Jaecoo J7 SUV: South African Pricing Confirmed

New off-road SUV brand Jaecoo, a subsidiary of Chery, has launched its latest SUV, the Jaecoo J7, in South Africa with three models now available to the public.

The J7 is fitted with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that delivers 145 kW and 290 Nm of torque to all four wheels. Power is transferred to the AWD system through a modern 7-speed dual-clutch transmission with self-shifting capabilities. The 7DCT wet dual-clutch transmission, once honoured as one of the “Top Ten Transmissions Globally,” boasts a transmission efficiency of up to 98%, exceeding the average level of its class. With a shift response time of 0.2s, the J7 achieves smooth and seamless control across all speed ranges.

Specification levels are extremely generous across the 3 different models. Belying its entry-level positioning, for example, the Vortex grade (R549,900) includes items such as power-adjustable front seats, an electric tailgate, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree panoramic camera system, wireless smartphone charging, 18-inch alloy wheels (framing red brake callipers), LED headlamps, front foglamps, automatic windscreen wipers, 7 airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag), front radar and several added safety features.

Meanwhile, the mid-tier Glacier model (R599,900) upgrades to 19-inch alloys and a 14.8-inch touchscreen, while also gaining items such as innovative inter-seat airbags, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats (with a memory function), a head-up display, an integrated dashcam and a raft of extra driver-assistance features. The latter includes items such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-departure warning, intelligent high-beam control, rear cross-traffic assist and more.

Finally, the flagship all-wheel-drive Inferno (R679,900) ships with company’s ARDIS intelligent off-road system, along with extras such as a heating function for the leather-trimmed steering wheel as well as privacy glass.

Pricing

• Jaecoo J7 1.6T Vortex FWD 7DCT – R549,900
• Jaecoo J7 1.6T Glacier FWD 7DCT – R599,900
• Jaecoo J7 1.6T Inferno AWD 7DCT – R679,900

All 3 versions of the Jaecoo J7 come standard with a 5-year/70,000 km service plan and a 5-year/150,000 km mechanical warranty.