Might you, do you have to, would you select a Jaecoo? Driving the Jaecoo 7

You’ll typically learn or hear sorry laments in regards to the dying of the normal automobile business, of how new fashions and marques are stripping the perceived glamour from motoring and street journeys in favour of artificial, quasi-autonomous experiences sat within the nameless, identikit interiors of bland EVs. The cynic will declare that this course of has already occurred and level to the deluge of latest marques and fashions from China which are upending the normal order of issues.

It’s not a superb time to be lamenting the absence of inside combustion. With costs rising on the pump and the price of EVs and so-called tremendous hybrids plummeting, geopolitical realities are undermining the emotive and nostalgic pull of outdated expertise. Right here, China has been enjoying an extended recreation. Like lots of the China’s automobile makers, Chery is partly state-owned. Based in 1997, it’s now the nation’s third-largest with gross sales of over 2.8m in 2025.

The model umbrella is broad. In addition to making vehicles below the Chery and Chery Fulwin title, it additionally produces automobiles badged as Exeed, Jetour, QQ, Rely, iCar, and Luxeed. Into this wealthy mixture of passenger EVs, luxurious vehicles, industrial automobiles and small mobility vehicles comes various abroad manufacturers, together with Omoda, Exlantix, Aiqar, Lepas and naturally Jaecoo. Chery itself additionally sells into Europe, simply so as to add one other layer of complexity.

At occasions, this portfolio virtually feels as if a coverage of deliberate obfuscation is being undertaken, particularly when lots of the manufacturers share platforms and underpinnings and are distinguished solely through look and advertising. So how has the Jaecoo 7 managed to flee this blizzard of similarity and emerge as a particular snowflake in its personal proper?

The car-literate observer ought to have observed an uptick in Jaecoo 7s on the UK’s roads in current months. Launched final 12 months, it’s accessible as a typical petrol-powered automobile, a traditional hybrid and an ultra-long vary plug-in hybrid (SHS, for ‘super-hybrid system’). The essential hybrid begins at below £30k, which is a number of automobile for the cash. The vary is bookended by the smaller Jaecoo 5 (accessible as each ICE and pure EV) and the bigger Jaecoo 8 SHS, which provides one other row of seats.

First issues first: it’s not a traditional good looker. Typically disparagingly known as the ‘Temu Vary Rover’, maybe as a result of there are hints of the Sport and Velar within the slab-sided, upright styling, the 7 is however uncompromising and unpretentious.

The massive ‘waterfall’ grille does the entrance finish no favours, being too deep, too broad and unbalanced when in comparison with the slim headlights. It’s no less than recognisable, serving to give the model traction in a brand-new market. The grille-less Jaecoo 5 BEV is significantly better trying.

Additionally, don’t low cost the significance of value. The SHS can handle over 50 miles on EV energy alone (very useful when you have your individual charging services) or a mixed vary of over 700 miles. We didn’t get to method these limits, however the whole absence of vary nervousness might be a promoting level amongst a populace made artificially jumpy about perceived EV shortcomings. Extras? There are none, save for color. The bottom color (normally white) is customary, with a extra fascinating physique color a £600 additional (or £1,200 if you need two-tone physique and roof).

Ignore the advertising guff about in the present day’s lively life and glossy designer finishes, and the underside line is that it is a greater than respectable automobile that’s pitched completely on the model agnostic. We’ve seen this with firms like Mitsubishi, Subaru and Hyundai, all of whom began out from successfully clean slates, earlier than creeping into common consciousness with fashions that grew to become a byword for practical simplicity; the Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Outback or Hyundai Tucson. All grew to become one thing of a covert standing image by advantage of their practicality.

Maybe that is the place Jaecoo is heading, so long as you overlook the advertising hyperbole. For instance, the newly introduced Jaecoo 7 Black Luxurious mannequin isn’t actually ‘An Enduring Assertion of Fashionable Luxurious’, however only a 7 with darker trim. Nobody goes to purchase this considering they’re getting the low-cost various to a Rolls-Royce Black Badge mannequin.

Downsides? The prices which have been minimize are mirrored within the screen-focused inside and a slight paucity of energy. Though the battery enhance provides greater than respectable shove, as soon as the cells have been depleted you’re reliant on the 1.5-litre TDGI engine, which struggles to be significantly clean, refined or pressing.

None of this actually issues, for that is as near a classless automobile because it’s doable to construct in 2026, bereft of brand name heritage and standing, bodily non-descript but ticking virtually each field in an extended record of capabilities and conveniences, from the panoramic roof to the heated seats entrance and rear. The truth is, the Jaecoo 7 has a much better declare to be described as a contemporary utility automobile than something popping out of the JLR steady proper now.