With an epic rural ‘Clevedon’ background and the promise of an off-road experience drive, Chinese car brand Jaecoo (Jaeger/cool) invited us to their NZ launch – and we’re very pleased we attended.
Both Omoda and Jaecoo fall under the Chery brand and as such come with a strong history and even stronger vehicle production capabilities. However, whereas Omoda focuses on style and fashion, Jaecoo comes with a keen eye on adventure, urban and beyond.
In their own words, it embodies a fusion of rugged off-road capabilities and urban sophistication, with a commitment to innovation and pushing boundaries in the world of urban SUVs.
First cab off the rank is the J7, an ICE-powered SUV that comes in two variants, EX (2WD) and EX+ (AWD), and they’re both very sleek.
Under their bonnets are internal combustion engines capable of 137kW and 275Nm mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. This is all well and good for the town, (particularly in 2WD, however to tackle uneven surfaces, the J7 boasts 200mm of ground clearance, an approach angle of 21 degrees and a departure angle of 29 degrees, PLUS a weighting depth capability of 600mm for confident navigation through water crossings.
Its evident exterior capabilities are matched by its impressive interior. Its front windshield and driver passenger windows feature double layered glass, there’s a large integrated touch screen control panel and power adjusted heated air seats, (which are available in ventilated option in the EX+). It also features an eight speaker Sony sound system with driver seat equipped six-way adjustment with memory function. And lastly, it has a class leading 50 watt wireless phone charging pad.
The J7 is available in five different colour options and both models come with a comprehensive 7-year warranty and up to 7-years of AA roadside assistance.
And then there’s the price. Early adopters can pick up the J7 EX 2WD at a special introductory offer from $37,990+ORC, while the EX+ AWD is available at $43,990+ORC. No these are not typos. This introductory offer will run up until the end of September.
Stay tuned as we take them both for a ride soon.
