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The Jaecoo J5 EV will be one of the country's cheapest electric SUVs when it arrives in showrooms next month, from $36,990 drive-away for the first 1000 cars.
The first electric car from Chery's Jaecoo sub-brand – the 2026 Jaecoo J5 EV – is due in Australia in January 2026, priced from $36,990 drive-away.
The J5 drive-away deal applies to the first 1000 units sold, and includes premium paint, which is usually a $600 option.
Even after the allocation is exhausted, the regular RRP of $35,990 plus on-road costs places the J5 in the heart of the compact electric SUV segment, taking direct aim at rivals such as the BYD Atto 2 and Atto 3, Geely EX5, MG S5 EV, Leapmotor B10 and Kia EV3.
It is not the cheapest electric SUV on sale – that remains the BYD Atto 2 Dynamic ($31,990 plus on-roads) – but is on par with the Atto 2 Premium ($35,990), and undercuts the other main contenders by thousands of dollars, depending on spec.
"Looking at the success of the J5 in other markets, [it has] done incredibly well particularly in the UK and Thailand; we hope to replicate and emulate that success here," said Roy Munoz, Omoda Jaecoo Australia chief commercial officer.
The introduction of the J5 in a single, top-shelf BEV (battery-electric vehicle) form will be followed by more affordable hybrid and turbo-petrol J5 models in March 2026.
These will compete with popular small SUVs such as the Mazda CX-30, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona, MG ZS, and the related Chery C5.
Jaecoo is pitching the J5 as a well-equipped, “pet-centric” compact SUV. Branded accessories for four-legged travelling companions, a wireless karaoke kit, a $600 premium paint, and a subwoofer (price TBC) being the only options on the BEV variant.
Standard fare includes 18-inch 'aero-optimised' alloy wheels with Continental EcoContact 7 tyres, a panoramic glass roof with sunblind, heated and ventilated front seats, a power tailgate, an eight-speaker infotainment system, wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 50W mobile charge pad, and a 360-degree camera.
Under floor, the 58.9kW battery produces 155kW and 288Nm, driving the front wheels through a single-speed transmission and promising up to 402km of range.
The sharp pricing is matched with an eight-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, battery warranty, and capped-price servicing, with maintenance at 12-month/20,000km intervals priced at alternating $155 and $225.
Jaecoo currently offers almost 50 retailers in Australia, albeit in coastal and major cities only, but the brand says it hopes to continue its expansion based on the sales success of the J5 range.
2026 Jaecoo J5 price in Australia
2026 Jaecoo J5 EV standard features:
Samantha has been obsessed with cars and combustion engines for most of her life, and has spent the past 25 years deep in the automotive and motorsport industries. An automotive awards judge, rally driver and motorsport tragic, she spends weekdays writing about cars and weekends off-road, off-grid or running amok at the track.
