Jaecoo J7 Track 2WD 2025 Review

The 2025 Jaecoo J7 will officially go on sale in Australia in May, with indicative pricing expected to be between $35,000 and $40,000 drive away for the entry level Core 2WD model.

We’re expecting the J7 Track 2WD that we drove on this preview to start above $40,000. Full pricing for the range, which includes the Track and Ridge trim levels in both 2WD and AWD versions – plus a plug-in hybrid powertrain – are expected to be released in March 2025.

While the brand wouldn’t be drawn on naming rivals for the Jaecoo J7, in the mid-size SUV segment it will be butting heads with the Toyota RAV4 ($42,260), GWM Haval H6 ($33,990) and Mazda CX-5 ($36,590), among others.

It may even compete with vehicles in the segment below – it’s on the smaller side of the mid-size market so it could potentially tempt Kia Seltos ($29,850) and Mazda CX-30 ($33,940) buyers to make the switch.

Even in entry-level Core trim the Jaecoo J7 covers off plenty of equipment and tech, including a 10.25-inch LCD digital driver’s display, a 13.2-inch infotainment touch-screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, inbuilt GPS navigation, and ‘Hello Jaecoo’ intelligent voice command functionality (of which the icon in the top left of the screen resembles a Pokémon Gym Leader character).

The differentiator for Jaecoo J7 over the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, with which it shares both its engine and dimensions, is the more upmarket and premium look, feel and inclusions.

Jaecoo is said to appeal to weekend adventurers, urban city slickers, and young couples with pets, while Chery is pitched as more of a family affair.

The J7’s bold styling is reminiscent of a Range Rover Evoque and this is the car’s headline attraction. The large waterfall grille, slimline LED daytime running lights and stacked LED headlight clusters create a striking front profile, while 18-inch alloy wheels and an integrated rear lightbar featuring the ‘JAECOO’ name across the boot add further razzle dazzle.

It even has pop-out door handles, which see the Jaecoo J7 leaning into the premium car space, while differentiating it both from a crowded market and offerings from Chery.

The more premium feel extends to the synthetic leather seats, which are very supportive and have a nice level of cushioning. In the Track trim level we sampled on this preview drive, the seating is powered for the driver and front passenger as well as heated.

There’s also a 360-degree around-view parking camera system with front and rear parking sensors and an eight-speaker Sony sound system.

While the car hasn’t officially been given an ANCAP rating yet, Jaecoo is anticipating it will receive the full five stars like its counterpart, the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro.

As standard there are seven airbags (plus a driver knee airbag in Track models) and there are 17 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which Jaecoo says have been tuned for Australian roads and conditions. These include Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

Under the bonnet, the Jaecoo J7 gets a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine good for a claimed 137kW and 275Nm. It’s paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with average fuel consumption said to be 7.0L/100km. On our preview drive loop, we saw it average between 7.5 and 8.0L/100km.

Warranty period, servicing schedule and service pricing have not yet been released. These are expected to be announced in March 2025, while information on the dealer network will begin to appear in April.

Jaecoo says it will have its own showrooms in standalone dealerships, but some current Chery dealers may also carry the brand as well.

To start, you can’t talk about this SUV without mentioning the exterior design.

Subtle and not so subtle nods to the Range Rover Evoque abound, with that front grille, the checkerboard headlight treatment, pop-out door handles and the side profile’s boxy yet curved lines being synonymous with the British luxury off-road brand.

It’s certainly a striking SUV and one that will definitely grab attention for the right reasons at school drop-off and pick-up. The Jaecoo J7 is serving luxury car dupe vibes with its exterior design and that isn’t a bad thing. The interior, unfortunately, doesn’t quite follow the exterior’s cue, but we’ll get to that soon.

The ride is surprisingly good, the car soaking up the bumps and rough patches on the road loop we drove between Sydney Airport and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, just north of Sydney.

There is a bit of bounce over road imperfections but it’s not over the top.

More importantly, there were no loud thuds bouncing around the cabin from any of these bumps, which would have been the case if it was riding with a firmer suspension setup that is often adopted by sportier SUVs.

Sport mode is the pick of the three available drive setting in the 2WD models on test. It gives the Jaecoo J7’s engine a bit more oomph and the steering feels a lot firmer, the SUV hooking into corners with confidence.

The loud audio announcement from the car when changing modes on the dial to “Sport Mode” or “Eco Mode” seems superfluous, however.

Like many new cars these days, the glasshouse is getting smaller and the infotainment screen bigger and wider. The Jaecoo J7’s 13.2-inch infotainment screen is large but not too large for the space and the portrait layout works well. Viewing things in a vertical format makes it much easier to find things quickly, especially through the iPhone-style menu system.

The 360-degree around-view monitor display is also incredibly clear and perfectly suited for the portrait screen setup. The interactive 360-degree parking camera mode is another standout; it’s a big help when navigating those tighter, trickier parking spaces.

Another nice surprise is the eight-speaker Sony sound system – the audio quality from the DAB+ radio as well as Spotify via Apple CarPlay is great. Tweaking the graphic equalizer audio settings isn’t necessary; it’s well balanced and crisp.

Pair that with the ‘music rhythm’ option of the colour selectable ambient lighting (there are 64 different hues to choose from for the dashboard, front and rear doors) and the car becomes a nightclub on wheels.

Life in the second row is quite pleasant too. Fitting two adults comfortably, there’s heaps of head room and the knee room is decent, even if the bench depth might be a little on the shorter side for people over six feet tall.

There are USB-A and USB-C slots in the rear as well as up front, and a nifty door opening warning that sees a light bar in the door trim illuminate red if there is an object or cyclist passing by, for example.

The adaptive cruise control works well while the car takes a very firm hold of the lane, centring itself proactively. The steering wheel controls are okay once you figure out what is what, ditto for navigating the driver’s instrument cluster menu to see your set speed and distance.

The Jaecoo J7 is nowhere near as annoying as many other new high-tech cars with the binging and bonging of audible warnings – and that is very much appreciated. There is an easy-to-access shortcut menu on the infotainment screen where you can turn features on and off on the go too.

While the Jaecoo J7 is a mid-size SUV, it’s 10cm shorter than a Toyota RAV4, although its width, height and wheelbase are almost identical. This means that boot space is small in comparison to what we’ve come to expect from other SUVs in the category.

Thankfully the second row has plenty of room.

If you were cross-shopping the Jaecoo J7 against a small SUV the boot space would be fine and the rest of the car is generously sized. This is going to be the main compromise for potential buyers.

On the road, the dual-clutch transmission is smooth and shifts gears seamlessly, but it displays some initial hesitancy from standing starts or when suddenly accelerating hard, for example when overtaking. On these occasions there is a bit of a lag and an off-putting whirring sound as the transmission attempts to select the appropriate gear for the job at hand, before it makes the shift and gets down to business.

On the inside, the interior doesn’t quite live up to the Evoque-esque exterior.

The Ford Ranger-style door grab handles with visible bolts as well as the hard plastic silver trim is more utilitarian than upmarket luxe SUV.

While some mainstream cars can feel relatively cheap at base-model level, like the Toyota RAV4 and the Kia Sportage, the plastic in the J7 is on the cusp. It’s definitely of a higher quality than its Chery stablemates as well as those of other Chinese brands like GWM.

While the second row is generally comfortable, the single adjustable air vent seems like an oversight. Back seat passengers will have to decide who benefits from the airflow, while if there are three across the back the person in the middle will likely cop the bulk of it.

If you’re after a stylish, feature-packed SUV at a competitive price, the Jaecoo J7 makes a strong case for itself, with its Evoque-inspired design, good levels of tech, and comfortable ride.

However, its smaller boot size, occasional gearbox hesitation and interior materials don’t quite match its upmarket ambitions and may give some buyers pause for thought. Then there’s the challenge of being a new brand from the ground up with no track record in Australia and an emerging dealer network.

For those who prioritise style and value, the J7 is an intriguing proposition that’s worth the test drive. If practicality and proven reliability matter more, established rivals like the Toyota RAV4 or Mazda CX-5 may be the safer bet.

It will be interesting to see how the warranty and servicing provisions land in a few months as this will very much be a deciding factor for many.

2025 Jaecoo J7 Track 2WD at a glance:
Price: Indicative price of $40,000+ drive away
Available: May 2025
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 137kW/275Nm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 163g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

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