2025 Jaecoo PHEV locked in
Chery’s premium offshoot confirms its Outlander PHEV and Sealion 6 rival for AusThe Toyota RAV4 and BYD Sealion 6 will have another plug-in hybrid competitor come March when the 2025 Jaecoo J7 PHEV SHS hits the market.
An export-focussed premium spin-off of Chery, Jaecoo is one of myriad Chinese brands looking to make a splash Down Under in 2024 and 2025 and clearly planning to capitalise on the growing demand for hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
Jaecoo claims the J7’s ‘Super Hybrid System’ delivers a 90km WLTP-rated electric-only range and an estimated combined fuel range of 1200km, putting it well ahead of the BYD and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Pricing and specification details will be announced closer to the Q1 release; however, we can confirm the J7 PHEV will be offered alongside orthodox internal combustion powertrains spanning two- and all-wheel drive.
The PHEV system comprises a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, a singular electric motor and a high-voltage battery pack, but while information is limited for the time being, Jaecoo is claiming an exceptional 44.5 per cent thermal efficiency rating for the engine.
Overseas versions output a combined 255kW/525Nm while the China media has nominated a combined fuel consumption of 4L/100km when left to its own devices.
Once established here, the J7 could eventually be joined by the bigger J8 SUV as well as the smaller J5 and J6 EV which are all under consideration for our market.
The J7 PHEV SHS will arrive in Australia just in time for the expiry of the FBT exemption for plug-in hybrids (April 1) which has contributed to the doubling of local sales (+100.4%) so far this year ending November.
But there is plenty of evidence auto brands in Australia are swinging towards PHEVs to help meet the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) that comes into effect of January 1.
The standard J7 shares its fundamental underpinnings with the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro but has different sheet metal and is expected to have higher pricing when it lands in Australia.
With the Tiggo 7 Pro priced from $39,990 drive-away, it would be reasonable to expect the Jaecoo J7 to start somewhere around the $47,000 mark, with the PHEV positioned at least several thousand dollars upstream.
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