Jaecoo is taking luxury to the entry-level market with the newly launched Jaecoo J5, creating even more options in the crowded sub-R500,000 compact SUV market. It seems there might just be a new people’s champion throwing its hat in the ring.
If you’re a newer player in the SUV space, entering at the sub-R500,000 price point is critical to your success. After all, 27% of all new cars available to South Africans are priced below the R500,000 mark – definitely not a lot of options when you’re hoping for luxury. Until recently, though, the “urban luxury” Jaecoo brand (part of the Chery Automotive Group) has only offered the J7 compact SUV, which misses the half-a-bar ceiling by R20,000 for its entry Vortex model.
Following the launch of its smaller J5 crossover – with pricing that starts at R370,000 for the starter Vortex model featuring automatic headlamps, an Intelligent Evasive System (IES), rear parking sensors with a rear-facing camera, and a swathe of safety systems – Jaecoo has ensured that the baby newcomer’s spec sheet makes for some excellent reading.
DESIGN THAT’S NOT BOXED IN
Yes, the J5 is lovely to look at, and yes, it clearly takes some design cues from cars we might be familiar with, but it’s no knock-off attempt. The Jaecoo J5 creates its own aura, with the larger-than-life front grill and distinctively Jaecoo LED taillights (standard throughout the range) making it clear that Jaecoo has distilled its design philosophy into its purest form.
Right in the heart of Johannesburg, Jaecoo set up a launch event for the J5 at the unique 1 Fox venue. It fit the script perfectly, with the raw steel and brick of the factory’s previous life blending seamlessly with the contemporary elegance of the J5. Sitting in the range-topping J5 Inferno model, looking up through its 1.45 m2 panoramic moonroof and blasting some tunes through its impressive eight-speaker sound system, it becomes clear just how perfectly the Jaecoo J5 fits into contemporary lifestyles.
Sitting behind the creatively designed steering wheel with its ellipse-shaped centre that offers a refreshing take on steering wheel design, you notice how ‘clean’ the design of the Jaecoo J5’s interior is. You get a long swooping dash board that houses the very subtly done ambient lighting, that naturally is fully adjustable with any colour your heart desires and the luxuries just keep on coming, offering the driver a 6-way electrically adjustable seat, automatic climate control, electrically folding, adjustable and heated side mirrors, a complete digital instrument cluster display that you don’t immediately notice until the ignition is switched, which adds beautifully to the minimalist interior. Jaecoo has used high gloss plastic trimmings around the J5’s interior, but luckily, it’s not overdone and suits the overall design quite well.
Other notable features include a full ADAS suite, including traffic jam assist (TJA), rear and front collision warning systems, auto emergency braking (AEB), and a 540-degree panoramic view that’s displayed on the J5’s 13.2” full touch screen display, anytime the array of sensors detects a problematic situation. The vertically placed touchscreen comes standard on all Jaecoo J5 models, clearly putting its hand up among the crowd.
What I really appreciate about the J5 is that Jaecoo retained the driving mode change functionality as a physical button, located underneath the screen, along with the hazard and central locking buttons.
THE TECH STUFF
The Jaecoo J5’s 1.5-litre TCI engine is just about adequate. Coupled to a CVT gearbox, it sends 115 kW and 230 Nm to the front wheels at 5,500 rpm, and has a fairly decent claimed fuel economy of 7.5-l/100 km. All things considered, a CVT gearbox loves a conservative driving style, which is where it becomes more fuel-efficient. However, it may be difficult for the general driver to have the patience to achieve those claimed fuel consumption figures. Let’s be honest, though, luxury has never been about performance figures.
The J5 Vortex rides on 17” aluminium alloy wheels, but both the Glacier (R429,000) and Inferno (R479,900) are fitted with 18” wheels. For peace of mind, Jaecoo offers a 10-year/1,000,000 km engine warranty for the first owner, five years of unlimited roadside assistance, a five-year/75,000 km service plan, and a five-year/150,000 km factory warranty.
LAST WORD
Considering the extravagance on offer right from the entry-level Jaecoo J5, then spoiling us with all the bells and whistles at the very top of the range, it’s very hard to imagine how they never break the R500 000 mark, but they never do. It will be interesting to see how South Africans take to the J5, and looking at the competition on offer, it will be welcomed with open arms.
Report by RUBEN VON STEEN | Images © OMODA&JAECOO
