Jaecoo J5 vs Chery Tiggo 4 PRO

What's the difference?

The Jaecoo J5 EV makes a strong first impression and a quieter long-term one. The J5 looks the part, feels comfortable and covers all the basics well, making it an easy choice for buyers who want an affordable, practical EV without too many compromises.

It’s a solid effort overall, though even at this lower price point a few more rear-seat features would be welcome - especially given this is the only grade currently available. However, it hits the right notes when it comes to ownership and value which will be its strongest pull.

Is the Tiggo 4 Pro the best light SUV on the market? No, it falls short in some key areas, but there’s also a lot to like about it.

The driving dynamics needs more tuning to put it on par with its class rivals. I believe the Chinese brand that invests in a local ride and handling program in the same way Hyundai and Kia have done in the past decade will have a big advantage with customers. The Tiggo 4 feels too vague and unresolved at times, especially in the wet, and that could be rectified with some minor tweaks.

The safety systems also need some major work to make them smoother and less intrusive so you don’t go searching for the button to switch them off - which defeats the purpose of having them in the first place.

But if you can look past (or accept) the driving and active safety issues, there are some big plus points for Chery’s latest model. It looks great inside and out, offers up plenty of value and is as practical as a compact SUV can be.

Chery has come a long way in a short space of time and with some more improvements it’s easy to see it continuing its sales growth with models like the Tiggo 4 Pro.

The Jaecoo J5 EV is a handsome-looking small SUV. Its suite of LED lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels and upright, robust silhouette give it plenty of presence, particularly for something positioned at the affordable end of the EV market. That said, originality isn’t really its strong suit. The design, especially from the rear, feels heavily inspired by a Range Rover. Imitation may be the highest form of flattery but Jaecoo could have pushed the design in a slightly more distinctive direction.

It looks good on the road, though, and inside, the J5 has a genuinely airy feel. Light-coloured synthetic upholstery and the expansive panoramic glass roof help the cabin feel open and welcoming, particularly from the front seats. The design is modern and tech-focused, with the large 13.2-inch display taking centre stage on the dashboard.

The overall layout is clean and undeniably premium in its presentation, though it doesn’t bring a great deal of personality with it. That’s becoming a familiar theme, especially in this part of the EV market, where minimalism and screens often take priority over character.

This is the area where Chery has made immense progress in such a short period of time, which underlines the rapid rate of change the Chinese car industry has been able to manage.

Whereas the J11 I drove all those years ago was a mess, seemingly designed by a team of people not allowed to talk to each other, the Tiggo 4 Pro looks smart and stylish on the outside and in the cabin.

While there are some elements of rival models to the look, there’s also a clear family design to all the Chery Tiggo models that helps create a cohesive look across the range.

It took the South Korean brands nearly two decades to achieve this level of design evolution, so it’s impressive (and worrying for rivals) that the Chinese brands have managed to do it so much quicker.

Inside, the cabin design is not only a major step forward and looks very nice for an SUV at this price point in terms of the presentation and technology.

The dual 10.2-inch screens look more premium than the car's price suggests, as does the lower digital screen for the climate control settings as well as the soft-touch finishes and gloss black trim.

The Jaecoo J5 EV's cabin is spacious with both rows offering ample head- and legroom. A flat floor also helps the middle rear seat feel more usable than usual, which is always appreciated. Up front, the seats are very comfortable, with their added adjustment, heating and ventilation making a noticeable difference on longer drives. The rear seats are well padded with decent back support, so passengers in the second row shouldn’t feel short-changed.

Access to both rows is good with wide door apertures and an easy step in/step out height. My main quibble here is the keyless entry set-up. Unless you enable proximity unlocking through the multimedia system the doors aren’t truly keyless. Even then, the system can be inconsistent. That means occasionally having to reach for the key fob, which is frustrating when your hands are full.

Storage is one of the J5’s stronger suits. Up front, it’s easy to keep things neat thanks to a large glove box and a deep, if slightly narrow, middle console. There’s also a clever open shelf beneath a centre console that houses cupholders and phone storage, including a wireless charging pad. A small hidden pocket behind the media display adds to the storage count, although I’ll admit I regularly forget it exists.

Rear passengers get a couple of map pockets, drink bottle holders and cupholders. Beyond that, amenities are limited. There’s a single directional air vent and a USB-A port, but not much else to keep older kids or adults entertained.

Technology is fairly straightforward, although almost everything is accessed through the touchscreen. The multimedia system is crisp and responsive, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto working well, however it misses out on built-in satellite navigation and any meaningful apps. That said, there is a karaoke app tucked away in the system, which will undoubtedly delight someone, somewhere.

Charging options up front include a USB-A and USB-C port, along with a 12-volt socket. There’s also a USB-A port near the rear-view mirror, which is handy if you’re planning to install an aftermarket dash cam.

Jaecoo pitches the J5 as pet-friendly, with upholstery designed to be easy to clean and resistant to wear. In practice, I’d say that claim comes with caveats. Jaecoo clearly hasn’t met my son or my German Shepherd, and it took a fair bit of elbow grease to properly clean the cabin. Staying on top of messes will be key if you want the interior to keep looking fresh.

The boot offers up to 480L of capacity, which is strong for the class, and the flat load floor makes it easy to slide items in and out. There are no power ports or sockets, which feels like an odd omission for an EV. You also get a repair kit instead of a spare tyre, despite there being enough space to accommodate one. A 35L frunk adds some extra storage flexibility, and the powered tailgate is a welcome inclusion.

Starting with the question of space, the Tiggo 4 Pro actually offers up good room, for what is ultimately a compact SUV. No, it’s not ideal for a family of five, but for anyone looking for an urban-friendly runabout for singles or couples, it plays that role nicely.

The fronts seats are quite nice, comfortable and offer good support. There’s adequate space in the back to take children, or even adults, with some compromise to the front seat position, but that’s in line with expectations for any model this size externally.

The boot holds a claimed 380 litres, which is quite generous when you compare it to the likes of the CX-3 (264L) and Venue (355L), but can’t match the likes of the Yaris Cross (397L) and Nissan Juke (422L).

The technology in the car is impressive for an SUV this size, especially given the price. The dual 10.2-inch displays look slick, as does the lower screen for climate control, which gives a hint of Audi or Range Rover vibe to the cabin.

The multimedia system is straightforward to use, thanks in large part to the wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but I did find the ‘Hello Chery’ voice command system hit and miss - although, to be fair to Chery, I find all these voice command systems hit and miss.

One minor amusement is the ‘welcome theme’ that plays when you get in the car. Many brands do this trick, a short musical jingle when you open the door to welcome you inside. The team at Chery went a little overboard, though, and wrote a whopping 15-second theme (yes, I timed it with a stopwatch), which feels like major overkill. Thankfully it can be turned off in the set-up menu.

Chery was not backwards in coming forward with the launch of the Tiggo 4 Pro, with Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris claiming it is “Australia’s best value SUV.” It’s a huge call to make, but there’s no doubt the Tiggo 4 Pro offers a lot for a competitive price.

There are two model grades to choose from, the Urban, which is priced from $23,990, and the Ultimate, which is $26,990 - and crucially both those prices are drive-away.

That gives Chery a clear financial advantage on its rivals. That’s because the most affordable rival is the Hyundai Venue at $22,500 (plus on-road costs), while the cheapest Mazda CX-3 is $26,950 (plus on-roads) and Toyota’s entry-level model in the hybrid-only Yaris Cross is $30,900 (plus on-roads).

Both the Urban and Ultimate feature the same powertrain, so the difference is in their specification.

The entry-level grade comes equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, a synthetic leather-trimmed steering wheel, dual 10.2-inch screen display (one for the instrument panel and one for the multimedia), digital radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (wired & wireless), ‘Hello Chery’ voice command and all LED exterior lights.

Stepping up to the Ultimate adds 18-inch alloys, heated front seats, a six-speaker sound system, 360-degree surround camera view, a power sunroof and power-folding exterior mirrors.

All told, the Tiggo 4 Pro is a very good value SUV - even if I wouldn’t go as far as calling it the ‘best value SUV in Australia.’

The Jaecoo J5 EV is powered by a single electric motor sending 155kW/288Nm to the front wheels. That’s enough to see it sprint from 0-100km/h in a claimed 7.7 seconds. Those figures stack up well relative to the J5's positioning in the segment.

This isn’t a performance-led EV and it doesn’t pretend to be. Instead, the J5 delivers its power in a way that feels competent and predictable rather than 'exciting'.

As mentioned earlier, both Tiggo 4 variants are motivated by the same powertrain. Specifically, it’s a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) driving the front wheels.

It makes 108kW/210Nm, which is quite competitive against its rivals, which adds another layer of appeal. The CVT does a decent job and the engine pulls strongly and smoothly in most situations. It’s one of the more impressive elements of the dynamic package.

The Jaecoo J5 EV uses a Type 2 CCS charging port and can accept up to 10.3kW on AC power via a three-phase connection, along with DC fast charging speeds of up to 130kW. On a suitable fast charger, Jaecoo claims a 30 to 80 per cent charge can be completed in as little as 28 minutes. That’s a solid result for this segment, with only the MG S5 EV offering higher DC charging capacity and quicker top-up times.

The J5 has a 58.9kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery and a 402km (WLTP) driving range. Both its sister model, the Chery E5, and the MG have slightly longer ranges. It's not surprising but it means it's an EV better suited to the city where you can keep it regularly topped up.

Official energy consumption is listed at 14.3kWh/100km. After a mix of longer drives and urban running, my average settled around 15.4kWh/100km, which is a respectable result overall and broadly in line with expectations.

The official fuel economy figure for the combined cycle is 7.3L/100km, which is well off class-leading for a compact SUV.

The Kia Stonic has claimed ratings between 5.4-6.7L/100km (depending on the model) and the Mazda CX-3 has a 6.3L/100km claim, but Hyundai’s Venue manages 7.0-7.2L/100km to make Chery’s figure stand out less.

We saw a 9.2L/100km on the trip computer on test, but that was almost exclusively urban driving. The claimed urban cycle figure is 8.9L/100km, so the real-world economy isn’t too far off Chery's claim.

However, it’s clear that the punchy engine performance comes at a cost of efficiency, so that should be factored into your consideration of the Tiggo 4.

It does have a fairly large 51-litre fuel tank, which means it has a theoretical driving range of nearly 700km.

The Jaecoo J5 EV has plenty of power on hand, with good pick-up when you need it for hills or overtaking. It feels responsive enough for everyday driving, without ever feeling aggressive or overly eager.

Steering is light, and the suspension leans towards the softer side. Around town that works well, offering a comfortable ride. On faster roads or through corners, however, it can feel a little unsettled, and the J5 isn’t particularly convincing on the open road.

Visibility out the front and sides is strong and the driving position gives you a fairly commanding view of the road, which makes day-to-day city driving straightforward.

There are three levels of regenerative braking, but even on the lowest setting it can feel abrupt. Some passengers reported feeling queasy and maintaining a smooth, consistent speed can be tricky as the car has a tendency to lurch.

Parking is generally easy thanks to the J5’s compact footprint and a clear 360-degree camera system. That said, the aggressive regen braking can make low-speed manoeuvres, particularly reversing, more challenging than necessary, as it’s hard to get the car to creep smoothly.

The Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate made a strong first impression… until the moment I started driving it. As impressive as the brand’s design evolution has been, there is still work to be done on the dynamic side. 

While the engine performance is good, the ride needs some fine-tuning as it’s quite soft, which is good for soaking up bumps but also means less chassis control.

The bigger issues are the steering and the brakes, both of which are below the level of Chery’s rivals in this segment.

The steering is too light, which normally wouldn’t be a deal-breaker as it makes parking and navigating traffic easy, but combined with it being unevenly weighted it becomes problematic.

It leads to a disconnected feeling between the driver and the road, and while I understand that a compact SUV doesn’t have to have sports car-like ‘steering feel’, it feels disconnected and that leads to it feeling vague to drive at times.

It doesn’t help that the Giti tyres fitted to our test car don’t provide very good grip, especially in the wet. During a summer rain shower the front end of the Tiggo 4 felt like it was going to understeer at times, with very little grip when turning, even at low speeds.

This problem is compounded by a long brake pedal, with very little initial bite when you press it. Instead, you need to bury your foot in order to get the Chery to slow with any sense of urgency and that led to some uneasy moments during our test drive.

Then there’s the adaptive cruise control, which I’ll dive into later in ‘Safety’, but has a major impact on the driving experience. Put simply, it has very poorly calibrated lane keeping assistance when the cruise control is activated, which seemingly cannot be turned off, despite turning off lane keeping assistance separately.

This leads to the car drifting in the lane until it finds the lane marking and then rather aggressively tugging the steering wheel to push you into the centre - and then begin the process again. This leads to near-constant tugging of the wheel in your hand which is as unnerving as it is annoying.

The Tiggo 4 Pro hasn’t been crash tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP yet, so there is no third-party safety rating. However, it does come with a comprehensive list of active driver assist systems (ADAS), notably across both the Urban and Ultimate variants.

The list of fitted equipment includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), emergency lane keeping, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, adaptive cruise control, integrated cruise assist, lane change assist, rear collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, door opening warning and a driver monitoring system.

That’s a lengthy array of features, which should score the Tiggo 4 well, however, as we mentioned above, it’s hard to give a good review when some of these systems are so poorly calibrated for real-world conditions that we turned them off (or attempted to).

While some, such as the driver attention system and door opening warning do their job well, others are too intrusive or aggressive when activated and spoil the driving experience.

The key villain is the lane keeping when the adaptive cruise control is activated, with the previously mentioned tugging at the wheel.

This repeated wandering in the lane followed by a firm tug at the wheel is simply not good enough and needs to be recalibrated by Chery as soon as possible.

What makes it so maddening is that other systems seem well-calibrated. For example, the driver attention warning is very good for a modern car, not overly sensitive and emitting a subtle chime when it notices your eyes wandering off the road. So Chery needs to take the same care and precision with its other systems.

Ownership is one of the J5’s stronger points. The number eight is associated with good fortune in Chinese culture and Jaecoo has clearly leaned into it here!

It's offered with an eight-year/unlimited km warranty, eight years battery cover and roadside assistance, plus eight years of capped-price servicing where workshop visits average a low $190 per visit (which is very good).

Servicing is required every 12 months or 20,000 kilometres and for now the service network is fairly small, with around 50 centres nationwide. They’re mostly found in major cities, which is something to keep in mind depending on where you live.

As a still new-to-Australia brand, Chery has made the smart move and is offering a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty plus capped-price servicing and roadside assistance for the same period on all models. This gives buyers taking a chance on an unfamiliar brand some peace-of-mind should anything go wrong.

Service intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first) and servicing is only $280 for the first five workshop visits, rising to $375.64 for the sixth service and $295.54 for the final one covered by the initial plan.

That means a total of just over $2071 to maintain your Tiggo 4 Pro for the first seven years of ownership.

There are still long-term questions about reliability and residual values Chery needs to answer, but only time can tell what those answers will be. Given that, the seven years of ownership coverage is a strong offer.