Considering its size, range, power, and extensive feature set, it would not be surprising if the fully-electric version of the Jaecoo J5 becomes a major hit in South Africa.
MyBroadband recently got an early look at the fully electric version of the Jaecoo J5 SUV, which will officially launch in South Africa later this month.
Known as the J5 BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), the model shares its underlying platform and most of its body with the petrol-powered J5, which has been highly popular in South Africa.
Chery plans to produce the J5 at its recently launched Rosslyn factory in Pretoria, with the intention of assembling its new energy vehicle versions as well.
It is unclear whether the fully electric model is on the cards for local assembly. However, it may be inevitable given the growing demand for EVs and the slowdown in traditional hybrid sales.
We spent about an hour driving the J5 BEV and exploring its interior and infotainment system, and were astounded by the value for money of the overall package.
The electric and petrol models may be difficult to tell apart, but for one key difference. The large grille with vertical slats on the petrol model is replaced by a mostly flat front and smaller air intake vents.
The vehicle boasts a single front-mounted motor with a 150kW peak output and 288Nm of torque, enabling acceleration from a standstill to 100km/h in a claimed 7.7 seconds.
Based on our brief driving test and reviews from other markets, this claim holds up. The overall steering feel was light, while the suspension seemed to absorb bumps well.
The J5 BEV gets its energy from a 59kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery with an WLTP range of around 400km.
At a fast-charging station, it can top up from 30% to 80% in about 28 minutes thanks to DC fast charging.
The J5 BEV supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) with a peak output of 3.3kW, allowing users to power multiple electrical appliances, useful for campers or during power outages.
The interior was roomy — even for someone who stands 1.83m tall. We reckon there would be plenty of space for three average-sized adults in the rear.
The 480-litre boot space is substantial in this segment. Its floor can be set at two levels, with sufficient room underneath for a full-size spare wheel.
Another 35 litres of storage is available in the frunk, which comes with drainage plugs for those who plan to use it to hold liquid or ice.
Jaecoo J5 BEV seen from its right rear. Three more colours will be available at launch: green, white, and grey.
The J5 BEV’s front cabin is minimalist, with only a handful of buttons on the centre console, to the right of the steering wheel, and on the steering wheel itself.
The infotainment system runs on a 13.2-inch vertical touch screen, where users can adjust a wide range of settings.
A quick swipe down from the top of the screen opens the control centre, where users can pin shortcuts for many of the most frequently toggled settings, like on a smartphone.
For controlling the dual-zone climate control temperature and fan speeds, users can swipe up from the bottom.
These two menus remain available while the user is in the Android Auto or Apple CarPlay interfaces, allowing them to change vehicle or climate control settings quickly.
Underneath the screen are three buttons: one for changing between normal, sport, and eco modes, another for hazard lights, and one for locking the vehicle.
The minimalist aesthetic continues at the steering wheel, with most exterior lighting and wiper controls combined on the left stalk.
The steering wheel’s buttons include adaptive cruise control, media and digital instrument cluster controls, and configurable shortcut buttons.
Placing the gear shifter on the right stalk also opens up space in the middle of the vehicle for an additional storage compartment underneath the centre display.
Jaecoo J5 BEV view from the driver’s seat. The interior on this version is white, but a dark version will also be offered.
Standout tech and comfort features include a 50-watt wireless charging pad, perforated seats with all-around heating and cooling, a panoramic moonroof, and electrically adjustable seats.
Automatic LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, roof rails, and 18-inch alloy wheels are also standard.
In addition, the J5 packs an extensive suite of safety features, including an advanced driver assistance system supporting:
The Jaecoo J5 BEV will be priced at R549,000 at launch in South Africa and is set to compete with fully electric cars such as the GWM Ora 5, BYD Atto 2, Dongfeng Nammi 06, and iCaur V23.
While the BYD Atto 2 and iCaur V23 come in at roughly R20,000 and R30,000 less, respectively, they are significantly smaller vehicles with well over 50km less range.
The entry-level E1 version of the slightly larger Dongfeng Nammi 06 is R50,000 less. However, it lacks nearly all ADAS and most comfort features found on the J5.
To come near the J5’s specifications, the buyer would need to upgrade to the higher-end Nammi 06 E3, which costs R20,000 more.
The Ora 5 offers similar power and range, but only matches the J5 BEV in ADAS capabilities and comfort on its top-spec Ultra Luxury model, which is priced at R599,000.
Jaecoo is also offering a special pre-order deal with an additional R12,000 discount for the first 200 customers.
Pre-ordered units will also come with R5,000 in public charging credits and R30,000 worth of supporting hardware, including a dedicated home charger, a portable charger, and a V2L adapter.
Jaecoo J5 BEV front left side view
Jaecoo J5 BEV viewed from the front
Jaecoo J5 BEV front right side view Jaecoo J5 BEV right side Jaecoo J5 BEV rear
Jaecoo J5 headlights Jaecoo J5 headlights
Jaecoo J5 BV front logo
Jaecoo J5 BEV front cabin Jaecoo J5 control centre page with shortcuts Jaecoo J5 BEV front seats Jaecoo J5 BEV rear interior
Jaecoo J5 BEV rear seats
Jaecoo J5 BEV rear seats
Jaecoo J5 BEV boot
Storage space for a spare wheel or other items underneath the J5 BEV’s boot floor.
