Subaru Forester vs Jaecoo J7 SHS

The Subaru Forester starts from $43,490 before on-road costs, while the Jaecoo J7 SHS opens at $43,990. 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 $47,839 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 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 Subaru Forester and Jaecoo J7 SHS hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 83% for the Subaru Forester and 81% for the Jaecoo J7 SHS.

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 9 in the Subaru Forester and 8 in the Jaecoo J7 SHS. 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 Subaru Forester features a 11.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch digital dash, while the Jaecoo J7 SHS gets a 13.2-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

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

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

The Subaru Forester uses a Petrol producing 136kW and 247Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 11.2 seconds.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS responds with a Plug-in Hybrid making 255kW and 525Nm, 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 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 Subaru Forester measures 4,655mm long on a 2,670mm wheelbase, 155mm longer 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 496L in the Subaru Forester and 340L in the Jaecoo J7 SHS, 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 $2,252/year for the Subaru Forester and $48/year for the Jaecoo J7 SHS. That is a $2,204 annual difference in favour of the Jaecoo J7 SHS.

Estimated annual total: $2,252 (Subaru Forester) vs $48 (Jaecoo J7 SHS). 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: 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Forester) vs 8 years / 999,999km (Jaecoo J7 SHS). The Jaecoo J7 SHS has longer coverage.