2025 Jaecoo J7 : It bears the announcement of the 2025 Jaecoo J7 Plug-In Hybrid receiving full five-star safety rating by two of the world’s leading assessment programs, an impressive honor that exemplifies the company’s dedication to both passenger safety and leading-edge tech.
This prestigious accolade places Runner in a strong position in the highly competitive mid-size SUV market and continues to raise the game for safety in New Zealand – and across the globe.
Raising the Bar in Safety Engineering
The Jaecoo J7 SHS (Super Hybrid System) plug-in hybrid has been designed to pass stringent crash simulations and safety tests, which ensures it receives the full five out of five star grading.
This highest distinction from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is granted after super tough crash tests, which evaluate occupant protection in different scenarios.
What is so striking about this effort is the J7’s strength in all of the essential rating areas. Adult occupant protection was rated 81% and was above 14.7 against a wall or while a pole test the structure proved to be stable.
The car achieved a stable passenger compartment in frontal offset test and its general purpose was good. The test found most critical areas offered good protection while drivers’ chest and lower legs provided “adequate” protection in some impact situations.
Such parents will find considerable comfort in the 85% child occupant protection score. This superior performance makes the J7 a very attractive choice for parents of younger passengers in particular.
A few cars even managed to score a 23.5 out of a possible 24 in this category, which is an incredible testament to the family friendly approach to car design.
Safety Features That Several Makes Don’t Have
Beyond the impressing crash test results the Jaecoo J7 is equipped with a full range of 17 advanced driver-assistance systems, all fine-tuned for different driving environments.
And these intelligent safety measures ranging from Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) to Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) that act together to ensure that accidents never happen in the first place.
The new DMS checks the driver’s attentiveness and environment continuously and gives an immediate feedback to improve the driver’s concentration and the overall road safety.
On the other hand, the 360° HD Panoramic Camera with Under Chassis View provides clear vision, effectively eliminating blind spots that may cause accidents.
Even more impressive is the incorporation of Bosch’s Intelligent Braking System (IPB), which is deployed in an incredible 0.1 seconds when potential hazards are detected.
This reaction time, which is faster than the blink of an eye, can mean the difference between a near-miss and a rear-end impact, especially in unpredictable urban driving environments.
Six strategically located airbags round out the passive safety features, offering complete protection when the worst happens.
It’s a comprehensive series of safety protections, a bit overkill of its own, and such excessive attention to safety reflects in motorsporty blood of Jaecoo J7.
New Hybrid Technology and Premium Design.
And there’s plenty more to like about the Jaecoo J7 SHS than just the safety features. Its new Super Hybrid System is a big step forward for plug-in hybrid technology, with a remarkable level of flexibility in a variety of driving situations.
The propulsion system consists of a 105kW and 215Nm, 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 150kW and 310Nm electric motor.
This advanced layout powers the front wheels through a specially adapted version of Honda’s DHT, and offers an choice of four driving modes – Hybrid Drive (the engine provides power to an electric generator motor, which powers the electric propulsion motor), Engine Drive (the engine is connected directly to the wheels, providing power through the motor when needed), EV Drive (pure electric power) and e4WD drive (uses the 2 propulsion motors to provide 4-wheel drive).
What really sets this system apart, and this is pretty special, is how efficient and how far it can go. The J7 SHS also provides up to 106km of full electric driving, being one of the best in the segment, and a maximum combined range of 1200 km.
Real-world testing corroborates these staggering figures, with journalists managing healthy distances over the claimed range on normal road tests.
To sweeten the deal this J7 also has DC fast charging, which will cut the downtime to mere minutes and is often missing in competing PHEVs.
This enables fast charging while on longer trips, as the issue of plug-in hybrids being less practical on longer journeys is overcome.
Luxe life shouldn’t be out of reach.
The Jaecoo J7 SHS offering advanced technology is surprisingly affordable considering its premium specification.
Although local pricing has yet to be announced, most regions will benefit from a vehicle priced under $50,000, which is a highly compelling proposition considering the extensive level of features and high level of automotive engineering.
The interior experience is up there with many luxury rivals, with a panoramic sunroof that floods the cabin with natural light, heated front and rear seats and good materials used throughout.
Attention has been paid even to the smallest of details such as rubber-finished surfaces, ambient lighting from front to rear doors and specially-designed carpet mats that are reminiscent of the ZOE’s unique headlight design.
There is no shortage of practical concerns, either. There is plenty of room for passengers, with spacious rear seats and a level floor on which occupants’ feet can rest comfortably on long journeys.
The J7 manages to strike a good middle ground between passenger comfort and practicality, with 500 litres of cargo space with the seats up – increasing to a considerable 1,265 litres with the rear seats folded.
Market Position and Expansion in the Global Market
As the first vehicle of Chery’s premium Jaecoo sub-brand, the J7 SHS is seen as a significant strategic foray into new market segment.
Its name: a combination of the German word for “hunter” and ”cool” represents JE cool’s desire to combine outdoor functionality with modern looks.
The styling language has mild gestures towards luxury powerhouse brands, especially in the rear three-quarter view, but finds its own look in touches like the waterfall grille and the stacked LED signature.
This strategy puts the J7 at once a known and an exciting new variable, an important equation for introducing a new premium brand in challenging markets.
Regional launches are already under way in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa, and North American roll-out plans are in the works.
The initial market reaction has been strong, especially among car buyers intrigued by the vehicle’s safety story, hybrid pedigree and value equation.
New Gold Standard For Cheap Safety
“Not only are these safety ratings an official confirmation of our compliance with global regulatory requirements, but the indication of an imperial approach to safety engineering and technological excellence which every customer of us is bound to expect from a new player entering such a fledgling market.”
Elite level safety and next-generation hybrid technology at attractive price points JACOO has set a new benchmark in the mid-size SUV class.
The J7 SHS illustrates that top flight safety, environmental awareness and world class features do not have to be the preserve ofrestrained luxury brands and excessive pricing.
While automotive technology advances and fresh brands redefine market standards, the Jaecoo J7 SHS continues to remind the world that safety excellence can, and should, be democratized.
This philosophy symbolizes the future and is characteristic of software updates in general: Over-the-Air, one day in the near future, cars will only be disabled if they are a clear safety threat.
For Australian families who are in the market for a newer family car, the J7’s class-leading five-star safety rating, impressive thriftiness and well-thought out design make it a serious-one off to consider despite being a newcomer in an established segment.