A look into the Jaecoo 7 - A future Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester rival

Jaecoo is an upcoming automotive brand to enter the Philippine market in 2023. It will launch with its sister brand Omoda to bring a new generation of Chinese vehicles into the market. 

Both Jaecoo and Omoda are sub-brands of Chery, albeit with different market positioning and design languages.

Also Read: Omoda to bring sister brand Jaecoo with it, to launch late 2023

Jaecoo is set to bring in the Jaecoo 7, a 5-seater crossover that brings the performance of an SUV while boasting the technology and comfort found in luxury-scale brands. It's set to go up against the likes of the Ford Territory, Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, and even the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro.

Roughly the size of a Geely Coolray

Jaecoo Philippines has yet to release the specifications for its upcoming crossover, but it measures 4,451 mm long and has a wheelbase of 2,650 mm. While its measurements put it roughly in the same size category as the Geely Coolray, Changan CS35 Plus, and the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, Jaecoo is gunning for the compact crossover category where more established nameplates have established themselves over the years. 

The Jaecoo 7 looks boxy with its massive front grille and sleek rectangular LED headlights. It also carries an upright and muscular stance, complemented by its large wheels and flush door handles. 

At the back, the crossover continues with its distinctive styling with LED taillights and an LED light bar that stretches the entire vehicle width. 

A plush interior

Entering the vehicle, you will be greeted by a plush interior with a tall yet minimalist dashboard with a mix of vertical and horizontal design elements. 

Standout features for the interior include the digital instrument cluster for the driver and a massive portrait-style infotainment system that has support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Aside from this, the Jaecoo 7 also carries a premium 8-speaker sound system and leather fabric seats. The crossover also has the following other features:

• Ambient lighting
• Wireless phone charger
• Power adjustable driver seat
• Power moon roof
• Keyless entry
• 540-degree camera

540-degree camera

One of the highlight features of the Jaecoo 7 is its 540-degree camera. It takes it a step further from your typical 360-degree camera, aiming to give you more visibility on the vehicle’s blind spots, including on the bottom. 

It is a helpful feature, especially if you want to take the Jaecoo crossover off-road. 

The 540-degree AVM system is based on a spatiotemporal sequence image stitching using image processing methods such as camera calibration, image restoration fusion, and sequence stitching.

1.6-liter turbocharged power

Under the hood, the Jaecoo 7 packs a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that produces 197 horsepower and 290 Nm of torque. Once it enters the market, it will be one of the more powerful crossovers in its segment.

It potentially can be one of the more expensive ones among Chinese crossovers as well as it breaks the 1.5-liter engine displacement cut-off to avail of the 5% tax ceiling for Chinese-built cars that other models currently enjoy.

It sends power to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.  

It can sprint from 0-100km/h in 8.9 seconds and has a fuel consumption rate of 7.2L/100 km or around 13 km/L.

“While the first variant of the Jaecoo 7 to be launched will be petrol powered, please expect the Jaecoo brand to thrust towards new energy in the near future. We have exciting new energy models coming up from 2024 onwards that are sure to excite the Philippine Market,” said Mr. Uzzi Asuncion, the Philippines’ Brand Manager for Omoda and Jaecoo.

Safety

Regarding its safety features, the upcoming Jaecoo crossover is equipped with the following features:

Full Electronic Stability Program
ABS
Electronic Brake Assist
Traction Control
Hill Assist
A 21-function ADAS safety system
Dual front airbags
Dual front and side airbags
Curtain airbags
Airbags between the seats

Does the Jaecoo 7 have an engaging enough spec sheet to capture the Filipino buying public?

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