Jaecoo J8 2027 review: Summit SHS – Australian first drive

Proving the current popularity of plug-in hybrids (PHEV), one of Chery Group’s many brands, Omoda Jaecoo, is giving buyers another option. Following the launch of the petrol-powered J8 large SUV a year ago, Jaecoo has added the J8 SHS (Super Hybrid System).

It’s a plug-in hybrid and, unlike the petrol J8, this one has seven seats. Jaecoo says it’s more of an occasional seven-seater, rather than a dedicated three-row family hauler. More on that later.

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The Summit is a $5000 bump over the priciest petrol J8, but it is compelling when lined up against other three-row large PHEV SUVs like the BYD Sealion 8 ($56,990-$70,990 BOC), Kia Sorento ($71,175-$86,115 BOC) and Mazda CX-80 ($55,700-$93,419 BOC).

Jaecoo has loaded the J8 Summit with standard gear including heated and ventilated front seats with a massage function, head-up display, 14-speaker Sony sound system (two speakers are housed in the driver’s headrest), a 50-watt wireless charger, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto via one of the two 12.3-inch displays, a panoramic sunroof with a sun shade, acoustic glass and luxuries like quilted leather seats, ambient lighting and a built-in fragrance system.

Design wise, the Jaecoo J8 is not an unattractive car, it just lacks anything that helps it stand out or identify it as a Jaecoo. The brand is still finding its feet when it comes to design.

Inside, the speakers, door-mounted seat controls, air vents, dash panels and even the quilting on the leather seats look to have been borrowed from Mercedes-Benz. It’s not an unpleasant space, it’s comfortable and looks good, but there are issues.

The integrated dash element that flows into the door is misaligned. Not a great look. I couldn’t find my perfect driving position because the driver’s seat doesn’t lower far enough. The centre console is too wide and sits too high, meaning you feel a bit hemmed in.

But the lovely looking steering wheel feels nice in hand and has clearly identifiable controls. Storage wise you get a huge central bin with a cooling function, under-console space, big door bins for bottles and more.

It has dual 12.3-inch screens - exactly the same size as Hyundai/Kia’s setup - and the driver display is clear and well calibrated. The central display is not intuitive and you have to dig through menus or swipe down for high-use functions.

Beyond the dial on the console, the drive mode set-up is confusing and takes some time to navigate, while my co-driver and I could not find the regen braking settings, despite deep dives into the menus.

The system’s processing speed is excellent, so it responds quickly to inputs and the graphics are good. I don’t need an automated voice shouting when changing drive modes, however.

The second row is well appointed, with air-con vents at knee and chest level, some climate controls, big door bins, central armrest and cupholders, USB ports and more. You also get sun shades for second-row windows and the panoramic sunroof has a solid blind.

There’s no transmission tunnel so the middle seat is useful. The second-row seat base slides and the backrest reclines slightly which is a neat feature. However, the Jaecoo has a big flaw that impacts its status as a seven seater.

The 60/40 split-fold second row is configured for left-hand drive markets - the J8 is built in China - so the single-seat entry point offering the best third-row entry is on the driver’s side of the car, which, in Australia, is the road side.

This should have been changed to the kerb side so it’s safer for parents to get their kids in and out of that third row. You can climb over the seats on the kerb side, but it’s cumbersome. The J8’s Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV twin has the same issue.

Boot size is a J8 strong point, swallowing 200 litres with all three rows in place, expanding to 738L with the third row folded. There are hooks, lights and power outlets in there, too. But there’s another packaging issue. There’s no spare wheel and because the PHEV mechanicals take up so much space, there’s no under-floor storage. So the tyre repair kit and charge cable sit in the boot with other luggage.

Powering the J8 is a plug-in hybrid powertrain consisting of a 105kW/215Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine combined with three electric motors - two at the front and one at the rear. The total system power and torque is hefty 315kW/580Nm, the same as the Tiggo 9.

This set-up allows for all-wheel drive traction and it uses a three-ratio dedicated hybrid transmission. Maximum braked towing capacity for the PHEV is 1600kg, but, oddly, the petrol J8 is not rated for towing.

Jaecoo has not tested for WLTP EV driving range so could only provide the NEDC figure which is more lenient. It is a healthy 169km, with 1000km possible factoring in the petrol engine’s 70-litre fuel tank.

The 34kWh battery can be charged up to 70kW on a DC fast charger. Energy consumption is 19.3kWh/100km and Jaecoo says the official combined cycle fuel use figure is 1.2 litres. As with any PHEV, take that figure with a big grain of salt as it requires the battery to always be charged.

The 6.6kW Type 2 charge port is on the rear passenger side of the car and charging from 10 to 100 per cent takes five-and-a-half hours.

That powertrain is one of the Jaecoo’s most impressive features. It is technologically advanced, powerful, offers a useful driving range and is mostly smooth.

However, on the road the J8 is a mixed bag.

It is very quick off the mark, hitting 100km/h in just 5.8 seconds. So straight-line performance is solid. But when accelerating out of a tight corner or a roundabout there’s some hesitation from the powertrain.

The J8 SHS has adaptive dampers as standard, which is usually a good thing, but combined with the size and heft of the car, it makes for a wallowy, floaty ride. Go over a speed bump and the front end will feel like it’s bouncing up and down.

At urban speeds on completely flat roads, the Jaecoo is composed and lovely to drive. But at higher speeds on a highway or motorway with bends, that boat-like floatiness reappears.

Of the three drive modes - Normal, Mid and Sport - the latter is best at keeping the big SUV more tied down, but it never loses the wallowy feeling entirely.

It’s not a fan of corners, leaning heavily even on pretty average bends. This is one top-heavy vehicle, and you feel it in the cabin, moving around as it leans.

On the flipside, it handles potholes and road imperfections well, mostly soaking up some sizeable holes. It rides on Michelin tyres hugging the 20-inch alloy wheels.

Steering lacks any real engagement or connection to the road but it has a bit more feel in Sport mode. Chery Group Australia would benefit from a local ride, handling and steering tune similar to GWM and Kia’s programs.

The Jaecoo standard safety list is impressive, and the advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) are not as intrusive as some rivals. The lane keeping aid can get a bit excited but you can adjust the level of some ADAS features via settings. There’s no ANCAP crash rating for the Jaecoo as yet.

A big tick for the Jaecoo is its warranty and servicing offer. It comes with an eight-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, eight-year battery warranty, eight years of roadside assistance and eight years of capped-price servicing.

The schedule is every 12 months of 15,000km, whichever occurs first. Service pricing ranges from about $300 to $670, depending on the year, but it will cost a total of $3881 all up. That’s pretty competitive pricing when lined up against the BYD Sealion 8 and Mazda CX-80.