There are few cars which have experienced such a meteoric rise in popularity quite like the Jaecoo 7. Offering the chunky looks of an off-roader but with an on-road focus, the 7’s practical size is backed by loads of technology and, most importantly, a price tag which undercuts nearly everything else in its segment.
Jaecoo has kick-started its presence in the UK with a car which has taken immediate root in the segment - the 7. Now outselling many rivals, the budget-busting 7 brings lots of equipment for the money as well as a premium look and feel that buyers are flocking to already.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioThe Jaecoo 7 is one of the lowest-priced SUVs on the market today. In standard petrol form, the 7 starts at £30,115, rising to £33,945 for a higher-spec Luxury model and finishing with the range-topping plug-in hybrid model which starts from £35,165. All of those prices undercut the vast majority of rivals, mind you. The Jaecoo 7 hasn’t been on sale all that long, so there’s not a vast number to choose from on the used market. That said, you can find plug-in hybrid models on AA Cars for just over £30,000 with 5,000 miles on the clock, while standard petrol models can be found for around £27,000 with 2,850 miles on the clock, so there are some savings to be had by shopping used.
There are two engine options available with the Jaecoo 7. Things kick off with a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine and this is hooked up to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. With 145bhp, it’s not the most powerful, but it will get the 7 from 0-60mph in just over ten seconds. You’ve also got a four-wheel-drive version of this setup, with the same engine and the same power output. However, since that system is slightly heavier, the 0-60mph time of this model is increased to 11.5 seconds. Then, you’ve got the plug-in hybrid model. This uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine, linked to an electric motor and battery. Combined, you get more power than the petrol - now 201bhp - and that shaves the 0-60mph time down to 8.2 seconds. It’s still all-wheel-drive, too, and there’s an electric-only range of up to 56 miles to use up.
As with others in the segment, the Jaecoo 7 offers a raised seating position which gives you a good view of the road ahead from behind the wheel. The 7 is quite square and boxy, too, and though it might look like a much larger car, it’s actually rather compact, so you shouldn’t have too many issues when it comes to parking or driving in tighter, narrower roads. There are plenty of sensors and cameras equipped on all 7 models as standard, too, which will help to make parking this car much easier. ‘Luxury’ specification cars get all-wheel-drive as well, which can bring some added traction during slippery conditions.
It’s out on the road where the Jaecoo 7 does suffer some negative points. In many areas, the 7 struggles to contain its bodyweight and you’ll notice a lot of lean through the corners and a general feeling of waywardness, particularly when you’re going over a crest. However, refinement isn’t too bad and the Jaecoo does stay quiet when you’re travelling at speed. Plug-in hybrid models offer the most upmarket driving experience thanks to that decent electric-only range as it allows you to waft around without troubling the engine whatsoever. Interior and features
It’s inside where the Jaecoo 7 has some serious wow-factor. Central to the forward portion of the cabin is the large 14.8-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen (or a slightly smaller 13.2-inch version on entry models) and this sits alongside a 10.25-inch driver display. It instantly makes the 7’s interior feel quite high-tech, with that main screen coming equipped with loads of features, including both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring systems. Most of the materials inside feel solid and look smart, too, though there are some scratchier plastics here and there. It’s also worth mentioning that you get different controls depending on which powertrain you opt for. For instance, petrol models get a central gear selector and physical switches for the wing mirrors, while plug-in hybrids see this switch to a column-mounted gear shifter and screen-based adjustment for the wing mirrors.
How much boot space you get from the Jaecoo 7 depends on which model you opt for. Get the petrol-powered models and there’s a decent 500-litre boot to make use of, but head in the direction of the plug-in hybrid version and this drops back to 410 litres thanks to the fitment of the batteries. Both boot spaces are still respectable, but obviously, there’s an advantage to one over the other. Thanks to the 7’s boxy dimensions, there’s lots of headroom to use up inside, with rear-seat passengers well catered for in terms of roominess overall. The middle seat is a little cramped, mind you, but it’ll still offer enough space for more occasional use.
Jaecoo has introduced the 7 with a host of standard features to help it tackle the competition. Entry-level Deluxe models get 19-inch wheels included from the off alongside a full-length panoramic sunroof and LED lights, while inside there are heated front seats and that aforementioned 13.2-inch infotainment system. Deluxe-grade cars benefit from a 540-degree parking camera as well as keyless start, a powered tailgate and adaptive cruise control, helping this SUV to feel even better equipped. Finally, you’ve got Luxury-grade cars which get a head-up display, a larger infotainment system and an upgraded Sony premium sound system. Plus, the front seats gain a ventilation feature and the steering wheel is heated at this grade, too, helping to make the 7 even more comfortable.
All cars within the 7 range get lots of features. The line-up kickstarts with Deluxe and this brings heated front seats, a synthetic leather steering wheel and a panoramic sunroof, while on the outside you’ll find body-coloured door handles for a more upmarket look. Inside, there’s wireless smartphone charging with a cooling function to help with high-speed top-ups. The 13.2-inch infotainment system is met by a 10.25-inch driver display. Switch to Luxury and that infotainment system increases in size to 14.8 inches, but still gets all the same features as the smaller version, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
A head-up display is a useful addition at Luxury grade, as is the heated steering wheel. This specification also adds ‘welcome’ seats, which move back on their rails to help make entering the vehicle easier for the driver. Colour choices are pretty limited for the Jaecoo 7 - there are just five in total - with black, grey and white making up the mainstream shades. That said, there’s an eye-catching ‘Greenstone’ colour for drivers looking to make a little more impact. ‘Amazonite Blue’ is another slightly more exciting shade as well.
When it was tested in 2025, the Jaecoo 7 was awarded Euro NCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, putting it among some of the very best cars in terms of safety. Testers rated it 81 per cent for adult occupant safety and 80 per cent for child occupant safety, while an 80 per cent score for safety assistance tech is also good. This comes courtesy of features like lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking and intelligent active speed limit technology. As for reliability, there’s very little data to go off. Jaecoo - and the Chery brand which owns it - is untested in the UK, so we’re unsure of how this car will fare when it comes to reliability. That said, Chery is one of China’s largest carmakers and in many countries eclipses European rivals when it comes to sales, so the 7 should prove reliable given this brand’s popularity elsewhere.
The Jaecoo 7 is something of a mixed bag in terms of efficiency. Choose the standard petrol model and you’ll only get around 35mpg during mixed driving, which isn’t all that great for this size and shape of car. Emissions of 169g/km CO2 - or 182g/km for the all-wheel-drive model - aren’t the best, either. However, the plug-in hybrid is noticeably more efficient thanks to its useful electric-only range of up to 56 miles and its good combined fuel efficiency.
Jaecoo claims up to 403mpg combined but you’ll do well to get anywhere near this figure unless you’re driving everywhere only on electric power, but you should still manage just under 50mpg even if the batteries are fully depleted. Emissions of just 23g/km CO2 are substantially lower than in the standard petrol model, too. Because of those emissions, the PHEV will also be much cheaper for its first year of tax, with a first-year rate of £110 well under the £2,190 you’ll pay for an all-wheel-drive petrol model.
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