Jaecoo J7 SHS vs Subaru Forester

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

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 $47,839 respectively.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Subaru Forester, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Jaecoo J7 SHS by roughly $11,020 in fuel alone.

Both the Jaecoo J7 SHS and Subaru Forester hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 81% for the Jaecoo J7 SHS and 83% for the Subaru Forester.

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 4 in the Subaru Forester.

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 9 in the Subaru Forester. The Jaecoo J7 SHS adds a 360-degree camera that the Subaru Forester misses.

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS features a 13.2-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS stands out with wireless charging that you will not find on the Subaru Forester. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Jaecoo J7 SHS gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS uses a Plug-in Hybrid producing 255kW and 525Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.5 seconds.

The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 11.2 seconds.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS has the clear power advantage at 255kW vs 136kW. In the real-world sprint, the Jaecoo J7 SHS is 1.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS measures 4,500mm long on a 2,672mm wheelbase, 155mm shorter than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Jaecoo J7 SHS generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 340L in the Jaecoo J7 SHS and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Subaru Forester a 156L advantage.

For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 1,050kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $48/year for the Jaecoo J7 SHS and $2,252/year for the Subaru Forester. That is a $2,204 annual difference in favour of the Jaecoo J7 SHS.

Estimated annual total: $48 (Jaecoo J7 SHS) vs $2,252 (Subaru Forester). The Jaecoo J7 SHS saves you roughly $2,204 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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