Jaecoo J5 EV 2026 Review 

The 2026 Jaecoo J5 EV will arrive in Aussie showrooms next month in one high-spec offering, dubbed ‘Ridge’, priced from a competitive $35,990 before on-road costs.

More affordable petrol and hybrid versions of the J5 will arrive in the first half of 2026, which are likely to sell in greater numbers because of their expected lower price points.

Those getting into a J5 EV early will be treated to sharp drive-away pricing of $36,990 (including free premium paint, saving $600), limited to the first 1000 customers – or the end of Q1 2026.

The J5 is powered by a punchy front-mounted electric motor (155kW/288Nm), paired with a 58.9kWh lithium-ion (LFP) battery, good for a claimed 402km driving range using the WLTP scale.

Jaecoo says DC charging (130kW max – which is reasonably good at this price) will recharge the LFP battery from 30 to 80 per cent in 28 minutes, while single-phase AC charging at a rate of 6.6kW is also offered.

Standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Continental tyres, LED headlights and daytime running lights (DRLs), roof rails, a powered tailgate, a glass roof with powered sunshade, hidden rear wiper, acoustic glass in the front doors, vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability and keyless entry.

Inside, “pet-friendly” and TUV-certified synthetic leather upholstery features, along with dual-zone climate control, ambient interior lighting, heated and ventilated front seats, an eight-speaker sound system, wireless phone charging, 8.88-inch instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio and “Hello Jaecoo” voice assist.

In terms of safety, the electric J5 comes with seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning with emergency lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision warning.

Still yet to be crash-tested, Jaecoo says it’s aiming for a maximum five-star ANCAP rating.

Four exterior colour options include Stone Grey (no cost), and three premium (+$600) hues: Arctic White, Stormy Blue and Carbon Black.

A black interior option is said to be on the way, however, the light-coloured interior seen here is the only option from launch.

The J5 is covered by an eight-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty – which includes unlimited coverage of the LFP battery for private-use vehicles over the same period – while capped-price servicing is included for eight years.

Visits to the workshop are due every 12 months or 20,000km, alternating between $155 and $225 until year eight, totaling $1520.

The 2026 Jaecoo J5 EV promises “chaos-free” motoring and is pitched firmly as a pet- and child-friendly machine, thanks in part to its silicone-based ‘Super EcoClean Skin’ upholstery.

Said to be the first vehicle with “pet-friendly” TUV SUD certification from Germany, the seat material is claimed to be scratch-, stain- and odour-resistant, with anti-bacterial properties, making it easier to clean and longer-wearing – clearly not something we could test on this brief pre-launch drive.

What we can tell you is that the seats provide decent levels of comfort – at least for the hour we spent in it – and while it’s obvious the seats are clad in imitation leather, they still feel plush.

For pet owners, Jaecoo has launched a range of accessories for the J5, including food/water bowls, pet carriers, collars, a boot mat and a mesh pet barrier – there’s even a J5-shaped cat scratcher for $45.

For $165, a set of karaoke microphones is available to connect to the J5’s in-built karaoke app, to provide some in-car entertainment at the charging station, which is nice considering the J5 doesn’t come with mainstream apps found in other EVs such as TikTok or YouTube.

There’s also no in-built GPS-based satellite navigation, meaning you’ll need to use smartphone mirroring for maps.

Unique features aside, the J5 brings a lengthy list of standard gear, including plenty of driver assist and safety aids, and a surprisingly spacious cabin for four average-sized adults – even if rear-seat amenity is limited to a centre armrest with cup holders, a single air-vent and one USB-A port.

There’s plenty of storage areas – something Jaecoo says it concentrated on – with a small nook behind the big vertically-aligned touch-screen, one of many areas that could be used to store a phone or sunglasses.

Elsewhere, decent boot space (480-litres) plus a small frunk (front trunk) which is said to swallow 35L of gear or a charging cable for example.

The exterior design – while rather plain – is inoffensive, so long as you’re not put off by the brand’s attempt at cloning a prestige car-maker.

On the road, the J5’s ultra-light steering and zippy powertrain will appeal to city-slickers. At 4380mm long and 1860mm wide, it’s easy to maneuver, with plenty of instant torque that means keeping up with cut-and-thrust traffic is a breeze.

At circa-1700kg, the J5 feels controlled when pushed harder through corners, with not too much body roll. But stomp on the accelerator too hard – even on the move – and it scrambles for grip, spinning and screeching the front wheels.

Our brief drive resulted in an average energy consumption reading of 14.0kWh/100km, suggesting the 402km driving range is achievable in an urban setting.

While it clearly doesn’t need any more power – at least in front-wheel drive form – the 2026 Jaecoo J5 EV could do with some improvements when it comes to the driving experience.

In particular, the calibration of the accelerator pedal and re-generative braking.

Three levels of re-gen braking are offered – low, medium and high. But from our experience, anything other than low (where regenerative braking is at a minimum) results in a jerky ride, exacerbated when you explore ‘Sport’ mode.

The J5 doesn’t offer a one-pedal experience like many other EVs and with the re-gen set to medium or high, there’s a several second delay between when you take your foot off the throttle to when it kicks in and slows the vehicle. This can be a bit unnerving.

Strangely, at higher speeds such as freeway driving, it seems like even the slightest lift off the throttle can cause the re-gen to activate, causing excessive braking when you didn’t expect it.

Simply put, it’s inconsistent, so the driver doesn’t know what to expect.

Left in low re-gen mode, the experience is much more pleasant and closer to what you’d expect from a traditional ICE-powered car; it’s here you also notice the brake pedal’s solid, linear feel.

Meanwhile, although some will appreciate the light steering, those who enjoy a more engaging drive will likely be disappointed with its lack of feel or feedback.

Another drawback? There’s no spare tyre in the electric J5 – which is fairly common in an EV. However, there is enough space for at least a space-saver tyre to slot under the dual-height boot floor, for those willing to invest in one.

If not, you’ve got a tyre repair kit as per most EVs.

Finally, for a brand that’s still relatively unknown in Australia, Jaecoo is attempting to stand out with aggressive drive-away launch pricing. But in doing so, it’s created a tricky situation by undercutting the most affordable Chery E5 electric SUV by $1000, itself dropping in price.

This matters because Jaecoo is positioned as a “semi-premium” brand – reflected in its Range Rover-inspired styling – while parent company Chery is focused on delivering budget-friendly models.

Despite the price overlap, Chery and Omoda/Jaecoo executives insist cannibalisation and customer confusion won’t an issue, because “all three brands operate independently” and serve different purposes.

“Chery do have a head start on their brand awareness and we [Jaecoo] need to stand out in some way and one of those ways is a very aggressive, strong launch price,” Chery Motor Australia and New Zealand chief commercial officer, Roy Munoz told carsales.

The 2026 Jaecoo J5 EV makes a strong case for those looking for a well-equipped and relatively affordable electric SUV.

At less than $40K – drive-away if you get in early enough – it’s at least $10K cheaper than a Hyundai Kona Electric, promises to go further on a full battery than the BYD Atto 2 and is quicker and more powerful than the (slightly larger MGS5 EV).

The J5 also boasts stronger ownership credentials and a longer warranty compared to all three.

It’s still got a long way to go in terms of brand recognition and minor tweaks to the driving experience could result in a significantly better experience from the behind the wheel. But overall, the J5 remains a great offering if value for money matters more than driving engagement or badge prestige.

2026 Jaecoo J5 EV Ridge at a glance:
Price: $35,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 155kW/288Nm
Transmission: Reduction gear
Battery: 58.9kWh lithium-iron phosphate
Range: 402km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 14.3kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested

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