Jaecoo 7 first driving impressions: You probably don't know this cheap family SUV, but you should!

We drove the Jaecoo 7 – an angular Chinese SUV that could seriously compete with VW Tiguan & Co. with a strong price-performance ratio.

Visually, the Jaecoo 7 goes its own way. While many SUVs rely on coupé lines, here there is: edge, edge, edge. A beefy grille, a tall front and a roof that slopes only slightly backwards. Result: The car looks more massive than it actually is at 4.50 meters. This may not be to everyone's taste, but it has recognition value.

Tesla sends its regards

Inside, the Jaecoo 7 shows two faces: The family SUV looks minimalist and modern, with a large touchscreen and hardly any switches – almost Tesla style. The material looks high-quality, soft-touch dominates, only hard plastic can be found underneath. The operation works smoothly for the most part, but the climate control in the menu is annoying and the touch fields on the steering wheel are probably a matter of taste.

Practical, but not a space miracle

Adults sit comfortably in the back, the headroom is good and the glass roof makes the rear nice and airy. The trunk of 500 liters is about the class average, but does not break any records. With the seats folded down, 1,265 litres are in it – decent, but not a record here either. Under the floor you will find a compartment that is not exactly huge, but where you can store the charging cable and small things, for example.

Over 1,000 kilometers total range

We drove the plug-in hybrid with 347 hp of system power. Around 90 km electric range and up to 1,200 km total range in the mix are impressive. Also good: fast charging is possible. In 20 minutes, it goes from 30 to 80 percent fill level. If you don't feel like plugging in, the Jaecoo 7 will probably also be available as a gasoline engine – both versions are already available in other markets in Europe. 

Comfortable handling with a small weakness

In everyday life, the PHEV drives pleasantly quietly, as it moves purely electrically when the battery level is sufficient. The transitions between electric and combustion engines can be heard, but are acoustically within limits. On the road, the Jaecoo 7 springs comfortably, and it irons out bumps with aplomb. Only the steering is very indirect – we had to turn hard to change the direction of travel.

Brand awareness and dealer network as the biggest hurdle

Now the big but: Nobody knows Jaecoo, even if Chery, one of China's largest carmakers, is behind it. The dealer and service network in Germany? Another big question mark. This is exactly where it will be decided whether Jaecoo can really gain a foothold or remains an exotic. But what the previously unknown brand brings with it with the Jaecoo 7: the top rating of 5 stars in the NCAP crash test. More well-known brands such as Dacia regularly show weaknesses here.

Conclusion: The price will decide

The Jaecoo 7 is a bold newcomer: angular in appearance, packed with technology and comfortable to ride. If you have the courage to trust an unknown brand, you will get a lot on offer here. And this is expected to be at an attractive price, if you look at Italy, for example, where the petrol version starts at around 34,000 euros and the plug-in hybrid at around 39,000 euros. In Germany, it is scheduled to start at the end of the year – we are excited!

souce : Jaecoo 7 first driving impressions: SUV insider tip for families | carwow.de