Jaecoo J8

Highly anticipated, Omoda-Jaecoo Malaysia’s (Chery premium sub-brand) latest release, the new Jaecoo J8, officially launched in Malaysia.

The D-segment (full-sized SUV) contender comes with two drivetrain (2WD, AWD) and seating (5-seater/6-seater) options.

Locally assembled (CKD – Shah Alam), available via Jaecoo Malaysia are two variants (J8 2WD – MYR 178,800, J8 AWD – MYR 198,800).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include a standard vehicle warranty (seven years/150,000 KM). 

Exterior (single-tone – J8 2WD) colours (Carbon Crystal Black, Khaki White, Olive Grey). Interior (single-tone) colour (Black).

Exterior (dual-tone: Black roof – J8 AWD) colours (Carbon Crystal Black, Khaki White, Olive Grey). Interior (single-tone) colour (Black).

The new J8 gets a rectangular, wraparound and tiered dashboard, linked to a high-rising-wide centre console (armrest: split storage opening – wireless charger – drive mode selector – media control – gear lever-omitted).

Soft-/hard-touched (dash, steering wheel, centre console, doors), it sees leatherette (J8 2WD) and Nappa leather (J8 AWD) upholsteries in one colour scheme (single-tone – Black) with contrast trims (bezels: Silver – panels: textured Grey, Gloss Black).

Equipped is a floating panoramic display (single-piece: instrument cluster, infotainment), air-conditioning vents (square: three-piece centre, single-piece corners) and an ‘Infinite Ambient Lighting’ system (256-colours, customisable).

Inclusively, the layout is simple and straight-forward with accessibilities ergonomically arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented).

Part of a floating panoramic display unit (single-piece), installed is a 12.3-Inch colour TFT LCD fully digital driver display (instrument cluster). Included is a Head-Up Display (HUD – J8 AWD).

Features are vehicle telematics, Bluetooth, navigation and Intelligent Voice Assistant.

Comfortable, the interior sees leatherette (J8 2WD) and Nappa leather (J8 AWD) upholsteries in one colour scheme (single-tone – Black).

Variant J8 2WD (five-seater – 2-3), the front gets electric-powered (driver/passenger: multi-way-adjust, lumbar, heating, ventilation, driver-memory, passenger-‘Boss’ switch) bolstered seats. 

The rear gets a manual-operated (backrest-recline-adjust, 60:40 split-flat-fold) bolstered bench (three-seater).

Variant J8 AWD (six-seater – 2-2-2), the first row gets electric-powered (driver/passenger: multi-way-adjust, lumbar, massage, heating, ventilation, memory, passenger-‘Boss’ switch, passenger-‘Queen Seat’: ottoman) bolstered seats. 

The second row gets electric-powered (multi-way-adjust, lumbar, massage, heating, ventilation, memory, individual armrest-adjust, ottoman) bolstered seats (two-seater – individual captain chairs).

The third row gets a manual-operated (backrest-recline-adjust, 50:50 split-flat-fold) bolstered bench (two-seater).

Included are headrests (J8 2WD: front, rear – J8 AWD: first row, second row, third row), armrests (J8 2WD: front, rear – J8 AWD: first row, second row, third row), sunshades (rear side windows – manual pull-out), privacy glass (rear windows – J8 AWD), headliner/pillars (microfibre: Black – J8 AWD) and a panoramic glass sunroof (electric: open/tilt/slide, sunshade).

The SUV’s variant-specific cabin (five-seater-2-3: J8 2WD – six-seater-2-2-2: J8 AWD) offers generous space, providing comfortable seatings with ample interior mobility for the occupants (J8 2WD: front, rear – J8 AWD: first row, second row, third row).

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Mounted is a three-spoke-flat-bottom steering wheel. Single-tone (Black) leatherette with contrast trims (Silver, Gloss Black).

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, media, Intelligent Voice Assistant, vehicle telematics), column adjustments (electric: tilt, telescopic), column gear shifter (gear lever – right stalk) and paddle shifters.

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Practical storage spaces. E.g., glove box, armrest/partitioned/caverned/under-stowage centre console compartments and seat back/side door pockets.

Provided are four/six cup holders (two: front, rear – J8 2WD/two: first row, second row, third row – J8 AWD) and four bottle holders (one – side doors).

Equipped are multiple USB ports (front, rear: J8 2WD – first row, second row, third row: J8 AWD), 12 V sockets (front, boot: J8 2WD – first row, boot: J8 AWD) and wireless charger (centre console: dual-pad, cooling).

The boot comes with an electric-tailgate (handsfree – autosensing, kick-sensor, remote-key fob, tailgate button) function. 

Variant J8 2WD sees 738-Litres (rear seats up) and 2,021-Litres (rear seats down) of load capacities.

Variant J8 AWD sees 200-Litres (second row, third row seats up), 738-Litres (third row seats down) and 2,021-Litres (second row, third row seats down) of load capacities.

The new J8 stands at 4,820 MM long, 1,930 MM wide, 1,710 MM tall and with a wheelbase spanning 2,820 MM.

Solidly sporty and elegantly robust, it exudes a modern outlook, emphasised by angularly chiselled and dynamic proportions.

The front-end sees a formed bonnet (raised sides), angular quarter panels (flared fenders) and a roundly sculpted bumper (‘Waterfall’ grille: cascading vertical slats, Jaecoo script – vented: L-shaped corners, lower-central).

Accentuations, body trims (Black: grille, vents, fender strip, lower side doors, side mirror arms, window surrounds – Chrome: grille, vents, Jaecoo script – Silver: fender strip) and roof rails (Silver: J8 2WD – Black: J8 AWD).

Solidly athletic, it continues the contemporary aesthetic, emphasised by angularly horizontal and smoothly lined creases.

The rear-end sees a mildly dipped roofline (roof-edge spoiler), angular quarter panels (flared fenders), a tapered tailgate (centre bar trim, Jaecoo script, J8 emblem) and a roundly sculpted bumper (twin exhausts: trapezoidal cutouts).

Accentuations, body trims (Black: bumper strip/corners, lower side doors, window surrounds – Chrome: exhausts, Jaecoo script – Silver: tailgate centre bar) and roof rails (Silver: J8 2WD – Black: J8 AWD).

Seamlessly concaved, the headlamps are framed largely sleek and inward tilted with sharply rounded outer edges. Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, Daytime Running Lights (DRL – LED), welcome lights, Intelligent Headlamp Control (IHC) and sequential turn signals (LED).

Seamlessly sleek, the tail lamps are framed full width (lightbar) and sharply slim with pointed wraparound edges. Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome lights and sequential turn signals (LED). Included is a high-mounted stop light (spoiler integrated).

The side mirrors (dual-tone: Black-body-colour) are electric-powered (auto-fold, adjust).

Features are turn signals (LED), blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Detection - BSD), automatic-dimming, heating and memory.

Fitted are ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Sportily designed, mounted is a set of 20-Inch turbine-spoke (dual-tone – Black-Silver) alloy rims, wrapped in 245/50 R20 (front, rear) Maxxis Victra Sport 5 SUV (J8 2WD) and Michelin e-Primacy (J8 AWD) tyres.

The new J8 is installed with the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Around View Monitor (AVM – 540-degree, transparent chassis), Full Speed Adaptive cruise control (FS-ACC), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Curve Speed Assistance (CSA), Departure Ahead Inform (DAI), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Front Collision Warning (FCW), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Forward Distance Monitoring (FDM), Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA), Intelligent Evasion System (IES), Intelligent Headlamp Control (IHC), Departure Ahead Inform (DAI), Lane Changing Assistance (LCA), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Rear Cross Traffic Braking (RCTB), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Driver Monitoring System (DMS), Event Data Recorder (EDR), Fully Automatic Parking (FAP – J8 AWD) and OneBox Brake-By-Wire System (J8 AWD).

Other systems include, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS), Multi Collision Braking (MCB), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), Hill-Descent Control (HDC), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Speed Limit Reminder, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold.

Passive safety includes six (J8 2WD: driver-passenger, front sides, rear curtain) and 10 (J8 AWD: driver-passenger, front-knees, front sides, front-rear curtains) airbags, seat belts (reminders, pre-tensioners, anchors), ISOFIX (one – first row-passenger, two – second row-outer), parking sensors (six – front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 540-degree, transparent chassis), side mirrors (BSD), impact beams, door ajar warning, automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), automatic headlamps (On/Off/low-/high-beam), double-glazed glass (acoustic/heat-insulated - windscreen, windows) and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser).

Three standard (J8 2WD, J8 AWD) drive modes enabled (ECO, NORMAL SPORT). Included is an All-Wheel Drive (J8 AWD) mode (SPORT, MUD, SAND, OFF-ROAD). 

Part of a floating panoramic curved display unit (single-piece), installed is a 12.3-Inch HD touchscreen central display (infotainment).

Features are AM/FM radio, USB, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), navigation, Intelligent Voice Assistant and vehicle telematics.

Entertainment is channelled via a Sony Premium Audio setup (12 speakers: J8 2WD – 14 speakers, two headrest speakers: J8 AWD).

The new J8 comes with an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE: petrol) powertrain (J8 2WD, J8 AWD). 

Nestled is a 2.0-Litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve turbocharged direct-injection (T-GDi) DOHC petrol engine (254 HP/183 KW, 385 NM).

Mated to the setup is an eight-speed automatic transmission (steering stalk gear shifter).

Power is transmitted to the front (J8 2WD) and all four (J8 AWD) wheels, via a Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) system and Jaecoo’s Advanced All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system.

Incorporated is an Intelligent Torque Vectoring Control system (rear differential – J8 AWD).

0 to 100 KM/H is done in 8.8 seconds (J8 2WD) and 9.0 seconds (J8 AWD). Top speed is 200 KM/H (J8 2WD, J8 AWD).

Fuel tank capacity is at 65-Litres (J8 2WD, J8 AWD). Fuel consumption (WLTP) is rated at 7.8 L/100 KM (J8 2WD) and 8.1 L/100 KM (J8 AWD).

The new J8 features these conveniences.

E.g., Smart Entry (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button, remote engine start, NFC key card, flush door handles), electric doors (interior: door latch button– J8 AWD), electric-tailgate (handsfree – autosensing, kick-sensor, remote-key fob, tailgate button), dual-zone automatic climate control (J8 2WD, J8 AWD) system (rear vents: J8 2WD – second/third row air vents: J8 AWD – rear control panels: J8 2WD, J8 AWD – air fragrance system: J8 AWD), electric-powered (driver/passenger: multi-way-adjust, lumbar, heating, ventilation, driver-memory, passenger-‘Boss’ switch) bolstered seats (front – J8 2WD), electric-powered (driver/passenger: multi-way-adjust, lumbar, massage, heating, ventilation, memory, passenger-‘Boss’ switch, passenger-‘Queen Seat’: ottoman) bolstered seats (first row – J8 AWD), electric-powered (multi-way-adjust, lumbar, massage, heating, ventilation, memory, individual armrest-adjust, ottoman) bolstered seats (two-seater – individual captain chairs – J8 AWD), headrests (J8 2WD: front, rear – J8 AWD: first row, second row, third row), armrests (J8 2WD: front, rear – J8 AWD: first row, second row, third row), sunshades (rear side windows – manual pull-out), privacy glass (rear windows – J8 AWD), panoramic glass sunroof (electric: open/tilt/slide, sunshade), armrest/partitioned/caverned/under-stowage centre console compartments, steering wheel (multi-function, electric column adjustments, column gear shifter, paddle shifters, EPS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, interior illumination (cabin/boot/ambient), parking sensors (six – front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 540-degree, transparent chassis), side mirrors (BSD), impact beams, door ajar warning, automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), automatic headlamps (On/Off/low-/high-beam/welcome lights), double-glazed glass (acoustic/heat-insulated - windscreen, windows), charging ports (USB, power sockets, wireless charger) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Installed is a dual-zone automatic climate control (J8 2WD, J8 AWD) system (rear vents: J8 2WD – second/third row air vents: J8 AWD – rear control panels: J8 2WD, J8 AWD – air fragrance system: J8 AWD).

A suitable daily driver, the ride comfortability feels flexible and firm at the same time, providing great power with agile handling.

Suspension fitted is a setup of Macpherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear). Incorporated is a Continuous Damping Control (CDC) system (J8 AWD).

Inside and out, performance- and comfort-wise, the ride quality is satisfactory.

Good sound insulation with the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. The cabin is well-designed, enhancing the in-car ambience.

Overall, the cabin can suppress unwanted noises well and make them barely noticeable, even when cruising through bumpy terrains or at high speeds. 

Equipped is double-glazed glass (acoustic/heat-insulated - windscreen, windows).

The new Jaecoo J8 is built with a robustly sporty appeal, offering appearance, space and practicality.

Elegant and sleekly sculpted, its exterior is well-designed with roundly angular lines donating to a powerful overall character. 

Inside and out, the quality of the equipment installed is impressive with clean and minimalistic detailing.

Ultimately, the new J8 bargains more than just good looks, as it also offers plenty of other amenities at the price it comes with.