by The Jaecoo brand, owned by the Chinese company Chery, is rapidly conquering the British market. Less than a year after the debut of the Jaecoo 7 model, which swiftly rose to sixth place in sales rankings, the company is introducing a new flagship — the full-size Jaecoo 8 crossover. The new model promises more space, luxury, and power.
A New Flagship with Premium Ambitions
If the previous Jaecoo 7 model received an unofficial nickname for its resemblance to a British off-roader, the new ‘eight’ develops this concept, also adding hints of German premium design. The car has become larger, more luxurious, and for the first time in the brand’s lineup, it has received three rows of seats. This allows it to target a higher market segment while maintaining a competitive price.
Buyers are offered a choice between two versions. The Luxury model is equipped with seven seats and is aimed at families who need to transport children, luggage, and sports equipment. The Executive version has six seats, and its main feature is four captain’s chairs with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, upholstered in Nappa leather.
Powerful Hybrid Powertrain
At the heart of the Jaecoo 8 lies Chery’s so-called ‘Super Hybrid System’. It combines a 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine with all-wheel drive. The total system output is 422 hp and 580 Nm of torque. Thanks to this, the large SUV is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds. Such dynamics can embarrass even some hot hatches, not to mention family off-roaders.
Impressive Fuel Economy and Range
Efficiency also looks very convincing. The manufacturer claims the car can travel up to 134 kilometers solely on electric power. And the total range (electricity plus a full tank of fuel) exceeds 1,127 kilometers. Support for DC fast charging with a power of up to 40 kW allows charging the battery from 30% to 80% in approximately 20 minutes, making long journeys more comfortable.
Rich Standard Equipment and Off-Road Capabilities
The list of standard equipment is also extremely generous. Every Jaecoo 8 gets two 12.3-inch screens, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a cooled wireless charging pad, and a Sony audio system with 14 speakers. For private music listening, speakers are even provided in the headrests of the front seats.
The brand emphasizes that this SUV is created not only for school runs but also for adventures. For the first time in the Jaecoo model range, locking differentials and an adaptive system for various types of terrain have appeared. The adaptive suspension is designed to provide comfort both on the highway and off-road.
Competitive Price Advantage
The starting price for the seven-seat Luxury version is £45,500, while the six-seat Executive will cost from £47,500. This looks very attractive compared to competitors. For example, the smaller and less luxurious Land Rover Discovery Sport in the PHEV hybrid version costs from £51,000, and a third row of seats is not available for this modification. The stylish seven-seat Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV costs from £49,000, but its acceleration to 100 km/h takes about 9 seconds, and its electric range is limited to 53 kilometers. The most similar competitor in terms of size, design, and performance can be considered the Mercedes GLS, whose price in the UK starts from £110,000, and even for that money, it does not offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
With an offering like the Jaecoo 8, it’s no wonder that over one in ten new cars sold in the UK now has Chinese origins.
The emergence of the Jaecoo 8 clearly demonstrates the strategy of Chinese automakers in the European market: to offer a maximally tech-saturated and well-equipped car at a price significantly lower than the established segment leaders. This is not just competitive struggle but an attempt to redefine the price-to-quality ratio for buyers of premium family SUVs. The success of such models could force traditional European and Korean manufacturers to review their pricing policies and accelerate the development of more affordable electric and hybrid technologies to maintain their market share.
