Jaecoo J7 midsize SUV & J5 small SUV confirmed for Australia

November: Jaecoo J7 and J5 bound for Australia

Chinese carmaker Chery has handed down new information on its Australian plans for the midsize Jaecoo J7 SUV, along with the newly revealed J5 small SUV.

The J7 was originally expected to arrive before the end of 2024, but is now confirmed for an early 2025 launch. The J5 will follow, although exact timing is still to be announced.

Next year's J7 launch will mark the Australian introduction of Chery's Jaecoo brand, heralded as its "rugged urban SUV brand".

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The J7 is effectively a version of the SUV known in China as the Chery Tansuo 06, sold in some markets as the Chery Tiggo 7 Sport.

But, where that Chery's front end looks like a knock-off Land Rover, the Jaecoo J7 gets a much taller grille and more pronounced frames on the headlight bezels.

In Australia, the J7 will be offered as a midsize five-seat SUV, powered by a 137kW/275Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive.

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Jaecoo J7 features for Australia

Features promoted in the brand's latest announcement include seven "distinct" drive modes and a large, vertical 14.8-inch main display in the cabin.

Other features for our market will include 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable front seats, a 360-degree camera system, wireless smartphone charging, LED headlamps, front fog lights, automatic wipers, and an electric tailgate.

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The safety suite offers eight airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag and a number of as-yet undefined driver assistance systems.

Depending on its pricing, the J7 will likely be pitched as a more affordable yet feature-rich alternative to popular midsize SUVs like the RAV4, CX-5, Tucson, Sportage and X-Trail.

Rivals among its Chinese peers will include the new MG HS, GWM Haval H6, and the related Chery Tiggo 7 Pro.

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J5 compact SUV coming to Australia

Following the J7, Jaecoo plans to introduce the J5, a smaller SUV aimed at rivals like the popular Mazda CX-3 and Toyota Yaris Cross.

The J5's key features include a 13.2-inch touchscreen and a large panoramic sunroof. Exterior design choices highlight slim headlights and a rear lightbar that incorporates the Jaecoo badge.

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In its Chinese-market form, the J5 is powered by the same 137kW/275Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine that drives the larger J7, which should make the compact J5 a more spritely offering.

Boot space is listed at 480 litres with the rear seats upright, expanding to 1180 litres when those pews are folded forward. By comparison, Toyota lists the Yaris Cross's boot at 390 litres – although it does not offer a seats-down figure.

Watch for more Australian-market details on both models to come in the months ahead.

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March: Jaecoo J7 confirmed for Australia

Chinese carmaker Chery has announced it will launch its new Jaecoo sub-brand in Australia in the second half of 2024.

The 2025 Jaecoo J7 – a rebadged version of the Chinese-market Chery Explore 06 – will be the first model from the Jaecoo brand to launch in Australia.

Pitched as a “rugged urban SUV brand,” it also offers the Jaecoo J8, a rebadged Chery Tiggo 9 three-row SUV. This model has not been confirmed for Australia with either Chery or Jaecoo badges.

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Jaecoo is one of many sub-brands of the Chinese marque.

South Africa, the United Kingdom and New Zealand receive Omoda-branded vehicles without any mention of its Chery parent, while it also sells ‘Jetour’ and ‘Exeed’ vehicles in China – including the Ford Bronco Sport and Land Rover Defender-like Jetour Traveller.

“We are delighted to announce that the Jaecoo brand will be coming to Australia, and we look forward to introducing this exciting new brand to Australian consumers, which is setting new standards for luxury and versatility in sports utility vehicles,” said Jaecoo and Chery Australia managing director Lucas Harris.

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The Jaecoo marque was launched at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2023, with sales recently commencing in select European markets, Russia, Malaysia, the Middle East, and South Africa.

The 2025 Jaecoo J7 will sit on the smaller side of the midsize SUV segment with similar dimensions to the Mazda CX-5, Honda ZR-V and soon-to-be-replaced short-wheelbase Volkswagen Tiguan.

It is also similar in size to the recently launched Chery Tiggo 7 Pro.

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Confirmed features for Australia include front or all-wheel drive configurations and a 14.8-inch vertical infotainment system.

All-wheel-drive models will have the brand’s ‘all road drive intelligent system’ with up to seven selectable drive modes optimised “for specific driving scenarios”.

It is unclear if Chery Australia will sell Jaecoo vehicles from its existing dealerships or if it plans to launch a new retail network for the brand.

More details on the 2025 Jaecoo J7 are due to be confirmed closer to its Australian launch in the second half of 2024