Renault Symbioz vs Jaecoo J7 SHS

The Renault Symbioz starts from $44,990 before on-road costs, while the Jaecoo J7 SHS opens at $43,990. That makes the Jaecoo J7 SHS the more affordable entry point by $1,000.

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 $49,489 and $48,389 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 Renault Symbioz, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Jaecoo J7 SHS by roughly $6,265 in fuel alone.

Both the Renault Symbioz and Jaecoo J7 SHS hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

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 3 in the Renault Symbioz.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control. The Jaecoo J7 SHS adds a 360-degree camera that the Renault Symbioz misses.

The Renault Symbioz features a 10.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Jaecoo J7 SHS gets a 13.2-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS counters with wireless charging that the Renault Symbioz does not offer. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Renault Symbioz uses a Inline 4 producing 70kW and 149Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.6 seconds.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS responds with a Plug-in Hybrid making 145kW and 325Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.5 seconds.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS has the clear power advantage at 145kW vs 70kW. In the real-world sprint, the Jaecoo J7 SHS is 1.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Renault Symbioz measures 4,413mm long on a 2,638mm wheelbase, 87mm shorter than the Jaecoo J7 SHS at 4,500mm (2,672mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Jaecoo J7 SHS generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 434L in the Renault Symbioz and 431L in the Jaecoo J7 SHS, giving the Renault Symbioz a 3L advantage.

For towing, the Jaecoo J7 SHS leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 1,250kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,311/year for the Renault Symbioz and $58/year for the Jaecoo J7 SHS. That is a $1,253 annual difference in favour of the Jaecoo J7 SHS.

Estimated annual total: $1,311 (Renault Symbioz) vs $58 (Jaecoo J7 SHS). The Jaecoo J7 SHS saves you roughly $1,253 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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