Jaecoo 7
The Jaecoo 7 Luxury 1.5 SHS is a car I really wanted to like. On paper, it has so much going for it. The price is competitive, the styling is strong, the cabin looks premium, the equipment list is huge, and the efficiency I saw was genuinely impressive. Getting around 48 miles of electric range in cold weather and averaging around 55mpg over mixed driving are both strong results. But after 600 miles, I didn’t come away loving it. The ride felt too bouncy at speed, the car didn’t feel planted enough in corners, the seats weren’t comfortable enough for long journeys, and the climate control and screen glitches became frustrating. Add in the fact that my passengers felt travel sick on faster roads, and it just didn’t suit the way I drive or use a car. That doesn’t make it a bad car. It makes it a car with a very specific appeal. If you want a stylish, well-equipped, efficient plug-in hybrid SUV and most of your driving is local or steady-paced, the Jaecoo 7 SHS could still be worth a look. But if you’re considering buying or leasing one, my advice would be simple: don’t rely on the spec sheet alone. Take it on a proper test drive. Get it up to motorway speeds. Try it on a few faster corners. Spend enough time in the seats. Take your passengers with you. Because the Jaecoo 7 SHS impressed me on efficiency and value, but it didn’t win me over as a car to live with every day.
