The Jaecoo J8 might be larger than a Kia Sorento, but despite a swag of standard equipment and a sharp sticker price, it’s missing one thing: a third row of seating.

    The Chinese brand’s large SUV shapes as more of a rival on paper, therefore to the likes of the Mazda CX-60 and CX-70 and the Subaru Outback in a medium-to-large SUV segment once occupied by other five-seat models like the Ford Endura, Nissan Murano and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

    With a base price of $49,990 drive-away, however, it’s priced up against mid-spec grades of mid-size SUVs like the top-selling Toyota RAV4.

    The J8 goes on sale in June, with test drives available at Jaecoo dealerships from midway through this month.

    The large SUV is available with six-seat and seven-seat configurations overseas, with the former featuring second-row captain’s chairs. However, Jaecoo Australia has confirmed there are no plans at this stage to offer these layouts locally.

    It’s also available elsewhere with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.

    Unusually, sister brand Chery has confirmed it’ll launch the Tiggo 9 – of which the J8 is a rebadged version – here later this year. It has yet to confirm local specifications.

    Pricing

    ModelDrive-away pricing
    2025 Jaecoo J8 Track 2WD$49,990
    2025 Jaecoo J8 Ridge AWD$54,990

    Drivetrains and Efficiency

    There’s just one engine available in the local J8 lineup.

    SpecificationsJ8 Track 2WDJ8 Ridge AWD
    Engine2.0L turbo-petrol 4cyl2.0L turbo-petrol 4cyl
    Power183kW183kW
    Torque385Nm385Nm
    Transmission8-speed auto8-speed auto
    Drive typeFront-wheel driveAll-wheel drive
    Fuel economy (claimed)8.3L/100km8.6L/100km

    Dimensions

    DimensionsJaecoo J8
    Length4820mm
    Width1930mm
    Height1710mm
    Wheelbase2672mm

    Servicing and Warranty

    The Jaecoo J8 is backed by an eight-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

    It includes 12 months of complimentary roadside assistance, which can be extended for a further seven years by servicing within the Jaecoo network.

    Service pricing has yet to be announced.

    Safety

    The Jaecoo J8 has yet to be tested by ANCAP.

    Both variants come standard with the following equipment:

    • Adaptive cruise control
    • Autonomous emergency braking
    • Blind-spot monitoring
    • Driver attention monitoring
    • Lane-keep assist
    • Emergency lane-keep assist
    • Surround-view camera
    • Tyre pressure monitoring
    • 8 airbags

    The Ridge AWD also includes second-row side airbags, bringing the tally to 10.

    Standard Equipment

    The J8 is available in just two variants.

    The Track 2WD comes standard with the following equipment:

    • 20-inch alloy wheels
    • Full-size spare
    • Projector LED headlights
    • Power tailgate
    • Head-up display
    • 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
    • 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
    • Satellite navigation
    • Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
    • Voice assistant
    • 14-speaker sound system
    • Leatherette upholstery
    • Heated and ventilated front seats
    • Massaging front seats
    • LED interior lighting
    • Second-row air-conditioning controls

    The Ridge AWD adds:

    • Semi-autonomous parking assist
    • Snow, Mud, Sand and Off-road drive modes
    • Adaptive suspension
    • Rear privacy glass
    • Heated and ventilated second-row seats
    • Colour-adjustable ambient lighting (first and second rows)
    • In-built fragrance system
    • Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
    • Black suede headliner

    Colours

    Ocean Blue is the standard exterior finish, with the following available at an extra cost:

    • Carbon Black
    • Arctic White
    • Iridium Silver

    MORE: Everything Jaecoo J8

    William Stopford

    William Stopford is an automotive journalist based in Brisbane, Australia. William is a Business/Journalism graduate from the Queensland University of Technology who loves to travel, briefly lived in the US, and has a particular interest in the American car industry.

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