Jaecoo J8 vs Kia EV5

The Jaecoo J8 starts from $49,990 before on-road costs, while the Kia EV5 opens at $49,770. That makes the Kia EV5 the more affordable entry point by $220.

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 $54,989 and $54,747 respectively.

The Kia EV5 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Jaecoo J8, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the Jaecoo J8 and Kia EV5 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Jaecoo J8 packs more ADAS features with 9 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the Kia EV5.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the Jaecoo J8 and 7 in the Kia EV5. The Jaecoo J8 adds a 360-degree camera that the Kia EV5 misses.

The Jaecoo J8 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Kia EV5 gets a 12.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Jaecoo J8 stands out with head-up display and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Kia EV5. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Jaecoo J8 lines up producing 165kW and 380Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.

The Kia EV5 counters with its electric setup making 160kW and 310Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.2 seconds.

The Jaecoo J8 has the clear power advantage at 165kW vs 160kW. In the real-world sprint, the Kia EV5 is 1.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Jaecoo J8 measures 4,820mm long on a 2,820mm wheelbase, 205mm longer than the Kia EV5 at 4,615mm (2,750mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Jaecoo J8 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 520L in the Jaecoo J8 and 460L in the Kia EV5, giving the Jaecoo J8 a 60L advantage.

For towing, the Jaecoo J8 leads with a 2,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 1,000kg 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 (Jaecoo J8) vs 7 years (Kia EV5). The Jaecoo J8 has longer coverage.