Officially previewed earlier this year, the Jaecoo J7 is slated to land in Malaysian showrooms in the first half of 2024—making Malaysia the first country in Southeast Asia to introduce the new premium SUV.
The J7 will also benefit from its own network of dealerships, while the brand will be promoted independently of Chery.
The Jaecoo J7 underwent an off-road evaluation at the Malaysia 4WD Training and Experience Centre (M4TREC) in advance of its planned introduction, where it successfully completed a number of “extreme off-road tests,” such as ridge crossings, roller ramps, and articulation tests.
The All Road Drive Intelligent System (ARDIS), which provides up to ten distinct off-road driving modes with unique drivetrain logic and simulated differential lock capability via the Bosch Intelligent Power Brake (IPB) control system is credited by the manufacturer for the SUV’s off-road capabilities. This system is designed to handle a variety of difficult terrain and driving situations.
A seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox distributes the 1.6-litre turbocharged inline-four engine’s 197 hp and 290 Nm of torque to all four wheels. According to the Chinese carmaker, the J7’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine performs on a par with that of other luxury brands and can accelerate from 0 to 30 km/h in 2.9 seconds.
The J7’s 200 mm of ground clearance, 600 mm of wading depth, 21-degree approach angle, and 29-degree departure angle are some of its other notable off-roading features.
Although the J7’s equipment list is not yet available for the Malaysian market, the off-road capable SUV should come equipped with a 14.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, powered front seats with heating and ventilation, and a sizable 1.1 square metre panoramic sunroof.
Along with these advanced driver features, the Jaecoo J7 will also include about twenty-one separate safety functions, such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, and autonomous emergency braking.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Pricing for this rather good-looking J7 is not available as yet, but we are told that this SUV should arrive in showrooms for around the same price as a Chery Tiggo 8 which starts at RM159,800. With its stylish lines, perky powertrains, and classy interior and features the J7 should knock horns with the likes of the Mazda CX-5 and Honda HR-V.