Tested: Jaecoo J7 PHEV – When Plug-Ins Become THIS Affordable!

The Jaecoo J7 PHEV is the most affordable plug-in hybrid SUV you can buy today, and it is a rather promising proposition!

‘From Classic’ Looks, ‘Beyond Classic’ Tech

Ever since its arrival, the Jaecoo J7 has received rave reviews among Malaysians, with the SUV ranking as one of the best-selling Chinese cars in our market. Riding on its pure combustion (ICE) variant’s success, Omoda | Jaecoo (O&J) Malaysia have decided to offer it in a semi-electrified Jaecoo J7 PHEV (plug-in hybrid) form soon after.

At a glance, the J7 PHEV looks very similar to its ICE-powered twin mentioned, and that’s perhaps what O&J intended from the onset. Concurrently, the marque elected to offer its brand new powertrain plug-in hybrid (PHEV) setup in this familiar form.

Keen eyes will notice that this plug-in does have some slight design changes, most notably its new 19-inch alloy rims, now sporting a more aerodynamic design. Also present is a charging port flap on the right-rear fender, accompanied by a new PHEV tailgate badge, while the J7’s signature green shade is swapped for a new Olive Grey hue.

Overall, it is safe to say that if you’re a fan of the J7’s ‘From Classic, Beyond Classic’ design, then the PHEV model shouldn’t be a turn-off for you. And though it is too early to judge the J7 PHEV’s sales performance, we’d reckon this strategy should work fine in enticing folks to go for the plug-in over its standard pure combustion twin.

Slightly Revamped Interior, Same Tech & Practicality

Similar to its exterior, the innards of the J7 PHEV also get a slight makeover, although we aren’t exactly sure if this is for better or for worse.

Gone is the jet fighter-style gear shifter in the J7 PHEV, as it adopts a simpler steering-mounted column shifter.

For starters, the J7 PHEV drops the ICE variant’s intricate central console setup for a cleaner, minimalist setup. The jet fighter-style gear shifter has been swapped for a simpler, steering-mounted column shifter, while the AWD mode selector dial also gets ditched in favour of physical switches — two of which are for toggling the HEV and EV driving modes.

That said, the plug-in model still gets the same tech and comfort amenities as before, large 14.8-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support included, accompanied by a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation plus a head-up display (HUD), powered and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, 50-watt wireless charger, a built-in digital video recorder (DVR), and an 8-speaker Sony audio system.

Moving to the rear seats, we’re happy to report that things are largely similar here as seen in the ICE variant. This PHEV redux still gets the same amenities like a single A/C vent with two USB ports, a boss switch for the front passenger seat, and black faux leather upholstery. Space is more or less the same too, so rear passenger comfort is not compromised in this PHEV twin.

Genuinely surprising here is the J7 PHEV’s abundant boot space of 500 litres, which is slightly larger than the ICE model’s 412-litre claim. What’s not so fun in this PHEV though is that the extra room comes from a spare tyre delete, but at least there’s still a dedicated tyre repair kit substituting for which  in case things go south for you.

Make however you want of the lack of a spare wheel, we certainly think the J7 PHEV still sits toe-to-toe against its ICE-twin here. That said, the similarities between the two models end here…

Smooth & Efficient Powertrain, But No AWD!

Things get interesting and dramatically different on the driving front in the J7 PHEV. Aptly, tthis stem from ditching the ICE twin’s turbo four-banger for O&J’s new Super Hybrid System (SHS) setup. The PHEV package consists of the brand’s fifth-gen 1.5-litre 4-cyl TGDi Dedicated Hybrid Engine (DHE) that boasts a claimed thermal efficiency rate of 44.5%, delivering 141 HP (105 kW) and 215 NM by itself.

Mated with said engine is a unique three-speed Super Electric Hybrid dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) that also harbours a single electric motor rated at 201 HP (150 kW) and 310 NM. Combined, this whole setup promises 342 HP (255 kW) and 525 NM, translating to 0 to 100 KM/H sprints in 8.5 seconds and an electronically limited V-max of 180 KM/H.

Just like any other PHEV out there, most of the driving of the J7 PHEV delivered by the e-motor noted, with the ICE mill kicking in at 70 KM/H and higher. As a result, the J7 PHEV feels much smoother and more silent compared to the standard J7, thus making it an even more ideal urban trailblazer.

With its e-motor doing most of the driving, the J7 PHEV does deliver EV-like driving experience, minus the range anxieties!

The e-motor also makes the J7 PHEV drive more effortlessly than the full petrol model, especially from stationary. Overtakes are also made both smoother and brisker by this e-motor, which supplies EV-like torque punch for which.

Perhaps the only downgrade we can think of is the absence of an all-wheel drive (AWD) setup in the J7 PHEV. This may be a deal-breaker for some, we’ll point out that most Malaysians - at least here in Peninsular Malaysia - hardly ever put their AWD-equipped SUVs off-road. Honestly we’d reckon it’s not too big of an absence.

Dynamically, the J7 PHEV still feels more or less the same as the standard turbo model, though the suspension does feel a tad soft at times. Then again, this is still a tall-riding SUV after all, so we really can’t gripe. If we were to nitpick further, the electric power steering does feel way to muted for our liking, and you can definitely feel the extra weight from the battery in fast corners, so be mindful of those two.

Bar its overpowered on-paper outputs, the J7 PHEV definitely feels like the smoother and more refined twin, least for long-distance travels and daily commutes. As long as you expect more or less similar dynamics and life without AWDs, then there’s nothing jarring to complain about with this plug-in SUV.

Promises Made, Promises Met

Sure, the ‘electrified’ performance may be lacklustre for some, but we believe the main reason why people would really consider the J7 PHEV not only over its full ICE twin but also over other C-segment SUVs out there.

On paper, O&J claims the J7 PHEV can do up to 106 km of electric-only range (NEDC), thanks to its sizable 18.3-kWh LFP-type battery pack sourced from BYD. And just like other PHEVs, said battery supports DC fast charging up to 40 kW, thus allowing the J7 PHEV to recharge fully from 30% to 80% in just 20 minutes. AC charging, on the other hand, is capped at 6.6 kW, meaning a 0-100% charge will take about three hours and 20 minutes.

Combined with its ICE mill, the J7 PHEV is said to be capable of up to 1,300 KM of combined NEDC range, and a combined fuel economy average of 4.77 litres/100 KM (NEDC). On straight Chinese roads and highways during our first drive experience, we managed to chart 1,244.6 KM from a single full charge and full tank - just a few kilometres away from the claimed figure.

Although we didn’t get enough time to conduct a similar test locally, we still mustered roughly 1,100 KM of range, which involved a combination of occasional spirited driving, urban commutes, and long-haul highway drives. Our average fuel economy here, on the other hand, stood at 4.5 litres/100 KM, which is again not too far off O&J’s official claim.

Should we practice better pedal discipline and stick to driving on straight highways and short urban commutes, we won’t be surprised if the J7 PHEV can go beyond these claimed range and fuel economy figures.

Sure, these big figures do sound impressive, but we’ll also point out that the J7 PHEV does benefit from a sizable 60-litre fuel tank too - larger than both its ICE twin and most C-segment SUVs out there. Then again, even with this big-tank advantage, we’d still praise the SHS PHEV setup brimmed in this SUV, which will surely help to reduce your recurring trips to pumps should you buy one.

So, How Good Can An Affordable PHEV Get?

Instantly recognisable design, rich amenities with decent practicality, and an efficiently smooth and sublime powertrain, it really is unfair to fault Jaecoo J7 PHEV beyond our minor nitpicks. Factor in the affordable price tag and comprehensive warranties offered by O&J Malaysia, and it’s easy to understand how convincing this SUV really is..

Tagged at RM158,800, this locally assembled (CKD) J7 PHEV is not only the cheapest new PHEV you can buy today, it is also one of the most affordable C-SUVs available now. Said price includes a comprehensive 7-year or 150,000 KM base vehicle warranty, followed by a separate 8-year or 160,000 KM coverage for its PHEV battery pack, power motor, and motor controller unit.

Before you ask, the latter also provides a one-to-one exchange should the battery pack’s state-of-health (SoH) drop below 70% within the warranty period mentioned.

Given that PHEVs are often touted as the ‘great bridge’ between full battery EVs (BEVs) and ICE cars, the J7 PHEV would make a pretty decent proposition for those seeking a greener path and jump into the electrified vehicle bandwagon. In short, should you be in the market for a C-SUV, and you have roughly RM160,000 in disposable income ready, we’d reckon this PHEV SUV is really worth a serious look...

SPECIFICATIONS

JAECOO J7 PHEV 2WD SHS 

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