Previewed: Chery Jaecoo 7 & 8 SUVs – Coming in Q2 2024?

Previewed alongside the Exeed RX and VX at the 2023 Chery International User Summit (CIUS) happening in Wuhu, China last week were several other models under the marque’s new sub-brand, Jaecoo. As Chery Malaysia is poised to expand its product lineup next year, we at Caricarz.com have been given a golden opportunity to size-up with two upcoming SUV models under the Jaecoo sub-brand – the Jaecoo 7 & 8.

The upcoming Jaecoo 7 is a C-segment SUV fighter powered by a turbocharged petrol mill

Starting off with the former, the Jaecoo 7 is a compact SUV model that features a modern take on the traditional boxy SUV body style. Measuring 4,500 MM long, 1,865 MM wide, 1,680 MM tall, with a wheelbase of 2,650 MM, the Jaecoo 7 is poised to compete against the likes of Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 in the local C-SUV segment.

Up front, the J7 gets a pretty handsome front face, featuring a sizable front grille with chromed horizontal inserts, flanked by sleek Range Rover-esque LED DRLs design. From the side, you’ll notice that the J7 sports a pretty chiselled shoulder line that compliments its boxy silhouette very well. Aside from that, this compact SUV also comes with flushed door handles, while riding on stylish 18-inch alloy wheels.

More influences from the former British Leyland-owned marque can be seen at the rear part of the Jaecoo 7. Key highlights include the rectangular LED taillights with pixelated light signatures, sleek roof-mounted rear wing, as well as the vertical rear fog lamps that are placed to accentuate the wide rear wheel arches.

Also known as the Chery Tansuo 06 in the Chinese market, the Jaecoo 7 is offered in either a fully-ICE or a petrol plug-in hybrid (PHEV) guise. Focusing on the former for now, the J7 gets a 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbocharged mill that is mated to a seven-speed DCT to deliver 186 PS and 275 NM. For the international market, the J7 comes equipped with both the front- (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options.

On board, the Jaecoo 7 is blessed with a pretty well-equipped cabin. Key tech bits offered here include a vertically-oriented 14.8-inch central infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, a fully digital instrument cluster, ventilated and powered front seats, wireless charging pad, and many more.

The upcoming Jaecoo 8 SUV is also known as the Chery Tiggo 9 in several international markets

Moving on to its bigger sibling, the Jaecoo 8 is another SUV model under the Jaecoo sub-brand. Also known as the Chery Tiggo 9, this mid-size SUV is placed above the Chery Tiggo 8 as a more luxury-oriented model, measuring 4,815 MM long, 1,924 MM wide, 1,710 MM tall, with a wheelbase of 2,800 MM.

Design-wise, the Jaecoo 8 stood as a more conventional model of the two, featuring similar design cues we saw on both the Tiggo 8 and 9. Up front, the J8 gets a large frog grille with the same horizontal bars as we saw on the J7, flanking its sharp LED headlights. Also similar to the J7 is the J8’s flushed door handles. Being a larger SUV, the J8 rides on bigger 20-inch alloy wheels.

Things look quite familiar at the J8’s derriere, as the SUV gets similar-looking LED taillights design as we saw on the Exeed RX. Aside from that, the J8 sports a small rear wing, as well as a stylish rear bumper accent featuring faux quad tailpipes.

Being a more luxurious twin to the Tiggo 9, the Jaecoo 8 gets a decently-equipped cabin space, laced with both comfort amenities and tech bits. This includes a dual-screen layout that crowns above the front dash, Qualcomm-powered centrail infotainment system, ventilated and powered seats with leather upholstery, 14-speaker Sony audio system, and many more.

Similar to the J7, the Jaecoo 8 is available in both pure ICE and PHEV guises, with the former featuring a 2.0-litre 4-cyl TGDI turbocharged mill that produces 361 HP and 400 NM. Said mill is mated to an Aisin-sourced 8-speed conventional automatic gearbox that facilitates power delivery to all its four wheels (AWD).

Meanwhile, the PHEV variant gets a revised 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbocharged mill that is mated to a single hybrid electric motor to deliver an impressive 1,300 KM CLTC range, as well as a stellar 0-100 KM/H sprint time of 4.5 seconds.

Which one of these two Jaecoo SUVs are you looking forward the most?

As we mentioned earlier, Chery Malaysia is poised to introduce both the Jaecoo 7 and 8 into our local market as early as Q2 2024, with both models likely to be assembled locally (CKD). As for now, however, Chery Malaysia has yet to finalise whether both models will arrive under a new Jaecoo sub-brand, or will it be rebadged as a Chery model instead like several international markets. Regardless of its nameplate, we’re certain that these two Chinese-badged SUVs will make the local SUV marketspace a lot more interesting…