramic sunroof as standard as well, which then only adds to the car's premium feel, along with some very nice and functional roof rails for added practicality as well.

Rear

The rear of the car is then clean and has a modern design that continues at the back.

Here, the most noticeable feature is the full-width rear light bar, which JAECOO calls the 'Crystal Array' LED taillight.

This then stretches right across the boot lid, giving your car a very distinctive light signature at night as a result.

The brand name 'JAECOO' is also spelt out in bold, classy letters across the centre of the tailgate here as well.

Overall, you also get a tidy roof spoiler and a robust-looking bumper that really does complete the look, tying it all in with the rugged yet premium theme of the front and sides.

Wheel Options

For your wheel options, here to help complete the design, it has to be said that simplicity is definitely the key here, as all UK versions of the JAECOO 7 currently come with 19-inch alloy wheels as standard.

These are not just basic-looking wheels either, as they feature a complex, aero-optimised design with a glossy, diamond-cut finish that looks very upmarket and fills the chunky wheel arches very nicely as well.

This generous standard size means that even the entry-level model avoids looking like a poor relation, contributing significantly to the car’s premium stance right across the range.

Paint Options

The colour palette for the JAECOO 7 is also refreshingly straightforward but well-chosen, too, in our view.

The standard, no-cost option is a solid Granite White. Then, for an extra charge, you can choose from a range of metallic and pearlescent finishes, including Basalt Black, Pearl Silver, a stylish Greenstone, and a vibrant Amazonite Blue.

Then, to improve the 'floating roof' effect, the Silver, Greenstone, and Blue colours can also be specified with a contrasting black roof for a two-tone finish as well, which really takes the car's premium look to that next.

For your paint options here, you have access to:

• Greenstone
• Pearl Silver
• Granite White
• Basalt Black
• Amazonite Blue

Inside the Cabin

Then, when you step inside the JAECOO 7, it’s clear this Chinese brand has worked hard to make a good first impression.

For instance, the cabin feels modern, spacious, and surprisingly upmarket, with a clean, minimalist design that’s dominated by a massive central screen.

The quality is also generally impressive for the price, with plenty of soft-touch materials on the dashboard and doors as well, we must note.

While some cheaper, harder plastics can be found lower down, the overall look and feel is of a car trying to punch well above its weight, and it may have just done that.

Dashboard

The dashboard has a strong, horizontal layout, for instance, that makes the cabin feel wide and airy.

As a result, it’s a very clean design, with very few physical buttons, which is really nice.

As a result, you are also getting some nice and stylish, full-width air vents that span the dash, and the materials used on the top surfaces feel pleasantly soft as well, we must note.

This is all while a neat touch on all models is the multi-colour ambient lighting that runs along the dash and doors, which you can change to suit your mood as well.

Then, if you look above, you get a large panoramic sunroof that also comes as standard, which just lets loads of light in and makes the whole cabin feel bright and spacious here as a result.

Head-up Display

The Luxury trim includes a Head-up Display that can show all the relevant travel information, including speed, navigation and ADAS warnings. Standard on Luxury trim.

Premium Audio from Sony

You can also immerse yourself in a symphony of sound, as their exclusive 8-speaker SONY audio system delivers a concert hall experience on wheels, enveloping you in rich, nuanced audio that transforms every journey, which is standard on Luxury trim.

Infotainment display and driver cluster

You can’t miss the screens either; that is clear.

The main feature up front is clearly the huge, portrait-style central touchscreen that controls almost everything – from your sat-nav and music to your climate control and even the door mirrors.

Entry-level models also get a very large 13.2-inch screen, while top-spec versions get an even bigger 14.8-inch one.

As a result, it is also bright, easy to see, clear, and generally quick to respond as well, which we really liked.

In front of the driver is also a separate 10.25-inch digital display that clearly shows your speed, revs, and other key driving info.

It’s not as customisable as the systems in some rivals, but it does the job perfectly well though, and with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are also included as standard, you can quickly get the feel you are used to with your apps streaming straight to the car itself.

On the Road, How Does It Drive?

On the road, the JAECOO 7 has clearly been set up with comfort in mind, but it doesn’t quite match the polish of the some of the best family SUVs in the UK, nor the German luxury car badges - that said they are also twice if not thre or four times the price, so there does need to be some give somewhere.

For everyday driving though, popping to the shops or doing the school run, it’s perfectly pleasant and situated well.

While the light steering is great for town, it means the JAECOO 7's handling on faster roads is safe and predictable rather than dynamic or engaging, as it does prioritises comfort over sharp responses which as a family buyer may be exactly what you would prefer here.

Engine Options

For instance you have two main choices under the bonnet in the UK.

With these being:

1.6-litre Turbo Petrol

This is the standard engine, producing 147bhp, and it comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox that is available with either front-wheel drive or an intelligent all-wheel-drive system for better grip for those who need it as well.

Overall, this is quick enough for most situations, with the front-wheel-drive model getting from 0-60mph in around 10.3 seconds.

1.5-litre Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)

This is the more powerful and efficient engine option to choose from, combining a petrol engine with an electric motor to produce an electric car with a total of 204 bhp.

It’s also noticeably quicker than the standard petrol engine as well, with a 0-60mph time of about 8.5 seconds.

It also uses a different type of automatic gearbox, a smooth and efficient CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) designed for hybrids, which is generally very smooth we thought.

Crucially, its 18.3kWh battery allows for up to 56 miles of pure electric driving, making it great for zero-emission daily commutes in our view.

This efficiency translates to some headline-grabbing figures, with a claimed fuel consumption of up to 403mpg on the official test cycle, though real-world MPG will depend heavily on charging and journey types.

Crucially for company car buyers, the official CO2 emissions are just 23g/km, placing it in a very low tax bracket as a result.

On the Road

Around town, the JAECOO 7 is easy to drive, and the steering is very light, which makes parking and navigating tight city streets a very easy doddle.

Its high driving position also gives you a great view out over the flat bonnet as well, helping you to place the car confidently where you need it as a result.

However, once you get out onto faster, twistier B-roads, the car can feel slightly less composed.

Here the light steering doesn't give you much feedback from the wheels as say a Jaguar Land Rover can.

That said, the suspension, while mostly comfortable on smooth roads, can feel firm at time.

Comfort and Refinement

For the most part, the JAECOO 7 is a comfortable cruiser to own.

The cabin is fairly quiet at town speeds and the seats are excellent.

On the motorway, you do start to notice more road and wind noise than you’d get in rivals like a Kia Sportage or Nissan Qashqai, but, it is far fcrom noticable.

Off-Road Ability

While most owners will never take it far from the tarmac, the all-wheel-drive petrol model does come with some genuine off-road credentials.

Here for instance, it has a decent 200mm of ground clearance and several driving modes for different terrains like Sand, Mud, and Snow as well.

This in turn then gives it more capability in slippery conditions than many of its purely road-focused rivals would be able to as a result, which we really liked.

Safety Features

JAECOO has also clearly placed a strong emphasis on safety with the J7, aiming to reassure family buyers especially with a very generous amount of standard equipment and impressive crash-test results.

For instance, the brand knows that safety is a top priority for SUVs in this class, and it has equipped the car accordingly well here as a result.

Crash Test Performance

This focus on safety has paid off. For example, here the JAECOO 7 was tested by the independent safety body, Euro NCAP, in early 2025 and it was awarded the maximum five-star rating as well.

It scored particularly well for adult and child occupant protection, thanks to a strong body structure that uses a high percentage of high-strength steel.

The car is also fitted with a comprehensive set of airbags, including dual front, side, and curtain airbags, as well as a front-centre airbag that is designed to prevent the driver and passenger from colliding in a side impact, which is a aa really nice touch.

Standard Safety Equipment

One of the JAECOO 7’s biggest selling points though is that almost all its advanced safety kit comes as standard across the entire range.

For instance, here you don't need to pay extra for the most important features, as every model gets:

Models

For your models, you have 2 to choose from here, including:

• Jaecoo 7 Deluxe
• Jaecoo 7 Luxury

Deluxe Trim Features

The Jaecoo 7 Deluxe is the base model and comes with a lot of features as standard, including for instance:

        
•             Wheels and Suspension             
                  
  • 19" alloy wheel
              
        
•             Exterior             
                  
  • Full length, panoramic sunroof
                  
  • LED DRL daytime running lights
                  
  • Body colour door handles
              
                  
•             Interior             
                  
  • Dark colour interior
                  
  • Synthetic Leather Steering Wheel
                  
  • Front Deluxe Seats
                  
  • Heated Front Seats
                  
  • Driver & Passenger sun visor with vanity mirrors
              
           
•             In-Car Entertainment & Communications             
                  
  • 6 speaker audio system
                  
  • Wireless mobile phone charging - 50w capacity, cooled.
                  
  • 10.25" LCD Instrument Cluster
                  
  • 13.2" Portrait Central LCD Display
             
        
•             Safety & Security             
                  
  • 5-Star EuroNCAP Crash Safety
                  
  • (LDW) Lane Departure Warning
                  
  • (AEB) Autonomous emergency braking
                  
  • (IASL) Intelligent Active Speed Limit
              
            
•             Comfort & Convenience             
                  
  • 540° Panoramic View Camera with transparent view
                  
  • Keyless start button
                  
  • PEPS (Passive Entry Passive Start) - with Walkaway locking
                  
  • Power tailgate
              
            
•             Driver's assistance             
                  
  • Driving Modes (Normal, ECO, Sport) - Sand mode for AWD version
                  
  • (DMS) Driving Monitor System
                  
  • (ACC) adaptive cruise control
              
        

Luxury Trim Features

The Jaecoo 7 Luxury is then the upgraded model and comes with those of the Deluxe, plus a lot of other features, including for instance:

• Interior
  • Head-Up Display (HUD)
• In-Car Entertainment & Communications
  • 14.8" Portrait Central LCD Display
  • SONY 8 speaker sound system
• Comfort & Convenience
  • Heated Steering wheel
  • Ventilated front seats (cooled)
  • Welcome seats - retract to welcome driver when door opened

Pricing and Value

This is where the JAECOO 7 really shines. For the money, you get a huge amount of standard equipment all form a starting price of £30,015 at the time of writing.

Here even the entry-level models come with a big screen, a panoramic sunroof, heated seats, and a whole host of safety kits as well for this.

Then with things like adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera make driving easier and safer really what more could you want for a car at this price point really?

Ownership, Running Costs & Reliability

For many, the long-term costs are just as important as the sticker price.

For company car drivers for instance, the PHEV model is a standout choice thanks to its low CO2 emissions, which place it in a very attractive Benefit in Kind (BIK) tax bracket, saving drivers hundreds of pounds a year as a result in your annual running costs.

While the brand's long-term reliability in the UK is yet to be established, the comprehensive 7-year warranty offers significant peace of mind here as well, that if ajnything does go wrong JAECOO ids there to step in.

As with any new market entrant, depreciation is a consideration, but the JAECOO 7's high specification and competitive pricing should help it hold its value reasonably well especially when compared to other brands that start at a much higher price opoint for the same features as well.

Warranty and Peace of Mind

To build confidence even more and demonstrate its commitment to the UK market, JAECOO also offers a comprehensive warranty package designed to give owners long-term peace of mind here as well.

This is a key part of the brand's value proposition as well, aiming to compete with the very best in the mainstream market.

Vehicle & Battery Warranty

For instasnce the JAECOO 7 comes with an extensive 7-year / 100,000-mile manufacturer warranty, whichever comes first.

This covers the cost of repairing or replacing parts that have a manufacturing or material defect, which is a very competitive offering especially at its price point as well. 

Then for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model, the high-voltage battery has its own separate warranty for added reassurance as well.

This is an 8-year / 100,000-mile warranty, which will guarantee the battery will retain at least 70% of its original capacity within that period as well. 

Then beyond the main vehicle warranty, the package also includes:

Paint Warranty

The vehicle's paintwork is covered against manufacturing defects for a period of 3 years.

Anti-Corrosion Warranty

The bodywork is protected by a 12-year warranty against perforation caused by rust.

Roadside Assistance

Every new JAECOO comes with a complimentary roadside assistance programme, providing 24/7 support across the UK in the event of a breakdown. 

This strong, multi-faceted warranty really is designed to show the brand's confidence in its vehicles' quality and reliability, making it an attractive proposition for new buyers. 

So, is the JAECOO 7 Right For You?

As you can see the JAECOO 7 really is a really interesting new choice for British families especially.

It offers the sort of looks and equipment you’d expect from a much more expensive car, making it fantastic value for money to be honest.

Like most car's it’s not perfect – the driving experience could be more refined, and some of the cabin tech can take getting used to, but, once you have its really easy.

However, at that price point, you are just getting so much car for your money, that you just need to woidner iof they made a mistake with the pricing, as its value proposition is just another level.

So, if you’re looking for a stylish, spacious, and well-equipped SUV that won’t break the bank at all for the car you are getting, the JAECOO 7 is definitely worth a look in our view.

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Here at Hartwell, we are a well-established new and used car dealership group in the UK with over a century of experience in the automotive industry.

Founded in 1919, we have grown to become one of the leading car dealerships across the UK, offering you a wide range of new vehicles and low mileage used vehicles from popular brands such as Ford, BYD, Omoda, and GWM Ora cars, all with competitive car deals especially for the used car market.

With multiple local Ford dealer locations across the country, here at Hartwell, we can provide you with comprehensive services, including vehicle sales, schedule services, MOTs, and repairs.

Our local car dealerships are also known for our customer-focused approach, ensuring a seamless buying experience through personalised service, competitive pricing, and flexible financing options.

As a result, we also pride ourselves on our aftersales support - regardless if you are buying a luxury car or a standard family car - helping all our customers keep their vehicles in top condition.

So, whether you are looking for a new car, a quality used vehicle, or professional maintenance services, we have built a reputation for reliability and trustworthiness in the UK car market and are here to help you.