Put Jaecoo on the shopping list

The Jaecoo J7 is a most tidy SUV with a fair amount of appeal.

It has a clean and welcoming exterior and interior style and is packed with comforts and conveniences, plus safety gear.

It’s a well-mannered road machine and arrives with a value price tag.

Yes, the drive experience could always be a touch more refined and yes, there will be questions about resale, service and spares. Yet, this Chinese SUV is quite an attractive proposition in 2025.

The J7 arrives with three trim levels, front or all-wheel drive, petrol engine or hybrid drivetrain.

Prices are from $34,990 to $47,990 for the hybrid SHS version of this more premium vehicle from the Chery stable.

The AWD Ridge model with petrol engine is the one with the whole kit and caboodle for a reasonable $42,990.

The five-door’s style – a tad reminiscent of the Range Rover Evoque – is smart and tidy and won’t scare  the neighbours.

Indeed, there’s plenty to show off, such as door handles which pop out of the body, while side mirrors spring to attention as the ignition fob gets closer.

That premium exterior is well backed up inside where simple dashboard lines are highlighted by smart trim touches.

There’s a minimum of fuss to the interior design, as evidenced by the clear and simple instrumentation: digital speed read-out and analogue-style tachometer complemented by camera views of traffic ahead and to the sides.

A head-up-display, with speeds and traffic and distance to empty, projected onto the Ridge’s windscreen, is handy.

Slide into the driver’s seat in the J7 Ridge and electrics remember the driver’s spot.

Visibility is good to the front and sides; not so great through a narrow rear screen. But there are plenty of cameras and monitors to help out. All are clear and bright and mighty helpful when parking.

On the Ridge’s centre console is a 14.8-inch touchscreen for functions from air-conditioning to vehicle settings to Apple CarPlay. Driver monitors, warning and assistance systems are all polite and less intrusive than some rivals.

All J7 Jaecoos, aside from the SHS hybrid, use a 1.6-litre, turbocharged petrol engine with 137kW at 5500rpm and 275Nm of torque supplied through a seven-speed auto.

There’s plenty of punch here, plus seven drive modes for the all-wheel drive Jaecoo – from eco to normal to sport to snow, sand, mud and off-road.

That dual clutch transmission can be a touch tetchy at times, works best with a fuller dose of throttle, and there is a little more engine noise. It’s no deal-stopper but there’s room for a little extra driveline refinement considering the premium approach of the rest of the car.

Likewise, the AWD Jaecoo’s drive and ride are good, if lacking just that last bit of polish. The 19-inch, low-profile tyres here can feel stiff through the potholes, but the Ridge does carry a full-size spare – a little unusual these days.

The Jaecoo J7 all-wheel drive Ridge is a smart-looking, good-driving SUV with a wealth of premium style and comforts.

Backed by an eight-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, it warrants consideration on any medium-sized  SUV shopping list.