opinions, first contact and photos

Come, come…and I brought electric, gasoline and hybrid versions.

This is what Jaecoo could say about his arrival in Spain and, more specifically, about the Jaecoo 5the new SUV from the Chinese company. A compact option that allows the firm to open the market right where they can do the most damage. And the compact SUV market is one of the most competitive in Europe. If not the most.

Jaecoo’s proposal, of course, goes directly to the heart of the European consumer’s doubts. Two cars that, each in its own way (and little trick) will sell right on the border of 20,000 euros.

Jaecoo 5 technical sheet

In the clear

Last April, my colleague Javier Lacort went to China to go to the Shanghai Motor Show. There he was already able to test the Jaecoo 5 EV, that is, the completely electric version of the Chinese compact SUV.

Then he said about the car that it was “the SUV that no longer asked for permission”. Now, having upgraded to its electric and gasoline versions (the hybrids will arrive in a few months), I understand perfectly what he was referring to. “The finishes, another symptom of maturity, point in the same direction. There are no luxuries, but there is discretion“My partner said then and I think that phrase largely sums up what this car is.

The company puts these versions on sale with a starting price of 27,500 euros for the gasoline version and 35,500 euros for the electric version. But its motto is different: you can have either of the two from 19,990 euros. The first with a launch campaign that has very clear ideas: sell as much as possible from the start and make the car visible, there will be time to remove the promotional discounts at the start.

The second takes advantage of MOVES III Planbut that would leave the car at a maximum of 28,500 euros. That is why the company applies another discount to which Repsol also adds to put it below 20,000 euros. With that price, of course, it is almost impossible to compete.

And the Chery Group is attacking with Omoda and Jaecoo to an audience that wants a car with a modern look on the inside, decent finishes and a price with which European rivals cannot (or are not directly interested) compete. Between 20,000 and 25,000 euros in a size similar to the Jaecoo 5, almost everything is Chinese proposals: DFSK, EVO, MG, DR Automobiles… And the European ones (Citroën C3, Peugeot 2008 or Dacia Duster) are not up to par in the quality of the materials used.

Because, as we have said on other occasions, Chinese brands are winning over the customer at the dealership. As I will tell you later, I reaffirm myself, a Dacia Duster moves better and is very likely to consume less gasoline. But its hard plastics wherever you look and touch cannot be compared with the subtle padding spread across the doors and dashboard of this Jaecoo 5.

Nor with a finish that, from the start, comes with a 13.2-inch central screen and 2K resolution, a multifunction steering wheel with a pleasant touch (and a rarely seen horizontal double radio formula), wireless CarPlay and Android Auto and heated front seats, in addition to up to 19 security systems. ADAS driving aids.

For little more we add synthetic leather, ventilation for the seats, heated steering wheel, panoramic roof, electric trunk, Sony sound system with eight speakers, 50W wireless charger (with ventilation) and 540º rear view camera (you can see what is under the car), which will also reach the basic package in the hybrid versions.

Tell a customer who comes from a car that is more than 10 years old and in the midst of rising market prices not to get caught up in an interior like that. More so if that car has an advertised entry price of less than 20,000 euros.

And how is it going?

In our case we had the opportunity to get into the electric and gasoline versions on a round trip of about 140 kilometers for each of the cars. The vast majority of this route was done on the highway and we barely touched secondary roads.

It is worth pointing out this because we would have to put the vehicle’s dynamism to the test more although I did return with the feeling that, in that brief contact, I found the electric version more pleasant. and interesting… although I understand that gasoline will sell better.

The electric version is much quieter and more agile, very comfortable to wear for everyday use. There are 211 HP that move the car with grace to perform very well in the city. The battery is 60 kWh and in our 140 kilometers the car consumed a good 18.43 kWh/100 km.

It is a very acceptable figure achieved at a normal pace on the road, traveling mostly at 120 km/h but without looking for fuel consumption at any time. This is key because with this data the car can travel more than 300 kilometers in a single run and those are already very interesting numbers for those who could consider the car as the only car at home.

Furthermore, since it can accept 130 kW of charging power, a trip of more than 500 kilometers should not take too long if it maintains a good charging curve.

As for the gasoline model, the SUV comes with a 1.6 TGDI four-cylinder engine with 147 HP of power. It is combined with a seven-speed gearbox and has three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Sport.

These same modes are also available in the electric version but while in that I hardly noticed the change between one and the other, in the gasoline option the improvement in Sport mode is clear.

With this option activated, the engine response is much faster but, above all, the change becomes more agile. Normal mode feels like it’s designed largely for fuel economy. All in all, on our route it went at 8 l/100 km in the 140 kilometers that we drove with it.

In terms of dynamics, both cars are very similar. In both I felt a direction that was too artificial. In general terms we have blamed Chinese cars for having a address too soft. Here the opposite happens. Its sensitivity is linked to the speed at which we travel but it very soon becomes too “hard”. However, she is not equally direct which makes her feel strange. It is as if it has some resistance to moving but, when it moves, we need to insert more steering wheel than expected.

The car, however, feels very settled on a fast track. On secondary roads we were barely able to put it to the test. In the few corners that we took at a slightly higher speed, my feeling is that the car suffered from its suspension being too soft and the journey until it settled was somewhat long and lazy. However, it moves masses safely and once settled it feels stable, which provides security.

The driving assistance systems were correct in most situations. It did not present phantom or unexpected braking and resumed cruising speed during acceleration smoothly. The only negative point is that of some braking with some harshness, although always due to third parties crossing the path of the vehicle without respecting the safety distance, in no case due to poorly attended approaches.

In short, we are looking at one of those cars with which Jaecoo can do a lot of damage. The electric version has it more complicated if the company does not maintain the aggressive initial discounts, but in the gasoline version a car with such extensive equipment can give a lot of fight for a starting price that is on the border of 20,000 euros.

And at the end of the year the real bet arrives, the hybrid version.

Photos | Xataka

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