Jayco Swan vs Jaecoo J8

What's the difference?

For off-road adventurers, having the flexibility to be able to tow your camper-trailer off the beaten track, out bush and along a beach, opens up a whole new realm of fun and possibility – and that's why Jayco's Outback versions of the company's mainstream camper range have a growing legion of fans.

But the question for camper buyers is: should they upsize? Bigger is often better, but does that hold true in the camper-trailer world? Is a big camper actually worth the extra cash? And is it more difficult to tow?

We take the Jayco Swan Outback (from $30,490), the biggest camper in the Outback range, on a trip into the bush to answer these questions and plenty more.

The Jaecoo J8 is an odd car.

It’s hard to place exactly where it sits in the market. It’s premium, but very affordable. It's very big but only has five seats. And it’s petrol only, at least for now, in a world that is obsessed with hybrid or electric power.

You’ve probably never heard of Jaecoo. That’s alright it’s only new, but it’s a fresh Chinese brand with big ambitions. A more accurate description is it’s Chery’s premium sub-brand.

And the J8 is its new flagship SUV that has found a little niche that's been left in Australia’s overflowing SUV segment.

It’s about the same size as the Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe family SUVs, but the J8 is five seats only and ditches the third row for a big boot.

The interior wouldn’t look out of place if it had a three-pointed star on the bonnet but the price tag will have you thinking you can buy two for the price of one.