Jaecoo J7 SHS PHEV Review

We were recently handed the keys to a range-leading Jaecoo J7 SHS PHEV and share some of our thoughts on the top-spec derivative here.

There seems to be no let-up in the rate at which Chinese automakers add new models/derivatives into the local market. Chery Group brands, in particular, have introduced a new model/derivative with regularity. This is great if you are in the new car buying space. Buyers are faced with a barrage of options at really competitive prices.

The Jaecoo J7 is a model that we have prior experience with, having driven a 1,6-litre turbocharged version around the middle of 2025. Shortly after that, Jaecoo added a hybrid option to the J7 range. We had the latter in our care and walked away with a few thoughts and impressions. So here are..

Seven Things We Learned About the Jaecoo J7 SHS PHEV

Despite being on our market for some time, the J7 still tends to attract admiring glances. The simple, slightly squared-off aesthetic seems to be ageing well. Kudos to the company’s design team. This derivative wears a set of aero-friendly alloys that help to differentiate it from variants with other powertrains and, ostensibly, reduce fuel consumption.
While we enjoyed the neat, uncluttered look of in the interior, we’d still prefer some physical buttons for certain controls eg, the outside mirror adjusters and climate control system. As it stands, just about every fucntion is controlled via the large touchscreen that is mounted in portrait orientation on the facia. We have to say, the on-board voice assistant isn’t the easiest to engage with as it frequently misunderstood commands.
As befitting a range-topper, the Jaecoo J7 SHS PHEV lacks for almost nothing in terms of standard equipment. There is dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated seats, wireless mobile phone charging and all forms of connectivity and an eight-speaker audio system as standard. The faux leather seats feel like the real deal. There is even a full-length panoramic roof, again, as standard.
The party trick of a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) is, of course, frugal fuel consumption. And boy does the J7 SHS deliver in this regard. A 1,5-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol engine and electric motor pair up to deliver a massive 255 kW of power and 525 N.m of torque. Those figures may be impressive, but even more so is the claimed fuel consumption of 4,7 L/100 km. It is a figure we managed to get quite close to during our review period.
The engine tends to default to battery power whenever possible, which helps lower overall fuel consumption. It’s only when the battery dips below a certain level or you require more power does the internal combustion engine (ICE) kick in to assist. While it all operates pretty seamlessly, we did find that the transmission a little hesitant to engage gear when manoeuvring.
In addition to the low fuel consumption, the J7 PHEV offers 90 km of electric-only range. That is a handy number. Depending on how long your daily commute is, you could get by on a few days of driving without using any petrol. The option to charge the 18,3 kWh battery from a wall charger also adds a nice level of convenience should you have such a device at home or spot one during your weekly errands.
If there is one major flaw in the J7 SHS it has to be its ride quality. The first time we encountered pothole that we didn’t see we thought that perhaps it was particularly large. However, over different road surfaces and scarred tar, the thump and noises entering the cabin left us wincing every time. Independent tests show that this PHEV version is the better part of 220 kg heavier than some of its ICE siblings at nearly 1 800 kg. We can’t help but wonder if the heavier mass, to the tune of about three adults, has been accounted for with uprated suspension.

Summary

Jaecoo (and its sibling Omoda, which make up O&J) are among the runaway successes of the Chery brands locally. They are selling by the proverbial boat-load. Models such as the attractive and well-specced J7 have helped Jaecoo with its impressive sales tallies. While the model, and this variant in particular, has plenty going for it, there are a few foibles, most of which, we guess, buyers are willing to overlook thanks to its frugal engine and extremely competitive price.

Model: Jaecoo J7 SHS
Price: R689 900
Engine: 1,5-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol + electric motor
Transmission: automatic
Max power: 255 kW
Max torque: 525 N.m
0-100 km/h: ~8 sec
Top speed: 180 km/h
Fuel consumption: 4,7 L/100 km (5,5 during review period)