2025 (75) JAECOO 5 1.6T Pure 5dr 7DCT

Chinese brand Jaecoo expands its UK market reach with this car, the compact Jaecoo 5. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

Expect this car, the Jaecoo 5, to be the enormous Chinese Chery motor group's best seller in the UK. This small, fashionable boxy SUV can be had in combustion or full-electric forms and should look great in the gym car park.

Background

Small cars are being offered in increasingly interesting packages. Take this one, the Jaecoo 5. As the name suggests, it's the smaller sibling to the Jaecoo 7, a lower mid-sized lifestyle-orientated combustion SUV which has managed to sell in surprising numbers (over 8,000 units in its first year in the UK) since its original launch here in 2024. People seem to like the way the Jaecoo 7 looks, so the auspices are good for the Jaecoo 5 because it's more of the same thing - just in a smaller package. Jaecoo, you'd be excused for not knowing, is one of the sub-brands of the enormous Chinese Chery motor group. Another, also sold in the UK, is Omoda, and it's the Omoda 5 that provides all the engineering for the Jaecoo 5, with a choice of both combustion and EV powertrains. The target market here is amongst small SUVs like Ford's Puma, Jeep's Avenger and Skoda's Elroq. Let's take a closer look.

Engines and Tech Spec

Jaecoo buys in the combustion unit used in this car, but it's a pity its parent Chery Group wasn't able to furnish it with something a bit more modern. The 1.6-litre four cylinder unit in question (shared with the Omoda 5) isn't in any way electrified but tries to compensate with a healthy 145bhp power output. It drives the front wheels must be had with a seven-speed dual clutch auto gearbox. There's 275Nm of torque to propel you along and three drive modes - 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Sport' - are provided. The chassis geometry is supposed to have been specifically tuned to UK roads by Chery International's European R&D centre. Don't expect that to mean particularly engaging handling. It's reasonably quick though; expect 0-62mph in around 7.5s en route to around 128mph. The Jaecoo 5 EV also borrows its drivetrain from the equivalent Omoda 5 (or, as in this case, the E5), which means a 61.1kWh battery energising a 201bhp front-mounted e-motor. Expect up to 245 miles of driving range. Which is comparable to rivals like the Puma GEN-E and the Jeep Avenger but some way behind slightly pricier class competitors like the Skoda Elroq and the Kia EV3. Level 2 autonomous driving is built-in. And there are no fewer than 19 ADAS safety functions. You can't accuse the Chinese of not being thorough.

Design and Build

As with its larger sibling, the combustion Jaecoo 5's signature feature is its large front 'waterfall' grille. As for the rest of it, well the Chery parent group's close links with Jaguar Land Rover are evidenced by the clear shades of Range Rover Evoque in the profile and rear sections. We said much the same about the Jaecoo 7 but the '5' packages all of this into significantly shorter proportions - there's just 4,380mm of body length, 120mm shorter than the '7' and about the same as a Ford Focus. Jaecoo claims the looks 'take visual cues from nature' with an upright silhouette and wide shoulders apparently inspired by 'mountain ridges and dramatic natural landscapes'. Earlier, we mentioned that distinctive 'waterfall' front grille. Unfortunately, you don't get that on the EV version, which looks much more anonymous as a result. The electric version's bluff blanked-off front end and different bumper design are supposed to improve aerodynamics and range. Overall though, the styling looks good. What might not be as universally popular is the way that virtually all the cabin functions work from a big central portrait touchscreen. A slim instrument panel is embedded in the dashboard. As in the '7', the design is minimalist, with an almost complete lack of physical buttons. There's also a two-spoke wheel, a high centre console, a column-mounted gear selector and lots of scattered ambient lighting. And it's a practical cabin, with over 35 storage spaces. Rear seat space will be comfortable for two adults but rather a squash for three. Out back, with the rear seats down, with either powertrain there's a 480-litre boot - and with the rear bench folded, there's up to 1,180-litres of cargo space.

Market and Model

From launch, pricing for the combustion version started from around £24,500 - with base 'Pure' spec; many will want to find the extra Jaecoo wants (around £28,000) for the plusher 'Luxury'-spec version. You'll need to allow around £27,500 for the EV model (£3,000 more with 'Luxury' trim). Of course, whochever powertrain you choose there's lots of kit as standard. Base 'Pure' trim features Automatic Halogen headlights, a six-speaker SONY audio system, level 2 ADAS, six-way manually adjustable front seats and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 'Luxury' trim adds an eight-speaker SONY audio system, cooled wireless phone charging, six-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats and enhanced interior finishes. Additional premium features in the 'Luxury' trim model include ambient lighting, a tilt and slide sunroof measuring 1.45m2, a cooled front storage box and dual-zone climate control.

Cost of Ownership

You shouldn't have particularly high expectations for efficiency when it comes to the 1.6-litre petrol turbo Jaecoo 5. This four cylinder engine is something of a stop gap (and will probably be eventually replaced by a Hybrid). It manages very unremarkable figures; about 37mpg on the combined cycle and 159g/km CO2. Which might encourage you to find the extra the brand wants for the EV version. This uses a 61.1kWh battery with a claimed range of up to 245 miles. It only charges at up to 80kW but will replenish itself from a DC public charger from 30 to 80% in 27 minutes. If you're AC charging from home using a conventional 7.4kW garage wallbox, a full charge from empty will require around 11 hours. The car will charge at up to 11kW and if you're able to do that via an 11kW wallbox from a three-phase supply, the charging time will improve to around 8 hours. Most new brands offer comprehensive warranties and this one is no different. Across the range, a seven-year / 100,000-mile manufacturer's warranty is standard (with no mileage limit for the first three years) and (rather impressively) roadside recovery comes included throughout the seven year period. There's 24/7 RAC roadside assistance too, which renews with each service up to the end of the warranty.

Summary

If the Jaecoo 5 is able to emulate the sales performance of the brand's larger '7' model, then this Chinese maker will establish itself as an increasingly important player in the UK market. Basically, this is just an Omoda 5 crossover in a boxier, more SUV-orientated suit. Which is just what quite a few customers might be looking for. There are a number of cars in this segment (Puma, Elroq etc) which look hardly SUV-like at all. You could never level that criticism at a Jaecoo 5. Yet you'll need to know what you're buying. The combustion version's running cost efficiency is some way behind the prevailing class standard. And the EV variant's driving range is nothing to write home about. Still, if this model will only be used for commuting mileage, as will be the case with many customers, that might not matter. What's important is the way this car will make you feel. And on that basis, you might like it very much indeed.