Jaecoo J5 2026 review: Hybrid - International first drive

Think hybrid and you'll probably conjure a Toyota in your mind. After all, the Japanese car giant has been nothing short of a petrol-electric pioneer since the first Prius went on sale back in 1997, but now Chery is out to crush Toyota's hybrid dominance with its latest Super Hybrid System Hybrid (SHS-H) tech.

Designed to be far more efficient than any of its rivals, while offering more power and higher levels of refinement, the first car to debut the new powertrain in Australia will be the Jaecoo J5, which should land in dealers in a matter of months.

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Combined with a single-speed dedicated hybrid transmission, which is itself 98 per cent efficient, and a small 1.82kWh battery and electric motor, Chery claims that the J5 SHS-H produces an impressive 165kW and 295Nm of torque – far more than the 143kW and 221Nm the latest 2026 Toyota RAV4 manages.

For reference, the J5 Hybrid also produces 15kW more than the Chery Tiggo 4 and outpunches other rivals like the GWM Haval Jolion (140kW), MG ZS (158kW) and the small Toyota Corolla Cross (143kW).

That's a good start, but actual fuel use for the J5 Hybrid is a claimed 5.3L/100km and a total range of 980km on a full tank, figures that don't exactly set the class alight for efficiency, but the Chinese brand claims a big drop in its thirst in real-world driving.

In the metal, the Jaecoo J5 Hybrid looks identical to both the petrol version, which borrows its looks from the Range Rover Evoque.

There is one subtle change that helps you tell the new J5 Hybrid apart (other than badging), as the electrified petrol gains a fresh set of 18-inch aerodynamically optimised alloy wheels that are unique to the hybrid.

One other minor change worth mentioning is that the J5 Hybrid ditches the button for the electronic handbrake, with the car now automatically applying the rear stoppers at rest and only releasing them when the driver puts their seatbelt on.

Inside, like the rest of the J5 range, there is a large 13.2-inch portrait-mounted infotainment that is blended with an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster.

With an opportunity for a brief drive in China following its public launch at the Beijing motor show, the J5 Hybrid feels eager off the line compared with the lacklustre entry petrol, with 0-100km/h now taking 7.9 seconds – a whopping 2.3 seconds quicker than the base model.

Without any gears to shuffle, the one-speed transmission is smooth and overall refinement levels high.

Quick changes of direction hint at some improvements over the standard J5, but we will need to confirm on road whether the drive and ride have been improved.

It is the latter we are most concerned about, as the J5 EV has reportedly been too easily agitated over rougher Aussie bitumen, but our brief spin over mostly smooth roads provided zero red flags.

Jaecoo has yet to detail specifications for its new hybrid and it is unknown if the petrol-electric version will be offered in a single model grade, like the EV, or two trims like the entry petrol.

The current J5 EV is well-equipped, with a glass sunroof, electric tailgate, dual-zone climate control, 50W wireless charger, synthetic leather six-way adjustable heated and ventilated electric seats, plus 360-degree surround view cameras all standard.

Adding extra peace of mind, the latest J5 hybrid will be covered by the carmaker's generous eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, while services are expected to be every 12 months or 20,000km with a capped-price service program likely to be offered.

In other markets, like the UK, the new J5 SHS-H commands a price premium over the petrol of around 10-12 per cent, which could see it priced from around $28,500-$29,100 drive-away when it goes on sale.