South Africa recently gained another Chinese badge in the form of Jaecoo, Chery’s second sub-brand which is focused on upmarket SUVs.
Its first product, the J7, officially landed in showrooms in April with three models ranging in price from R549,999 to R679,999.
It also just so happens that another Chinese automaker, Haval, has its own product in this price bracket with the H6, where the top three models go for between R569,350 and R679,950.
The H6 is actually the second best-selling SUV in the country behind the Toyota Fortuner (not including crossover sales), so Jaecoo has its work cut out for it if it hopes to compete alongside its rival.
Powertrains
Every iteration of the J7 is powered by the same 1.6-litre, turbocharged petrol engine which produces 145kW and 290Nm.
Gear changes are handled by a seven-speed automatic transmission, and the two lower trims are front-wheel drive (FWD) while the top-spec model features an all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup.
The Jaecoo has an average fuel consumption of 7.5l/100km, and all three units provide Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with the AWD entry additionally bringing Mud, Off-Road, Sand, and Snow settings.
The Haval’s drivetrain selection is more diverse, as the mid-range Luxury and Super Luxury models have four-wheel drive (4WD) and are equipped with a 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol plant with 150kW and 320Nm.
These units use a seven-speed automatic gearbox and consume an average of 8.3l/100km.
The flagship H6, on the other hand, is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and runs on a 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol engine assisted by an electric motor, which delivers its power to the front wheels.
This gives the HEV a combined output of 179kW and 530Nm while returning a fuel stat of just 5.2l/100km.
All versions of the Haval have four driving modes for Normal, Eco, Sport, and Snow, and the 4WD models have options for Sand and Off-Road.
Features
Looking at the equipment offered on both vehicles, you can expect automatic LED lights, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and start, 18 to 19-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, a wireless charger, electric front seats, dual-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, hill assist, a digital driver display, and an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
In terms of differences, the base Jaecoo Vortex has a 13.2-inch central touchscreen, offline navigation, ambient lighting, an eight-speaker Sony stereo, and an electric tailgate; while the H6 Luxury comes with a 12.3-inch display, six speakers, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, paddle shifters, traffic sign recognition, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist.
The higher-spec versions of the J7 then add a panoramic sunroof, a larger 14.8-inch central display, heated and ventilated seats, a heads-up display, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, and automatic emergency braking.
The top-end H6’s kit looks similar, encompassing blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, heated and ventilated seats, an electric tailgate, a heads-up display, driver alert monitoring, and eight speakers.
Pricing
The South African pricing for the new Jaecoo J7 is as follows:
Each purchase comes with a 5-year/150,000km warranty, a 4-year/70,000km service plan, and a 10-year/1-million kilometre engine warranty for the original owner.
The local pricing for the Haval H6 is as follows:
- Haval H6 2.0GDIT 4WD Luxury – R569,350
- Haval H6 2.0GDIT 4WD Super Luxury – R610,750
- Haval H6 1.5T HEV Ultra Luxury – R679,950
This includes a 5-year/100,000km warranty, and a 5-year/60,000km service plan, with an additional 8-year/150,000km battery warranty for the hybrid.
Jaecoo J7
Haval H6
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