Jaecoo has finally launched the new J7 SHS in South Africa, adding a fourth model to the premium brand’s SUV selection.
The SHS (Super Hybrid System) is a plug-in hybrid, which happens to be one of the more affordable options in its segment.
While its price tag of R689,900 is undeniably a lot of money, there aren’t that many plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) that retail for less than a R1 million in our market.
In fact, the J7 is one of only a handful of units that share this description, along with the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, Haval H6, Omoda C9, BYD Shark, and BYD Sealion 6.
With this in mind, it’s worth breaking down the J7 SHS to see what it has to offer, and if PHEVs are worth the hype in South Africa.
Performance
Unlike the regular J7, which uses a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the SHS opts for a smaller 1.5-litre plant mated to an electric motor.
The result is a combined output of 255kW and 525Nm – significantly more than the 145kW and 290Nm produced by the non-hybrid units.
Of course, the main selling feature of a PHEV is that it can function as an electric car for short distances thanks to a sizeable onboard battery.
In the Jaecoo’s case, a 18.3kWh cell gives it an electric range of 90km, which should be enough for most people’s daily commutes.
The battery can be recharged from 25-100% in 160 minutes using an AC 6.6kW charging station.
Alternatively, you can achieve a 30-80% top-up in just 20 minutes using a faster DC 40kW charging station.
The automaker claims that the SUV has an average fuel consumption of 4.7l/100km, which can drop as low as 1.0l/100km, provided you make extensive use of the electric mode.
Also worth noting is that the SHS is only available in front-wheel-drive with a dedicated hybrid transmission.
What’s included
The PHEV is the flagship of the J7 roster, which means it is equipped with all the nice-to-haves the brand has to offer.
It has model-specific 19-inch alloy wheels and badges, as well as automatic LED headlights, LED taillights, a panoramic sunroof, and an electric tailgate.
Inside, the SUV is fitted with keyless entry and start, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, a centre armrest with a refrigerated storage compartment, electric front seats with heating and ventilation functions, ambient lighting, an eight-speaker Sony stereo, and a 50W wireless charging pad with a cooling vent.
Driving information is conveyed through a 10.25-inch digital display, and owners can connect their phone to a 14.8-inch infotainment screen with voice commands and onboard navigation thanks to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
On top of this, the SHS comes with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and bicycle recognition, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic jam assist, a 540-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, and eight airbags.
In South Africa, the Jaecoo J7 is sold with a 7-year/200,000km warranty, a 10-year/200,000km electric drive component warranty, a 10-year/1-million kilometre engine warranty, a 5-year/75,000km service plan and a 7-year roadside assistance plan.
It also comes with a 10-year/unlimited-kilometre hybrid battery warranty for the first owner, which defaults to a 10-year/200,000km warranty for subsequent owners.
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