The Jaecoo J7 is now available from $32,990 driveaway - saving $2,000. It also comes with 3 years free servicing.
2WD Core - 1.6L petrol, 137kW 275Nm, 7.0L/100km and a 5 star ANCAP.
All other J7 and J8 models are available with the same discount & offer.
View specs and price history at TheBeep.com.au.
The core market for this car (women with families) don't care. The engine stats are next to insignificant compared to what most women are interested in car wise.
when stuck outside school doing pickups, at the sports oval car park, or loading up shopping and driving it home or just on our metro congested roads, the 1.6l engine is more than fine. If you live in the country and drive a fully loaded SUV at 100kph most of the time that’s about only time bigger engine gets appreciated.
Yeah its fine if you live on the sunny coast where 30kph is the new 60kph!
@imahippy: in my suburb they have reduced the 50kph down to 40kph, and the 60 kph down to 50 kph, so trying to get onto 60 kph road locally and minimizing speed humps is becoming tricker, the 1.6l engine will easily get you a speeding ticket on inner melbourne roads if you want.
@garage sale: 1,534kg 137kW and 275Nm is actually very very good for $32k
this thing will easily do 0-100 in 8 secs
everything else is suspect but i doubt the customer for this will complain about a lack of power
You forgot hills. Normal "metro driving" sometimes involves hills. Also in general the need to accelerate quickly or with a burst of power to negotiate a tricky merge or other traffic hazard is important, but these 1.6 engines can't perform at those times.
but these 1.6 engines can't perform at those times.
torque and power figures matter more than displacement, it's a turbocharged engine.
275Nm is very healthy, in this instance delivered from 2k rpm.
or other traffic hazard is important, but these 1.6 engines can't perform at those times.
this is complete bullshitte
a turbo 1.6 like this is actually really good at hills becuase the turbo is actually asked to build pressure when its faced the gearing and the gradient
jesus christ… its clear you guys have never driven a modern turbo 1.6 like this
i'd put it to everyone that a mazda 3 with the n/a 2.0 would be very very lacking on the same hill… nice car but i mean a n/a 2.0 in this day and age?
"really good at hills"
If you mean the little hill at your local Coles carpark, then I agree. If we mean proper hills that are steep, and you get stuck behind someone who suddenly brakes, now you're on a steep hill and need to get back up to 70 before traffic behind is up your arse. Too late! Your 1.6 had the air-con on so is complaining and whining as it revs its way up the hill… other cars, even birds in trees are pointing and laughing at the automotive weakness on display.
@cerealJay: This is completely wrong, why do you keep posting this ?
A modern 1.6 turbo engine can happily power up a hill with the aircon on and 5 people in the car - 275Nm is plenty.
What car did you drive that made you think this was not the case ?
happily power up a hill with the aircon on and 5 people in the car
And we can all test drive to confirm can't we, so relax.
You're keen to defend the honour of this cheap Chinese SUV. Maybe because you're happy with mid-range performance. I prefer more kick on Australian roads. Each to their own.
Summary of other opinions supporting my "completely wrong" remarks:
Reviews describe the J7 Core as delivering "decent motivation" once underway but feeling "thin" or mismatched in certain situations… (carsauce.com)
The engine's performance can be compromised in specific conditions, primarily due to turbo lag, the DCT's hesitation, and the vehicle's weight distribution:
Low-speed maneuvers and starting from standstill: There is noticeable delay (1–2 seconds) as the transmission engages clutches, followed by a surge in acceleration and engine RPM flare. This is evident in stop-start traffic or when pulling away from traffic lights. (drive.com.au)
Hilly terrain or inclines: Torque delivery can feel stodgy or uneven, with odd surges when seeking power, making uphill overtaking or sustained climbs less confident (drive.com.au)
Around-town driving with frequent stops: In slow-moving traffic, the engine may sound gruff under load and exhibit reduced responsiveness, occasionally feeling like it is on the verge of stalling
Loaded conditions: With passengers or cargo, the powertrain may strain more noticeably during acceleration or on highways, though it remains sufficient for non-demanding use.*
Transmission behavior: The DCT is criticized for grabby engagement, hesitation, and surges, contributing to an unpolished driving experience. (drive.com.au)
Engine refinement: It can sound gruff or noisy under heavy load, and some report a lack of low-end punch (drive.com.au)
@cerealJay: my guy, that has more to do with the transmission (tuning) than engine performance. so yes, i agree that you are completely wrong.
I wanna bet this car is probably quicker off the line than whatever car you're currently driving.
It does take some serious skill issue if you struggle to climb a hill with such power, honestly.
Just read a couple of reviews and they say the power is actually quite good and doesn't detract from the price.
You’re supposed to clean it after each use.
Can you name the truck with four wheel drive,
smells like a steak and seats thirty-five..
Canyonero! Canyonero!
The unexplained fires are for the courts to decide!
Canyonerooooooo Canyaneroooooo!
*"Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts"
Saw one of these last night, they are a pretty good looking car.. I can see why some say it's inspired by the range rover evoque
1.6L petrol, 137kW 275Nm
How is Jaecoo getting this much torque out of 1.6L whilst the larger engined RAV4, Forester, CX-5 etc max out at 252Nm
1.6L turbo v 2.5L NA.
Having higher torque would mean it has more power lower in the rev range.
Right, key piece of info missing from the op then.
Even still, good numbers when Honda, who have Formula1 experience, can't even rustle that up with their 1.5l turbo in the CR-V
Engine design can be either for longevity or for performance. Do you think this Jaecoo engine will last longer than the Honda engine?
Adding a Turbo adds complexity to the engine design and costs a fortune to repair when Turbo fails.
Also, Turbo charged engines have higher compression ratio, which means they require 95 or 98 RON fuel.
This car also uses minimum 95 RON. This is usually 20c more expensive at the bowser.
Adding a Turbo adds complexity to the engine design
In return, the extra low down torque makes them much nicer to drive and you get a pretty significant efficiency boost from the turbo, for a certain power level.
and costs a fortune to repair when Turbo fails.
They'll generally last a couple of hundred thousand kilometres or more - often for the life of the car.
This car also uses minimum 95 RON
So do a gazillion other modern engines - this is normal.
They'll generally last a couple of hundred thousand kilometres or more - often for the life of the car.
Not all of them. Especially, Chinese car makers are good at EVs but not known to be great at internal combustion engines design. How many Chinese cars like Great Wall Utes, Chery J1, J3, J11 etc do you see on the roads, that were imported in the early 2010s.
So do a gazillion other modern engines - this is normal.
Many modern engines run on cheaper E10 and 91 RON too. It wasn't included in the deal post, I just pointed it out.
@tonyjzx: it's true tho, modern engines require RON95 and above. quite rare to find one below that.
Because your examples aren't turbo'd, obviously.
5 star ancap and lots of space, i can see the appeal for metro families , and 8 years warranty.
So glad you said families and not just label this vehicle for women with children.
The 1.6L turbo in my Peugeot 508 does 165kw/300nm. Did a trip to Lennox and back with 3 people and luggage and it never felt like it was underpowered.
Would this one impress the ladies?
Maybe if they are a bit posh
The ladies love a Chinese car. Shows you are a man of means and taste.
Cheers. Bought 1 for each son
if you are rich enough the ladies might be impressed regardless of the model car.
Depends on the lady.
that's racis
What are some Australian options?
Where is Holden, an Australian exclusive crap? Maybe died at 40 years ago, right
What shitbox do you drive?
Not sure about the car but great to see green coming back as a car colour.
You must be a smart guy
Unleaded 95 RON or Higher
On this POS? Pass…
Honestly speaking id buy this over a Land Rover
Wow, Australia's been flooded with these cheap disposable vehicles… How's the local support for these? Not being sarcastic…
I suspect in 8 - 10 years time there's going to be a lot of chinese cars off the road for one reason or another. In China they are so cheap literally they are turning them over on a regular basis. Many of them just sitting on an empty lot.
If you get 10 years out of this car, the vehicle itself has only cost you three grand a year - this is pretty good going.
you can't be serious
@commiewealth: Which part ?
Would you rather buy a "better" sixty grand car that lasts you for 15 years ? You've now spent twice as much and your annual cost has gone up to four grand 🤷
@Nom: No guarantee the 65k car will last more than 10 years without needing mechanical work that would write the value of the car off. There's definitely an argument for these cheaper cars.
I wouldn't be worried about buying an MG, BYD, Geely group vehicle, GWM or Chery group vehicle. Other Chinese brands (eg Deepal) are here on borrowed time, though (IMO)
How's the local support for these? Not being sarcastic
This is the risk you take with any new brand
They havent been in the market long enough to know if they will provide after sales support esp when something major happens like a recall.
Jeep is a prime example of a brand that came to Australia had a far bit of hype and fan fair but had disgustingly inadequate after sales support and essentially destoryedits reputation within a decade
Ill say the biggest issue with Chinese cars is there is 'way too many' brands flooding the market and there'll need to be consolidation. - im sure they will take market share from other budget players Kia etc but the Australian market itself is just too 'small' for all these brands to be viable.
It possible other brands will die as well Nissan, Renault, Honda etc are all struggling. However the Chinese brands can only remain cheaper then others whilst their government subsidies the industry meaning at some stage price will have to rise to remain viable.
I got nothing against Chinese cars although I think MGs are shit not because they are Chinese but because my experience with them has been they are a proper shit box.
The budget friendly end of the car market in Australia is super competitive and the prestige end of the market is dominated by German brands, however things change quickly if your product/support is shit. Holden was once the most popular brand in Australia it now doesnt exist….
Chery is one of the bigger companies, along with BYD
It possible other brands will die as well Nissan, Renault, Honda etc are all struggling. However the Chinese brands can only remain cheaper then others whilst their government subsidies the industry meaning at some stage price will have to rise to remain viable.
Unfortunately for these brands, there is effectively infinite money on the table, so the Chinese brands can happily hold off the price rises until the competition is gone 💀
"Jeep is a prime example of a brand that came to Australia…"
I know the point you are trying to make about Stellantis and reliability but Jeep is a bad example - they have been sold in Australia since 1941.
When the warranty runs out, people will be scrounging the wrecking yard desperate for parts.
Dealer support will almost be non existent. They keep bringing out updated or new model every 2 - 3 years. While it sounds good, how are they going to keep up with the part inventories. It tells more of a story, they just want to get them out without proper R&D. Really scary if you have a super cheap car but you don't get much chance to drive it because everytime something goes wrong you have to wait months for parts. A replacement loan car is wishful thinking. Some customers currently already experiencing this.
To be honest it's quite the opposite, the cheap Chinese cars are actually designed for people who's well off. People that can afford to dispose them at anytime and grab another at a moment of notice.
yea that's an honest question
in reality all chinese brands will probalby had subpar dealer support
because the locals also have subpar support
i mean that's just the way it is
what you are supposed to do is get it serviced every year at the dealer to maintain your warranty and hope the fuc nothing goes wrong
hope lasts out the warranty and then every year after the warranty is out is gravy
if something major happens, bin the car
if you get a car with 10yrs then thats 10yrs of service
dont expect a car to last much out of warranty
This or Audi RSQ5?
Urus. Next question
purosangue is the answer you poor fucs
aka CX-30 from wish.com
Been this price for at least 3 months. 3 years free servicing is nice. I would expect at least another 3-5k off this price at the dealership, depending on the model.
https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-006534
Recall number
REC-006534
Campaign number
RCB2601
Original published date
29 January 2026
Model
T35
Variants
1.6T DCT AWD, 1.6T DCT FWD
Year range
2025
Affected units
1,028
Identifying VIN Number Spreadsheet
Due to a manufacturing defect, the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) wiring harness may chafe against the engine mounting bracket and become damaged. As a result, this could lead to a sudden loss of motive power and/or engine shutdown without warning.
A sudden loss of motive power and/or engine shut down whilst driving could increase the risk of an accident, causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and/or other road users.
Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by Jaecoo in writing asking them to schedule an appointment with their local dealership to have the vehicle inspected and repair work carried out, free of charge.
Who should owners/operators contact for more information?
Contact name
Omoda Jaecoo Australia Customer Care
Contact phone
1800 696 528
Contact email
recall@omodajaecoo.com.au
Contact website
http://www.omodajaecoo.com.auopens an external website
Wiadro on 17/01/2026 - 07:20 Comment score below threshold.
