The Chinese giant Chery has studied the Spanish market very well and is now doing everything possible to conquer it. After landing in our country with Omoda and destroying the only SUV that that brand sells in Spain, the Jaecoo brand arrives, which is positioned one step higher than Omoda and debuts with the Jaecoo 7.
It is a compact SUV that, at the moment, is only for sale with a gasoline engine, although it is offered with 4×2 and 4×4 versions. A plug-in hybrid variant will arrive later.
The Jaecoo 7 is a compact SUV with a gasoline engine and a lot of equipment
Over the last few months many have arrived SUV chinos In Spain, however, there are enough fingers on one hand to count those that are selling really well. Both the MG ZS and the newcomer Omoda 5 are part of this very particular list and they both have something in common: an affordable price and the possibility of installing gasoline engines.
These two issues are crucial for many Spanish drivers, however, the fact that they are Chinese cars is not so relevant: what people are looking for is the best quality-price ratio. Omoda, or rather Cherywhich is its parent company, has only needed a few months to understand it and has decided to exploit it twice, so, in addition to bringing Omoda to the Spanish market, it has brought a second brand: Jaecoo.
Jaecoo is positioned one step higher than Omoda, but is also committed to selling SUVs with a good value for money and with conventional gasoline engines, although later it will also have partially electrified options.
A few months ago, when Jaecoo debuted in Spain, we learned about all of this company’s plans, and now we have gotten behind the wheel of the first model it sells in our country: the Jaecoo 7.
It is a compact SUV that, initially, lands in our market with a gasoline engine and versions with front-wheel drive (4×2) and all-wheel drive (4×4). In a few months, its mechanical range will be expanded with a plug-in hybrid variant, but, for now, the only engine with which it is available is a 1.6 four-cylinder turbo gasoline that develops 145 HP.
It is the same engine that the Omoda 5 has just started using, but the Jaecoo is a very different car. To begin with, it is bigger because It is 4.50 meters long (the Omoda is 4.37 meters long); It is something that can be seen with the naked eye, in fact, the Jaecoo 7 seems larger than it is because it has a very robust design, with a huge central grille, very marked wheel arches, a raised waist and large wheels. Whether you like it or not, it is indisputable that it attracts attention and has personality, like the Omoda 5.
Interior of the Jaecoo 7: giant screens and plenty of space for passengers, but not so much for luggage
Inside it doesn’t have as much personality because it follows the pattern of almost all new cars: a screen for the digital dashboard, a huge central touch screen and few physical buttons to have a dashboard design that is as clean as possible, and also that of the center console, where there are two large spaces to leave the mobile phone (with wireless charging), the gear lever, two cupholders (with a practical space to leave the car key) and a roulette to change driving mode.
The downside to this clean design is that almost everything is managed from the central touch screen, such as the climate control, and the multimedia interface takes a little getting used to, although there are shortcuts to key functions by sliding your fingers from the top or from the bottom, as well as the air conditioner itself.
The good thing is that the central touch screen is huge: 13.2 inches in the basic finish (Select) and 14.8 inches in the top of the range (Exclusive), which is the one we tested in the first contact. It’s also responsive and runs smoothly (more so than some of its Western rivals).
The digital panel screen is the same in both finishes, it is 10.3” and shows all the information you need to drive, the truth is that nothing is missing and it has good readability. It is operated from the buttons on the steering wheel, which appear to be tactile, but are not (luckily).
The general quality is also quite good and this is one of the points in which it marks distances with respect to the Omoda 5 because it is better made and uses materials that are more pleasant to look at and touch. In fact, it has interesting quality detailsat least in the Exclusive finish, such as the double glass on the front windows that improves the soundproofing of the interior, the sound system signed by Sony or that the rear seats have a central air vent, two USB sockets (one normal and one type C) and heated seats.
In the rear seats, the central rear seat can also be used better than in other compact SUVs because there is no central tunnel and there is more room for the legs, although it is still a narrow seat that only serves for children or for emergencies. In return, the other two rear seats are spacious in all dimensions and access to them is good because the door has a good opening angle.
On the other hand, the trunk is small for an SUV that measures 4.50 meters long, especially in the version tested with 4×4 traction. Has 340 liters capacityso it is smaller than the trunk of a SEAT Ibiza (355 liters) and much smaller than that of a SEAT Arona (400 liters), both in the B segment; The SEAT Ateca, which is a compact SUV, like the Jaecoo 7, has 510 liters of capacity.
At least it has a very clean design, it is well lit with two LED lights, it has a 12V power outlet and many rings to anchor the load. Under the floor there is a biscuit-type spare wheel. The trunk of the 4×2 version is larger (424 liters), but it is still below the segment average and is still very fair for a car with a family focus.
In return, it comes very well equipped as standard, both the basic version and the top of the range. What’s more, the only thing you can choose in the two finishes is the exterior color, there is nothing optional. Jaecoo assures that in this way he wants to make things as easy as possible when buying the car.
For the same reason, in the gasoline version, the front-wheel drive variant is only associated with the basic trim (Select) and the 4×4 can only be combined with the top-of-the-range Exclusive trim.
This is how the Jaecoo 7 goes: priority to comfort and surprising off the asphalt
Both share the 1.6 turbo gasoline engine, which develops 145 HP and a maximum torque of 275 Nm, always associated with a dual clutch automatic transmission with seven gears.
In a few months it will also be available with a 340 HP plug-in hybrid package that can only be associated with front-wheel drive and will allow driving 90 kilometers in completely electric mode. Of course, it will have the DGT ZERO label and can be charged at a power of 40 kW (fast charging).
At the moment, gasoline is the only one that is for sale. In this relatively large SUV it is not the most efficient nor the most capable engine, but it is an option that fits well with all those who do not want or need any degree of electrification, or simply with those who seek maximum simplicity.
The average consumption is around 8.5 l/100 km in the 4×4 version and the 145 HP is enough to move well in all situations and the transmission works well when an extra is requested, for example, when overtaking or to join a highway, although it is somewhat abrupt when making maneuvers. By pressing the button on the gear lever you can use manual mode and that function is especially useful in a scenario where the Jaecoo 7 shines: in the field.
After completing an off-road circuit, it is surprising what this SUV is capable of doing off-road, at least the 4×4 variant. Logically, it is not an all-terrain vehicle, but it allows more than what can be expected in a car of this type and, although the majority of people who buy it will barely take it off the road, it is good that they know how far they can go in the countryside. .
Es thanks to all-wheel drive and electronicsbecause within the seven driving modes, there are several specific ones for off-road driving (for snow, for mud, etc.).
It also has hill descent control, hill start assist, several cameras that make things easier when you can’t see well from the driving position and a very useful “transparent mode” that monitors the car on the ground through the screen. central touch screen and allows you to see everything under the vehicle because it “erases” it and only the wheels are visible.
All of this makes it work well in the field and makes it easy to drive in these conditions. The tested unit also had summer tires, so it would be even more capable with M+S or all-terrain tires, even with about four seasons.
That off-road capability is another thing that differentiates it from the Omoda 5. It has a much more country approach, although it also works well on the road.
What stands out is because it is very comfortable and the suspension has a lot to do with it, but also the steering. As Jaecoo has given so much priority to comfort, there is a counterpoint and that is that when you want to drive a little more lively, the suspension is too soft and the steering has too much assistance and is not very communicative, so the feel, in general It does not invite you to drive quickly, not even in Sport driving mode.
It is one of the points in which Jaecoo must improve because in Europe we like cars with a more direct driving feel, or at least that offer more difference between the Normal and Sport driving modes. From what we have seen over the last few months, Jaecoo will work on it because it places a lot of emphasis on the things it can improve and tries to implement the changes very quickly, in fact, the Omoda 5 has only been updated for a few months after reaching the market.
Another thing that this brand (and its sister Omoda) is putting a lot of effort into is expanding the official network. In less than a year, 65 Omoda and Jaecoo dealerships have opened their doors in Spain. They all have official service and the brand guarantees the pieces thanks to a warehouse that has opened in Azuqueca de Henares (Guadalajara).
That a new brand (in this case, two) with such importance to customer service and after-sales is crucial to expand in Europe. Such a wide network gives customers peace of mind.
Price of the Jaecoo 7
And another thing that anyone who is going to buy a new car appreciates is that the price is competitive. In the case of the Jaecoo, it is. As the brand is positioned above Omoda and the Jaecoo 7 is a car in the segment above the Omoda 5, it is more expensive than the latter, but it has a more competitive price than its rivals, especially if we look at the equipment-price relationship.
The starting price of the Jaecoo 7 is 33.900 euros with the Select finish, the 145 HP 1.6 turbo engine and front-wheel drive. The Jaecoo 7 Exclusive 4×4 is on sale from 37,900 euros, both with automatic transmission and a seven-year warranty. None of these rates include promotions or discounts, it is the RRP.
Source: www.motorpasion.com
