2026 Jaecoo J5 review: Australian first drive

The Jaecoo J5 BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), the smallest SUV yet from Chery’s 'semi-premium' Jaecoo arm, and the model tasked with broadening its appeal in a market already saturated with similar fare. This little SUV has a big task ahead of it.

In Jaecoo’s local hierarchy, the J5 sits below the larger J7 and above mainstream Chery offerings, though it shares more than a bit of DNA with the Chery C5. The fully electric SUV in a single top-shelf spec leads the J5 charge, and will set the foundation for mid-spec hybrid and entry-level petrol variants in March 2026.

The J5 is pitched as a well-equipped, sensibly-sized electric SUV with a strong focus on practicality and tech, while the marketing department has had a bit of fun with its supposed target demographic in creating a range of branded pet travel accessories and road-trip distractions.

Priced from $36,990 drive-away for early buyers, the Jaecoo J5 BEV enters Australia as a value-focused alternative to the BYD Atto 3, the MG S5 and the Kia EV3, and possibly pull some buyers away from the cheaper Atto 2, its own Chery siblings, and a growing crop of affordable EV SUVs eager to grab their share of the burgeoning market.

The single variant at launch, simply titled the J5 BEV, is comprehensively specified and aggressively priced. The first 1000 J5 BEVs sold in Australia will be priced at $36,990 drive-away: a figure that includes on-road costs and a $600 premium paint job.

Once the initial allocations are exhausted, the J5 BEV will be priced at $35,990 plus on-road costs, which still places it at the value end of the small electric SUV spectrum.

Standard equipment includes 18-inch 'aero-optimised' alloy wheels wrapped in Continental EcoContact 7 tyres, a panoramic glass roof with sunblind, heated and ventilated front seats, a power tailgate, eight-speaker infotainment system, and a 360-degree camera.

The only option is premium paint, a $600 cost over the standard Stone Grey hue in a conservative palette of Carbon Black, Arctic White and Stormy Blue, and a subwoofer (cost TBA) can boost the speaker count to nine.

Other optional pet-centric accessories include dog crates, cat carriers, boot protectors, cargo dividers, and even branded leashes and bowls, all surprisingly reasonable in price.

And to make the road trips fun, there’s an integrated karaoke system with two wireless microphones for the kids, or kids-at-heart. Just don’t be surprised if the journey suddenly feels twice as long for the poor driver.

Servicing intervals and costings have also been revealed and are again competitive: annual or 20,000km services swap between capped $155 and $225 visits, up until the eight-year unlimited kilometre warranty mark. The battery itself also offers eight years of reassurance. Roadside assist is also offered for the first year, and can be extended up to eight years.

Space is generous for a small SUV, thanks in part to its EV platform. Built on the same skeleton as the Tiggo 4 and the Chery C5 (which launched in Australia as the Omoda C5 before it was rebranded), the versatile backbone supports a frame measuring 4380mm long, 1860mm wide and 1650mm high; on par with the current crop of small SUVs.

Visually, the J5 goes for a clean, lightly rugged look that still screams electric with its square, front face with ducted grilles, aero-friendly rims and large glasshouse. While some have dubbed it the baby Land Rover, it certainly has more curves than the nickname suggests, and achieves a relatively slippery drag coefficient of 0.30 to save watts (where the former has the slip of a thrown brick).

The J5’s interior prioritises space and storage, following the exterior's minimalist design. A large vertical 13.2-inch touch screen dominates the centre dash, flanked by an 8.9-inch digital instrument display for the driving-related data.

The J5 leans heavily on its touchscreen, with almost no physical buttons to be seen in the cabin. This may keep the cabin's aesthetic clean but is potentially frustrating for drivers who prefer one-touch access, especially for functions like fan speed which requires a swipe - and really shouldn't.

Both front and rear passengers enjoy ample legroom, although under-thigh support and toe room are limited in the second row. The front seats are more supportive, with effective heating and ventilation, however again, the controls are somewhat buried in the touchscreen menu.

The panoramic roof is sizeable at 1.45m, and brightens the cabin without compromising headroom, while an electronic perforated sun blind provides relief from heat and glare while still letting light in.

The J5 layout emphasises clarity and usability over novelty, though the latter is certainly present in the aforementioned pet and child (or big child) accessory range. Silicone-covered synthetic upholstery dubbed 'Super EcoClean Skin' covers most exposed surfaces, and claims to do a better job of resisting both stains and odours; a smart choice for the light-coloured interior, which is the only option for the first 1000 vehicles to land here. A dark interior can be optioned after the initial thousand are sold.

The boot offers a competitive volume of 384 litres up to the cargo cover or 480 litres full to the roof, expanding further to 1180 litres with the rear seats folded. While there is an anchor for a spare tyre, a can of goo, and a pump is the standard roadside saviour. A 35-litre frunk and a total of 26 cubbies, nooks and hooks add further versatility, though counted in that number is the under-floor of the boot, which is bare metal.

Connectivity is both wireless and wired for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, and a 50W wireless phone charger keeps the juice flowing. One USB-C port for fast charging and one for charging and data sit adjacent, while the rear passengers get a USB-A port to share.

Bluetooth, digital radio, built-in navigation and voice control are all included, but again, the lack of tactile controls for quick access may cause frustration.

Overseas, the Jaecoo Omoda app enables remote locking, vehicle and battery monitoring and climate controls to cool down or heat up the vehicle while you pay for your latte; no word yet on if or when it could be available for Aussie buyers.

The J5 has not yet undergone ANCAP testing, though Jaecoo Australia professed to expect a five-star rating. If and when an ANCAP rating is published by our local crash test authorities, you can be sure to read about it on Drive.

The J5 comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of active safety systems as standard. Collision warnings and prevention run front and back, linked to autonomous braking, while multiple layers of lane assistance, including departure warnings, active prevention and emergency intervention, help keep the car on the straight and narrow.

Highway driving is supported by adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist; blind-spot detection and lane-change assist monitor adjacent lanes, while the rear of the vehicle is protected by collision warnings, cross-traffic alerts and automatic braking when reversing.

Additional features focus on day-to-day safety and awareness, with a quality 360-degree camera and door opening warnings on both the first and second row through LED lighting worked into the door card. Speed limit recognition is paired with active speed assistance, and a driver monitoring system keeps an eye on fatigue or distraction.

Overall, it is a well-rounded and modern safety package that aligns with the high spec level offered in the BEV, and with the current expectations of the EV market.

Jaecoo claims energy consumption of 14.3kWh/100km, a competitive figure for the class without chasing unrealistic lab numbers. Paired with a 58.9kW battery, this delivers a claimed WLTP driving range of 402km.

Our test drive was short and sweet, but the range depletion when lined up to the drive distance was a close match to the claim, even with energy set to its lowest level of regeneration to keep the drive smooth.

DC fast charging is supported at up to 130kW, with a 30 to 80 per cent recharge taking a claimed 28 minutes. AC charging tops out at 6.6kW on single phase or 10.3kW on three-phase, making overnight home charging a plausible if not speedy option.

Dynamic thrills are off the agenda in the J5; comfort and competence take priority here.

Power comes from a single front-mounted electric motor producing 155kW and 288Nm, driving the front wheels only. Jaecoo claims a zero to 100km/h time of 7.7 seconds, which feels believable rather than optimistic.

Performance is modest rather than brisk, reinforcing that this is a vehicle best suited to relaxed, efficient around-town A-to-B and lazy country escapades.

It rides comfortably, and is well mannered and quiet at highway speeds. Vision is excellent thanks to the giant glasshouse, higher seating position and boxy bonnet. The steering is falsely light but at least consistent, and you do indeed get used to it.

Not so easy to get used to is the energy recovery system for the battery. The braking energy recuperation is not the issue here; Jaecoo even counters the usual EV criticism of a dull or remote brake pedal with an optional menu setting allowing for more pedal feel.

It's the energy harvesting as the throttle is wound back that is difficult to modulate smoothly, particularly on its highest energy recovery setting. It is very much all or nothing as the throttle is let out and the energy recovery kicks in, resulting in a noticeable, delayed deceleration. Driving in the lightest energy recovery mode is certainly the most comfortable and predictable.

If you’re shopping with head over heart in the electric market, and want to remain light on the wallet, the 2026 Jaecoo J5 BEV makes a strong case for itself. It isn’t designed to excite, but it delivers where it matters most for many in an everyday EV: space, equipment, efficiency, and value.

With the reassurance of an eight-year warranty, plus the same on the battery, it’s a viable alternative for those who would typically default to established Japanese or Korean brands but are open to getting more for less. If Jaecoo can back the pricing with its claim to be building its dealer support network, and the expected strong ANCAP result, the J5 BEV could prove difficult to ignore.

For buyers who can’t easily charge at home but still want to significantly cut fuel costs, the upcoming hybrid or even the straight ICE turbo petrol may be the go, however, Jaecoo may again only offer the one specification in each, suggesting the base car would get the essentials, and the hybrid gets a mid-spec fitment of goodies. For now, we can only speculate, though the full details will be confirmed in March 2026 when the two drivetrains join the J5 lineup.

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.

Read more about Samantha Stevens