Chery brandlet Jaecoo has added a hybrid option to its J5 small SUV range.
The front-wheel-drive-only J5 Hybrid combines a turbocharged 1.5L petrol engine with a permanent-magnet-synchronous electric motor for a combined 165kW and 295Nm.
The J5 Hybrid will grace showrooms next month, and pre-orders can be made now though Jaecoo’s website, at $34,990 driveaway.
Thus, the hybrid is priced much closer to the fully-electric J5 ($36,990) than the petrol-only version (from $25,990). This narrowly undercuts the $37,440 (before on-roads) Toyota charges for the hybrid-only Corolla Cross.
The hybrid version of the Honda HR-V – which donated its powertrain to Chasing Cars’ Car of the Year, the Honda Prelude – retails for a fixed $39,900 driveaway.
BYD asks $33,990 (before on-roads) for its similarly sized Sealion 5, though that’s a plug-in hybrid whereas Chery’s ‘Super Hybrid’ system is plug-free, like the Toyota and Honda.
Jaecoo quotes fuel consumption of 5.6L/100km and CO2 emissions of 126g/km. Both claims are unimpressive; the aforementioned Toyota Corolla Cross claims 4.2L/100km and 96g/km. The Honda HR-V hybrid claims 4.3L/100km and 98g/km of CO2.
The J5 Hybrid hopes to compensate with generous standard equipment in its lone Summit variant.
A fixed full-length glass roof, 13.2-inch central display, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, multicolour ambient lighting, adaptive cruise control, double-glazed windows for the front doors, surround-view cameras and an electric tailgate are all thrown in.
The ‘pet friendly’ silicone-based synthetic leather is said to be antibacterial, durable and easy to clean. Chasing Cars’ experience with these materials is that they induce sweaty backs, so the standard ventilated (and heated) seats are a relief.
Jaecoo didn’t quote dimensions for the J5 Hybrid, though its electric J5 EV twin is 4380mm long, 1860mm wide and 1650mm tall, with 480L of boot space.
Our deputy editor Curt Dupriez reviewed the petrol Jaecoo J5 this week; his verdict was, essentially, you get what you pay for. The J5 Hybrid comes to market with neither a jaw-dropping price nor impressive fuel efficiency, so matching the Australian sales success of its Chery stablemates could be a tall order.
2026 Jaecoo J5: prices in Australia
National driveaway pricing (until 31st August) are as follows:
- J5 Petrol Track: $25,990
- J5 Petrol Summit: $29,990
- J5 Hybrid Summit: $34,990
- J5 EV Summit: $36,990
