Jaecoo J5 Review (2026): A Stylish Small SUV in Petrol or 402km EV Form

The Jaecoo J5 comes from Jaecoo, the more premium-leaning sister brand to Jaecoo's J7 and part of the Chery family. The J5 is its small SUV, and its trump card is choice: a keenly priced petrol or a surprisingly capable electric version in the same stylish package. Here is the data-led take.

How much is the Jaecoo J5?

Two petrol grades and one electric grade. All prices are before on-road costs.

The petrol J5 lands right among the value small SUVs like the MG ZS and Chery Tiggo 4, while the J5 EV at $36,990 is one of the cheaper ways into an electric SUV, and notably better specified on charging than its price suggests.

Petrol or electric?

The petrol J5 uses a 108kW/210Nm turbo engine and a CVT. It is no firecracker, but it is smooth enough for city and suburban duty, claims a reasonable 7.5L/100km, and its appeal is the low price and the styling. Towing is capped at 750kg, so it is not for trailer work.

The J5 EV is the more compelling car. Its single motor makes 155kW/288Nm, far more than the petrol, for a brisk-feeling drive, and it claims 402km of range. The standout is charging: DC fast charging peaks at a strong 130kW, so a 30-80% top-up takes only around 20-25 minutes, genuinely quick for an affordable EV and well ahead of some pricier rivals. It even tows 1,250kg, more than the petrol. If you can charge at home, the EV is the one to have.

Dimensions and practicality

At 4,380mm long on a 2,620mm wheelbase, the J5 is a typical small SUV, roomy enough for a couple or a small family and easy to park, with the EV's 10.8m turning circle making city work simple. The EV rides slightly taller with 200mm of ground clearance. Both share the same crisp, upright styling that gives the J5 a more premium look than most cars at this money, and the cabin follows suit with a large touchscreen and a clean, modern layout.

Running costs

The petrol at 7.5L/100km costs roughly $2,135 a year in fuel over 15,000km at $1.90/L. The J5 EV is far cheaper to run: home charging at around $0.30/kWh works out to roughly $700-$800 a year in electricity over the same distance, plus the minimal servicing an EV needs. Over a few years the EV's lower running costs help offset its higher purchase price, and the fast 130kW charging means less time tied to a public charger on longer trips.

Safety and ownership

At the time of writing, the Jaecoo J5 did not carry a confirmed ANCAP star rating in our data, so its independent crash-safety performance is yet to be established here. It launches with a suite of active-safety features including autonomous emergency braking, but if a 5-star rating is essential to you, confirm the current rating before buying. Ownership is covered by an 8-year warranty (to unlimited kilometres on the EV in our data), with EV servicing every 12 months or 10,000km. The Chery parent brand provides parts backing and scale, though resale is still establishing for the new badge.

How it compares

On the petrol side, the J5 is up against the value small-SUV heavyweights: the MG ZS (with its 10-year warranty and a hybrid option) and the Chery Tiggo 4 (its showroom cousin, even cheaper). The J5's edge is styling and the EV option. As an electric SUV, the J5 EV's 130kW charging and $36,990 price make it stand out against pricier rivals, though established names like the Hyundai Kona offer more dealer support. The big differentiator remains that one-stop choice of petrol or EV.

See where it ranks in our best small SUVs guide and, for the EV, the best electric cars under $50k.

The verdict

The Jaecoo J5 is a smart, stylish entry in the value small-SUV class, and the rare one that lets you pick petrol or electric without changing showrooms. The petrol is keenly priced and good-looking; the J5 EV is the more impressive car, with quick 130kW charging and 402km of range for $36,990 that genuinely punches above its price. The open question is the safety rating, which was not confirmed in our data when we published, so make that your first check. Get it confirmed, and the J5 EV in particular is one of the more tempting affordable electric SUVs of 2026.