2026 Jaecoo J7 PHEV: New AWD Trim Delivers 349 hp and a 260 kW Combined Output

Jaecoo, Chery's rugged-styled SUV sub-brand, has expanded its mid-size J7 plug-in hybrid lineup with a long-requested all-wheel-drive option. Previously offered only as a front-wheel-drive "SHS-P" plug-in hybrid, the J7 PHEV now adds a second, rear-mounted electric motor for markets like Australia, lifting combined output from 205 kW (275 hp) to 260 kW (349 hp). The car keeps its 18.4 kWh LFP battery, floor-mounted for a lower center of gravity, and Jaecoo still quotes up to 1,200 km of combined range from a full battery and a full 60-liter tank. Pricing starts at $28,480 for the entry FWD Track grade and climbs to roughly $34,180 for the new Summit AWD flagship. The J7 PHEV targets value-focused family buyers cross-shopping mid-size hybrid SUVs who want plug-in flexibility without committing to a full EV.

Performance & Specs

The J7 PHEV uses Jaecoo's "SHS-P" Super Hybrid System: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a dedicated hybrid transmission and a 150 kW (204 PS / 201 hp) front electric motor. On the standard front-wheel-drive Track and Summit grades, the engine contributes 105 kW (143 PS / 141 hp) and 215 Nm, for a Jaecoo-quoted combined system output of 205 kW (279 PS / 275 hp) and 365 Nm. The new Summit AWD grade adds a second, 113 kW (154 PS / 152 hp) electric motor driving the rear axle exclusively, lifting the combined system total to 260 kW (354 PS / 349 hp) and 490 Nm. Jaecoo's UK arm officially quotes 8.5 seconds for the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint on the FWD car and a 112 mph (180 km/h) top speed; the brand has not yet published a separate 0-100 km/h figure for the heavier AWD version. An intelligent all-wheel-drive controller continuously shifts torque between the axles for the AWD car, aimed at wet-road and light off-road traction rather than outright performance.

Powertrain	1.5T SHS-P plug-in hybrid, AWD
Power	260 kW (354 PS / 349 hp)
Torque	490 Nm combined
0–100 km/h	Not yet officially published
Battery	18.4 kWh LFP
Range	80 km EV (NEDC) / up to 1,200 km combined

POWERTRAIN TYPE	Plug-in hybrid (SHS-P)
HORSEPOWER	275 hp (FWD) / 349 hp (AWD)
ACCELERATION	8.5s 0-100 km/h (FWD, official); AWD not yet published
TOP SPEED	180 km/h (112 mph, FWD)
DRIVETRAIN	FWD (Track, Summit) or AWD (Summit AWD)
BATTERY	18.4 kWh LFP
ELECTRIC RANGE	100 km NEDC (90 km / 56 mi WLTP, FWD); 80 km NEDC (AWD)
COMBINED RANGE	Up to 1,200 km

Dimensions & Practicality

Length	4,500 mm
Width	1,865 mm
Height	1,670 mm
Wheelbase	2,672 mm
Ground clearance	174 mm

At 4,500 mm long and riding a 2,672 mm wheelbase, the J7 PHEV sits in the compact-to-mid-size crossover class, close in footprint to the BYD Sealion 6 and a size below full-size PHEV SUVs like the BYD Tang. Cabin space is generous for the segment thanks to the long wheelbase, and the floor-mounted battery pack keeps the load floor largely flat. Boot capacity is rated at 500 liters to the roofline (340 liters to the cargo cover) with the rear seats up, expanding to 1,265 liters with the second row folded — usable but not class-leading, since the battery and hybrid hardware eat into space versus a pure-ICE Jaecoo 7. There is no front trunk; the engine bay is occupied by the 1.5T motor and its ancillaries. A panoramic sunroof and power tailgate are standard equipment across the range.

LENGTH	4,500 mm
WIDTH	1,865 mm
HEIGHT	1,670 mm
WHEELBASE	2,672 mm
CARGO VOLUME	500 L (1,265 L seats folded)
FRUNK	None

Charging & Battery

The J7 PHEV's 18.4 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery is mounted under the floor and shared across every grade, regardless of whether the car is FWD or AWD. AC charging tops out at 6.6 kW through the Type 2 port, while DC fast charging peaks at 40 kW and takes the pack from 30% to 80% in roughly 20 minutes — modest by BEV standards, but enough for a quick top-up during a shopping stop for most owners who primarily charge at home overnight. The plug-in hybrid also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) output in some markets, letting the car power external devices from its battery. Because the AWD version adds a second motor and roughly 50 kg of extra hardware, its EV-only range drops from 100 km (NEDC) on the FWD car to 80 km (NEDC), even though the battery itself is unchanged.

BATTERY	18.4 kWh LFP, floor-mounted
AC CHARGING	6.6 kW
DC FAST CHARGING	Up to 40 kW
DC 10-80% TIME	~20 min (30-80%)

Design & Interior

The J7 PHEV wears Jaecoo's rugged, chrome-slatted vertical grille flanked by slim LED headlights, a design language shared with the brand's smaller J5 and larger J7's off-road-styled sibling, the J8. Plastic wheel-arch cladding, roof rails and a two-tone roof reinforce the outdoorsy positioning despite the car being a road-biased crossover rather than a true off-roader. Full-width LED taillights and a "J7 SHS-P" badge across the tailgate mark the plug-in hybrid apart from the standard petrol J7. Inside, the cabin pairs a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with a large central touchscreen — 13.2 inches on Track, growing to 14.8 inches on Summit — both angled toward the driver. Summit trim adds two-tone leather-look upholstery in tan or black, heated and ventilated front seats, ambient lighting strips along the dash and doors, and a column-mounted electronic gear selector that frees up console space for a wireless phone charger and deep central storage. Build quality and soft-touch materials are competitive for the price bracket, if not quite matching pricier European-brand rivals.

Technology & Features

Summit-grade cars get a 14.8-inch central touchscreen running Jaecoo's own infotainment software with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paired with a head-up display and an 8-speaker Sony sound system; Track grade makes do with a smaller 13.2-inch screen and no HUD. A 50 W wireless phone charging pad, dual-zone climate control and OTA software update capability are shared across the lineup. The instrument cluster and infotainment screen are digitally linked, letting drivers move navigation and media widgets between the two displays. Voice control handles climate, navigation and media commands in supported markets, and the panoramic sunroof and column shifter free up cabin storage versus a conventional transmission tunnel.

Safety & ADAS

The J7 platform earned a 5-star Euro NCAP rating and a matching 5-star ANCAP score in 2025, both assessed under the same testing protocol. Standard driver-assist hardware includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane centering assist, blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree around-view camera system, backed by eight airbags. The AWD Summit grade's added rear motor and torque-vectoring controller are also framed by Jaecoo as a wet-weather and light-off-road traction safety net rather than a performance upgrade, continuously shifting drive between the axles as grip conditions change.

ADAS LEVEL	L2 driver assistance
ADAS FEATURES	AEB, ACC, lane centering, blind-spot monitor, 360° camera, 8 airbags

Available Versions

VERSION	POWER	TORQUE	0-100	TOP SPEED	DRIVETRAIN	BATTERY	EV RANGE	COMBINED RANGE	PRICE	KEY DIFFERENCES
Track	275 hp	365 Nm	8.5s	180 km/h	FWD	18.4 kWh	100 km	1,200 km	$28,480	Entry grade; 13.2in touchscreen, no HUD, cloth/leather-look seats
Summit	275 hp	365 Nm	8.5s	180 km/h	FWD	18.4 kWh	100 km	1,200 km	$32,040	14.8in touchscreen, HUD, Sony 8-speaker audio, heated/ventilated seats
Summit AWD	349 hp	490 Nm	Not yet published	Not yet published	AWD	18.4 kWh	80 km	~1,200 km	$34,180	Adds rear motor for AWD and 260 kW combined output; shorter EV-only range

Pricing & Availability

Prices above are converted from Australian drive-away pricing (Track 2WD from AUD $39,990, Summit 2WD from AUD $44,990, and the new Summit AWD from AUD $47,990, all drive-away) at prevailing September 2026 exchange rates; drive-away pricing already includes registration and on-road costs, so actual list prices before local fees will read lower. Jaecoo Australia labels this AWD-equipped update the "MY27" lineup, using the brand's forward-dated model-year convention, though the cars are on sale now, in September 2026. The J7 SHS-P plug-in hybrid first reached Jaecoo's export markets in 2024-2025 as a front-wheel-drive-only model; the AWD Summit grade is the first drivetrain expansion since then, revealed for Australia on September 1, 2026, with 8 years/unlimited-kilometer coverage on the vehicle and its high-voltage battery. Israel added the J7 PHEV in 2026 through Capital Motors, with FWD grades priced from ₪179,990 to ₪202,990 (about $59,600–$67,215) — well above the Australian sticker price, reflecting Israel's high vehicle purchase tax rather than a different specification; the AWD Summit grade is not yet listed for the Israeli market.

How It Compares

At its $28,480 starting price, the Jaecoo J7 PHEV undercuts the BYD Sealion 6 slightly while offering considerably more power (275 hp versus 200 hp) for buyers who stick with the base FWD grade, and both cars promise long combined ranges once the engine kicks in. Step up roughly $13,000 to cars like the BYD Tang DM-i or Lynk & Co 08 EM-P and power jumps to 456-593 hp with bigger batteries and more interior space, but at nearly 50% more money than the J7's entry price — those are the moves to make if outright performance and cabin size matter more than sticker price. The new J7 Summit AWD, at $34,180, sits between these two tiers: its 349 hp beats the Sealion 6 comfortably while staying well under the Tang DM-i and Lynk 08's price, making the case that AWD traction is now available without jumping to the next price bracket entirely.