The Chery Group continues to land in Spain. After launching with Omoda and confirming that it will keep the former Nissan facilities in Barcelona, it launches a new brand in our country: Jaecoo.
Jaecoo is the sister company of Omoda and is positioned one step higher. Its first car is the Jaecoo 7a 4.50-metre-long SUV that is already on sale with a petrol engine and will have a plug-in hybrid version in a matter of months.
First it was Omoda’s turn, now it’s Jaecoo’s turn
Less than a year ago you hadn’t heard of Omoda and now there isn’t a week that goes by when you don’t come across an Omoda 5 on the street. At the moment, it is the only model sold by this Chinese brand. Chery Group which landed in Spain just a few months ago, but its growth in our market has been meteoric.
It’s not us who are saying it, but the numbers: at the end of August, 4,113 units of the Omoda 5 had already been sold in Spain, both in its gasoline version and its electric variant, called the Omoda E5. Beyond the registered cars, Omoda already has 65 dealers (all with workshops) in our country their goal is to close the year 2024 with 70 points of sale and official services.
In a matter of months, Omoda has not only become a headache for other Chinese brands, such as MG, but also for traditional manufacturers, those who are going through one of their worst moments. It is true that, with only one car, Omoda cannot yet do much damage to the rest, but the plans of the brand are very ambitious and they arrive in double.
And Omoda has a sister brand and has just officially started its journey in Spain. It is Jaecooa new firm that also comes from China under the Chery umbrella and that lands in Spain (and in Europe) to position itself one step above Omoda, that is, it has a more premium approach. It does, however, share a sales network with Omoda.
According to the brand’s managers at the presentation of the brand in Spain, the name Jaecoo “is the combination of the German term ‘Jäger’, which symbolizes speed, agility, boldness and passion; and the word ‘cool’, which represents style, delicacy and a sophisticated approach.”
Whatever the case, the truth is that in Europe we are not used to seeing so many new brands, much less two new ones, as in this case, but it is undeniable that things have changed in the automotive sector and the sales figures make it clear that Omoda and, therefore, Jaecoo, know what they are doing. Or so it seems.
They are certainly finding the keys to making a name for themselves in our market, such as creating a very complete sales network, offering a very comprehensive warranty and selling reasonable cars, such as the Omoda 5, especially now that the prices of new models are sky-high.
The Jaecoo 7 is a compact SUV that can be 4×2 or 4×4
In the case of Jaecoo, the car with which the brand is making its debut in Spain is the Jaecoo 7, a compact SUV measuring 4.5 metres long which, initially, is only available with a 1.6 turbo gasoline engine with 145 hpbut will later expand its range with a plug-in hybrid version.
Both the petrol, which is already on sale, and the PHEV which will arrive in a few months, have automatic transmission and can be 4×2 or 4×4. It also has two finishes: Select and Exclusive. To simplify things, the Select is linked to front-wheel drive and the Exclusive, which is the top of the range, to all-wheel drive.
We haven’t had the chance to test drive this SUV yet, but the first impression when seeing and touching it is good. Its design is less daring than that of the Omoda 5, in that sense, it may have less personality, but it seems that Jaecoo wanted to play it safe, both outside and inside.
One of the things that those responsible for Jaecoo in Spain explained to us is that the brand listens, that is, it appreciates having the feedback of customers and the specialized automotive press to take note of the suggestions and implement them, if possible.
This is not something that is common among traditional manufacturers, in fact, some are very “square”, but Chinese firms believe that the suggestions can be useful to make products that fit better in our market.
If we look at the design of the Jaecoo 7, it is in line with that of other SUVs in its category to bet on a safe bet, with exterior lines that convey robustness (and make it look larger than it really is), elements that are in fashion, such as the retractable door handles, the enormous front grille, the united LED taillights or the possibility of choosing a two-tone combination for the bodywork.
Inside, Jaecoo has also decided to walk on safe ground: screens have become the main protagonists of the interiors of new cars, so the Jaecoo 7 has two huge screens, one for the digital dashboard and another central touch screen arranged vertically. The latter is 13.2” in the Select finish and grows to 13.2” in the Select trim. 14,8” in the Exclusive, which also includes a Head-Up Display to complement the digital dashboard.
As with the Omoda 5, the standard equipment is very complete and that is intended to be another of the attractions of this car. The basic version already includes, among other things, dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 540-degree panoramic camera (allows you to see what is under the car), 19” alloy wheels, heated front seats, an electric panoramic roof, an electric tailgate, a spare wheel and 18 driving assistance systems.
The Jaecoo 8 Exclusive adds ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and steering wheel, the aforementioned Head-Up Display and two-tone paint.
But there is something more important than design and equipment: the price. The fact that the Omoda 5 is selling so much has a lot to do with how much it costs. Jaecoo has taken note and has just put the Jaecoo 7 petrol on sale from 33,900 euros, without discounts or promotions from the brand and with a 7-year or 150,000-kilometre warranty. With discounts, the Jaecoo 7 1.6 TGDI Select has a Starting price: 28,900 euros.
The Jaecoo 7 1.6 TGDI Exclusive 4×4 starts at 37,900 euros. At the brand’s presentation, Jaecoo put a lot of emphasis on the off-road capabilities of this car with several demonstrations on sand, mud and obstacle courses.
It is not very common for a car of this type to have an off-road approach, the Dacia Duster has already shown that off-roading is not something exclusive to the most expensive models; however, we still do not know if the Jaecoo 7 4×4 will have special equipment, such as locks. The only thing that Jaecoo has confirmed is that it has specific driving modes for the countryside: Sand, Mud, Snow and Off-Road, which are added to the three of the 4×2 (Normal, Eco and Sport).
The Jaecoo 7 PHEV also has a price, although it will take a few months to be available. The Select 4×2 will start from 40,900 euros without discounts or aid and the Exclusive 4×4 from 42,900 euros.
The Jaecoo 7 PHEV will use a plug-in hybrid system that will develop a combined maximum power of 340 PS and a maximum torque of 525 Nm. The battery will have a capacity of 18.3 kWh and can be charged at a maximum power of 40 kW in direct current; according to Jaecoo, The electric range will be 90 km and the combined range will exceed 1,200 km. We will have to wait until 2025 to see for ourselves, and that same year the Jaecoo catalogue will grow with the Jaecoo 8 PHEV, a larger model than the Jaecoo 7.
Source: www.motorpasion.com
