Jaecoo J7 SHS vs Hyundai Kona Electric

The Jaecoo J7 SHS starts from $43,990 before on-road costs, while the Hyundai Kona Electric opens at $40,500. That makes the Hyundai Kona Electric the more affordable entry point by $3,490.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $48,389 and $44,550 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

Both the Jaecoo J7 SHS and Hyundai Kona Electric hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 81% for the Jaecoo J7 SHS and 80% for the Hyundai Kona Electric.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Jaecoo J7 SHS packs more ADAS features with 9 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 5 in the Hyundai Kona Electric.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the Jaecoo J7 SHS and 7 in the Hyundai Kona Electric. The Jaecoo J7 SHS adds a 360-degree camera that the Hyundai Kona Electric misses.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS features a 13.2-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Hyundai Kona Electric gets a 12.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Hyundai Kona Electric counters with heated front seats that the Jaecoo J7 SHS does not offer. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS uses a Plug-in Hybrid producing 145kW and 325Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.5 seconds.

The Hyundai Kona Electric responds with a Electric making 99kW and 255Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.9 seconds.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS has the clear power advantage at 145kW vs 99kW. In the real-world sprint, the Jaecoo J7 SHS is 0.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 18.3kWh (Jaecoo J7 SHS) vs 48.4kWh (Hyundai Kona Electric).

The Jaecoo J7 SHS measures 4,500mm long on a 2,672mm wheelbase, 150mm longer than the Hyundai Kona Electric at 4,350mm (2,660mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Jaecoo J7 SHS generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 431L in the Jaecoo J7 SHS and 361L in the Hyundai Kona Electric, giving the Jaecoo J7 SHS a 70L advantage.

For towing, the Jaecoo J7 SHS leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 1,300kg. That 700kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 8 years / 999,999km (Jaecoo J7 SHS) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Hyundai Kona Electric). The Jaecoo J7 SHS has longer coverage.