Jaecoo J7 PHEV Preview At Sunway Pyramid

The Jaecoo J7 PHEV is set to make its mark in Malaysia, but before its official launch, Jaecoo Malaysia has arranged a preview event at the Sunway Pyramid mall (23 – 27 October) for the public to have a closer look at the vehicle as well as learn about its cutting edge plug-in hybrid technology.

Recently, Malaysia was one of 7 countries which participated in an ultra-long range driving marathon in China to showcase the Jaecoo J7 PHEV’s driving range. On this drive from Guangzhou to Wuhu, the J7 PHEV covered 1,300 km using a single tank of fuel and a full charge of battery. The J7 PHEV gets energy from an 18.3kW battery pack and a 60-litre fuel tank. The internal combustion engine portion of the powertrain is a 5th generation 1.5L TDGI turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that is paired to a DHT (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission), and is capable of producing 150 kW (141 hp) and 215 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the electric motor has an output of 150 kW (201 hp) and 310 Nm. Combined, the total output is rated at 255 kW (342 hp) and 525 Nm. The hybrid battery pack is rated IP68, and has a 3-layer armour for protection. In terms of charging, the J7 PHEV supports DC charging of up to 40kW, adding practicality for those who require quicker recharge times. With AC charging, it can take up to 6.6 kW.

The J7 PHEV’s full electric driving range is rated at 106 km. However, during the 7 Countries Marathon, the J7 PHEV managed to exceed the official figure by going 125.2 km on pure electric driving, highlighting the potential of Jaecoo’s Super Hybrid System technology. And even with the hybrid battery fully depleted, the J7 PHEV has a rated average fuel consumption of 5.9L/100km. 

For Malaysia, the Jaecoo J7 PHEV will be available in 2 variants, with an expected price range between RM170,000 to RM180,000. In comparison, the internal combustion engined (ICE) version of this 5-seater SUV is currently sold in 2 variants i.e. J7 2WD and J7 AWD priced at RM138,800 and RM148,800 respectively. Similarly, the J7 PHEV’s all-wheel-drive (AWD) model offers 7 driving modes, tailored for various conditions such as Sand, Snow, or Off-Road, while the 2-wheel-drive (2WD) variant features 3 modes i.e. Standard, Sport, and Economy. The vehicle on preview at Pyramid is the 2WD variant, and isn’t fitted with the final specifications.

The exterior looks very much like the current J7 plying the roads, except for the PHEV badging. Size-wise, the body measures 4,500 mm long, 1,865 mm wide and 1,670 mm tall. Wheelbase is 2,672 mm while the approach and departure angles are 28 degrees and 20 degrees respectively. Boot space is 500 litres, expanding to 1,265 litres with the rear seats folded. One notable difference is the relocation of the 12V battery to the boot, and a tyre repair kit in lieu of a spare.

Other features are:

• Suspension: MacPherson strut (front); multi-link (rear)
• Brakes: Ventilated disc with red caliper (front); solid disc (rear)
• Wheels & Tyres: 235/50 R19 Kumho
• LED headlights, tail lights, daytime running lights, with Welcome & Follow-Me-Home function
• Roof rails
• Powered tailgate
• Tilt & telescopic steering
• Artificial leather upholstery in Black
• Powered 6-way adjustable driver seat, with memory setting
• Powered 4-way adjustable front passenger seat, with Boss Switch
• Ventilated front seats
• 60:40 folding rear seats
• Panoramic sunroof
• Dual zone climate control with rear air vents
• 540 degree panoramic view camera
• 10.25″ digital instrument display
• Voice control
• Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay
• 4 USB ports

Certain items such as front and rear fog lamps, head-up display, 14.8″ infotainment touchscreen, wireless charger, Sony 8-speaker sound system, and digital video recorder are to be determined by launch date.

What sets the J7 PHEV apart from its pure fossil-fueled sibling are the start-stop via key fob detection, the omission of gear lever, as well as its external output feature which allows users to power electronic devices such as projectors or kettles.

Other standard features expected are:

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)
• Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Hill Assist (HA)
• Hill Descent Control (HDC)
• Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold
• Brake Override System (BOS)
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Airbags (tentatively 8; to be confirmed)

As for its Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), this will include:

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA)
• Active Speed Limit (ASL)
• Auto Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM; to be confirmed)
• Curve Speed Assistance (CSA)
• Departure Ahead Inform (DAI)
• Driver Monitoring System (DMS)
• Door Opening Warning (DOW)
• Emergency Lane Keeping Assist (ELKA)
• Front Collision Warning (FCW)
• Intelligent High Beam Control (IHC)
• Intelligent Evasion System (IES)
• Lane Changing Assistance (LCA)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane Departure Prevention (LDP)
• Rear Collision Warning (RCW)
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
• Rear Cross Traffic Braking (RCTB)
• Traffic Jam Assist (TJA)

You can expect the Jaecoo J7 PHEV to come in a choice of Carbon Crystal Black, Khaki White and Moonlight Silver (with Black roof) exterior colours.

At the Sunway Pyramid preview, you will also have the opportunity to register your interest, besides exploring the various customisation options. Vehicle deliveries are expected to start by February 2025.