China’s Chery to launch Jaecoo J7 family SUV in Australia
Chinese car brand Chery could be on a collision course with itself after confirming plans for its fourth family SUV between 4.4 and 4.75 metres long, the Jaecoo J7.
The Jaecoo J7 mid-size family SUV from Chinese car maker Chery has been confirmed for Australian showrooms in the second half of this year.
Three of the four – the two Tiggos, and the Jaecoo J7 – are expected to compete under the same classification on the Australian new-car sales charts, mid-size SUVs.
Chery says Jaecoo will be marketed as its own sub-brand in Australia – with the J7 its first model – that is claimed to be a “more premium product … compared to the Chery brand.”
However with prices likely not to be too far from other Chery vehicles – $32,990 to $41,490 drive-away for the Omoda 5, $39,990 to $45,990 drive-away for the Tiggo 7 Pro, and an estimated starting price of $45,000 drive-away for the Tiggo 8 Pro – the Jaecoo J7 may be on a collision course with its peers, competing for the same customers.
The four SUVs are built on the same underpinnings but differ in styling, with a sportier ‘coupe-styled’ look for the Omoda, a boxy design for the Jaecoo, and a more conventional style somewhere in between for the Tiggo duo.
It is unclear if it will use the Chery dealer network, or set up its own locations. A company spokesperson told Drive “the distribution network … is under review, and will be confirmed nearer to launch.”
If Jaecoo uses its own dealer network, cheaper versions of the J7 will be rivals for more expensive Chery Tiggo 7 Pro models from the same parent company, given the vehicles are similar in dimensions and engines.
Chery only returned to Australia 12 months ago – and had 60 dealers as of late last year.
Few details of the Jaecoo J7 have been confirmed for Australia, though it will offer a choice of front- or all-wheel drive, five seats, a 14.8-inch portrait touchscreen and seven on-road and off-road drive modes.
In markets such as South Africa it is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 145kW and 290Nm, sent through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The same engine is fitted to the Tiggo 7 Pro and Omoda 5 GT in Australia, but it is tuned to 137kW and 275Nm.
A plug-in hybrid version of the J7 is also available in China – where it is sold as the Chery Tansuo 06, or Chery Explore 06 – but it is not clear if this will come to Australia.
Overseas the Jaecoo brand also markets the larger Jaecoo J8, which is a rebadged version of what is sold in China as the Chery Tiggo 9.
