New electric Jaecoo J5 in South Africa – Pricing revealed

Jaecoo has officially announced the pricing for the J5 Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV).

The new BEV is the brand’s first fully-electric model to be offered in our market, joining Omoda & Jaecoo’s new-energy vehicle lineup alongside the C5 HEV, and the J7, C7, and C9 PHEVs.

The J5’s entry-level crossover, first introduced in September 2025, with prices ranging from R339,900 to R479,900 for the petrol models.

The new electric vehicle (EV) clocks in at a starting price of R549,900, making it R70,000 more expensive than the internal combustion engine units.

This makes it the fifth most affordable EV in the country, tied with the GWM Ora 5.

The J5 is also set to receive a hybrid option in the near future, rounding out the lineup with three distinct drivetrain options.

Customers who pre-order the J5 BEV will receive an incentive package valued at over R50,000.

This includes a R12,000 reduction on the vehicle’s purchase price, R5,000 in public charging credit and an EV Starter Kit valued at R30,000, comprising a 7 kW home wallbox charger, a portable Type-M charger and a Vehicle-to-Load accessory that enables the vehicle’s battery to power compatible external devices and appliances.

“In addition, pre-order customers will benefit from the JAECOO Cares ownership programme, which provides access to a courtesy vehicle following a mechanical or electrical failure, three days of car hire during an annual service, selected complimentary ride-hailing trips, a designated-driver service and cosmetic vehicle protection,” said the company.

“The surface-care component covers services such as minor scratch and dent repairs, tar and stone-chip removal, windscreen-chip repair, headlight renewal, odour removal, quarterly valet washes and annual air-conditioning and upholstery treatments, subject to the applicable usage and claim limits.”

Powertrain

The J5 BEV is equipped with a single front-mounted electric motor, which produces 155kW and 288Nm.

For reference, the petrol units have a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that develops 115kW and 230Nm, meaning the electric version is considerably more powerful.

Power is sourced from a 58.9kWh battery, which provides a driving range of 402km on the WLTP cycle.

The battery supports 11kW AC charging and DC charging speeds between 80kW and 130kW. With the fastest available option, owners can recharge the cells from 30% to 80% in 28 minutes.

The J5 also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging, meaning the battery can be used to power external appliances.

Features

While the BEV naturally retains the J5’s basic shape, it is easily distinguishable from its peers thanks to its unique front fascia.

The electric model has ditched the vertical “waterfall” grille in favour of a closed-off front end with a lower grille and two perforated body-coloured inserts.

It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, an underbody shield, roof rails, electric side mirrors, acoustic glass, a powered tailgate, and a panoramic moonroof.

Inside, the crossover features a six-way electric driver’s seat and a four-way electric front passenger seat. Both seats are ventilated, and buyers can choose either a black or white theme for the interior.

Other features include keyless entry and start, multi-colour ambient lighting, a leather multifunction steering wheel, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, eight speakers, an electric sunshade, a 12V socket, USB and Type C ports, and a 50W wireless charger.

On the dashboard, you’ll find an 8-inch digital driver display and a 13.2-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

Furthermore, the J5 has an extensive driver assistance suite, including:

• 540-degree camera
• 6 airbags
• ABS
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Blind Spot Detection
• Door Opening Warning
• Emergency Lane Keeping
• Forward Vehicle Departure Reminder
• Hill Descent Control
• Hill Start Assist
• Integrated Cruise Assist
• Intelligent Evasion System
• Lane Departure Prevention
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane-Keep Assist
• Multi-Collision Brake
• Lane Change Assist
• Rear Cross Warning
• Rear Parking Sensors
• Stability Control
• Traction Control
• Traffic Jam Assist

The boot has a default capacity of 480 litres, but this can be expanded to 1,284 litres when folding the 60:40 rear seats down.

Pricing

The South African pricing for the new Jaecoo J5 series is as follows:

• Jaecoo J5 1.5T Core – R339,900
• Jaecoo J5 1.5T Vortex – R379,900
• Jaecoo J5 1.5T Glacier – R439,900
• Jaecoo J5 1.5T Inferno – R479,900
• Jaecoo J5 BEV – R549,900 (New)

This includes a 5-year/150,000km vehicle warranty with roadside assistance, a 5-year/70,000km service plan, and a 10-year/1-million-kilometre powertrain warranty valid for the first owner.

Jaecoo J5 BEV