I was able to test the new JAECOO 5 and I admit that my prejudices against Chinese cars are disappearing.

My experience over the past few years has led me to believe that most of the time when something is made in China, it is due to low price and poor quality materials. It is true that companies such as Xiaomi or HUAWEI are changing the situation and we are already seeing many products of quite good quality and of course higher prices. With the advent of the first Chinese cars on the European market, it became inevitable to keep this mantra in mind. However, he first tested the OMODA 9 SHS, and now with the JAECOO 5, all his thoughts about Chinese cars are crumbling.

During the presentation of the company’s second model after JAECOO 7, we were allowed to drive it all day in two opposite situations: on one side on the road, and on the other off-road that while it didn’t present any major difficulties, many other cars in the segment would have trouble moving it. I was also able to test two versions that will be the first to hit the market: electric and gasoline.

Compact on the outside, but not on the inside

The new JAECOO 5 is the brand’s entry into the compact SUV market. External dimensions are 4380mm in length, 1860mm in width, 1650mm in height and 2630mm in wheelbase. Compared to JAECOO 7, it is 12 cm shorter, 5 cm narrower and 3 cm lower..

And inside there is a wonderful feeling of spaciousness. A second row of comfortable seats for three adults and a trunk capacity 480 literswhich can be increased by moving the rear seats or folding them down to a maximum of 1284 liters.

This is in the electric and petrol versions, because the hybrid version will have less power, about 70 liters less.

Design: good finishing and 13 inch screen.

The exterior design is very clever, combining sporty components with those we might see in a family car. At the front is what is typically seen on combustion engine and electric models: a front end where we see the signature grille with waterfall-type vertical lines, while the electric variant has a sleek front end with cleaner and more minimalistic lines.

When you step into the JAECOO 5, all eyes are on the Impressive 13.2″ HD display which separates the driver’s seat from the co-pilot. From here we can control all aspects of the car with smooth tactile feedback and through a very intuitive options menu.

Below, the floating center console has various storage areas and has a flat surface since the gearshift lever is located on the steering column.

The second aspect that surprised me, especially in a car in this price category, is the quality of both the seats and the rest of the interior trim. Synthetic leather seats (although there is a cloth version), nicely finished with blue stitching, heated and ventilated, which hugs the passengers’ backs very well. I touched all the parts (which I usually do in all the cars I get into) and the feeling of solidity and solidity was complete.

Gasoline, electric and soon: hybrid engines

Currently JAECOO 5 is sold with two types of engines: one petrol 1.6 TGDI with 147 hp and a torque of 275 Nm. and a 100% electric version with a 60.9 kWh lithium ferrophosphate battery. The brand also announced a hybrid version of its SHS model, which will arrive soon.

The electric version supports a maximum charging power of 130 kWh. whose battery can be recharged from 30% to 80% in less than half an hour. The engine is located on the front axle and produces 155 kW (211 hp) with a torque of 288 Nm. One of the new features that directly impacts performance is how they have been able to reduce energy consumption by using oil cooling instead of water cooling. Thanks to this, it has better insulation, non-magnetic conductivity, low freezing point and high boiling point, and better heat dissipation effect.

In addition, JAECOO 5 also has an effective regeneration system capable of recovering large amounts of energy during holding and brakingto increase the available autonomy.

It’s not the fastest on the road, but it handles quite easily and responds well. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 7.7 seconds, but if you want a faster car, you don’t need an SUV. As for autonomy, in combined WLTP consumption the brand speaks of 16.5 kWh per 100 kilometers (WLTP) and promises 402 kilometers.

Finally, JAECOO 5 supports 3.3kW V2L bi-directional charging.

Pets allowed

Yes, a car can be too Pets allowed. JAECOO 5 is designed so that our pets can always travel with us. The seats are upholstered in a special, more durable material. and it provides antibacterial protection and odor control. In addition, the air filtration system with high-efficiency filters effectively traps pet hair, and the antimicrobial module actively inhibits the growth of bacteria.

In addition, JAECOO 5 EV has “pet mode”with closing windows, automatic air conditioning and a special interface.

In terms of price, JAECOO has announced an introductory offer where you can purchase the JAECOO in petrol or all-electric version for just €19,990.