Jaecoo 8 SHS: the plug-in hybrid SUV that, with 428 CV and more than 130 km of electric range, wants to change the rules of the game

The Jaecoo 8 SHS arrives in Spain as the flagship of the Chinese brand belonging to the Chery group, which also has other brands in its line-up that you will surely already know, such as Omoda and Lepas. Not forgetting Ebro, which operates through an alliance with the Chinese automotive giant (40% owned by Chery and 60% by the Spanish company EV Motors). Why do I stress this point? Because the main rivals the new Jaecoo 8 SHS competes against have a lot in common with it in terms of technology: the Omoda 9 SHS and the Ebro S900 PHEV.

There are, however, many alternatives among large plug-in hybrid SUVs if we apply a filter between 4.75 and 4.85 metres. To highlight a few, note: Hyundai Santa Fe, Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV… Although not as large, we could also consider alternatives to the Jaecoo 8 here, some for power, others for price, models such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC e4MATIC, the Audi Q5 e-hybrid, the Volvo XC60 T6, the Range Rover Velar…

A large, family SUV… and aspirational

As you can see, the segment is “stirred up”. And the Jaecoo 8 arrives to stir the hen house even more. These are its main figures:

• SUV of 4.82 metres, with five or seven seats
• SHS PHEV system with petrol engine and three electric motors
• System power of 315 kW (428 CV)
• All-wheel drive
• Up to 134 km of electric range
• More than 1,000 km of total range

Apart from its “first cousins”, and until we know the final price, none of its rivals matches its combination of power, electric range and, very likely – it is not yet known how the range will shape up – value for money in terms of equipment against price. Within the Jaecoo range, by size and price, the Jaecoo 8 sits above the Jaecoo 7, which has already placed its PHEV version among the best-selling in its category in 2025. Its 4.82 m length, 1.93 m width, 1.71 m height and 2.82 m wheelbase place the Jaecoo 8 at the top of the segment by size… and, as we will see, also by interior space.

Design: “adventurous” luxury outside, first class inside

The Jaecoo 8 SHS debuts an evolution of the brand’s design language, combining – in my view – a robust “adventure” aesthetic very well with a premium approach. The front is dominated by a huge grille with vertical chrome slats, framed by a full LED lighting system with all kinds of functions and animations, reinforcing its light signature. The truth is that it makes an impression.

In profile, the very clean and fluid lines stand out, along with the flush door handles and 20-inch alloy wheels, while the roof rails integrate discreetly to maintain a refined image without sacrificing functionality. The rear keeps the same technological approach, with LED lights joined by a continuous light signature, dynamic indicators and an electrically operated tailgate. Overall, despite exceeding 4.8 metres, the impression is of a slightly more compact car.

The available colour palette includes shades such as Aura White, Artemis Grey, Matt Grey, Crystal Black or Iridium Silver, with two-tone combinations in which, for the first two colours, the roof can be specified in black.

Inside, the Jaecoo 8 SHS aims for a clear first impression: “first class”. And it achieves it, not only through its technological and comfort equipment, but also through the design, presence and feel of the materials. The dashboard is dominated by a curved 12.3-inch dual panoramic display for the instrumentation and multimedia equipment, in the style of the “Digital Stage” from Audi, thus differing from the configuration with a large independent screen for the multimedia system used by the Jaecoo 7 or the Ebro in the S900. This layout does not allow the multimedia screen to be as large as when it is mounted independently. But here we could turn the saying around and apply “size doesn’t matter”. Above all because at 12.3 inches one already has more than enough, and a smaller screen with high definition and fluid menus is better than a “huge screen” where navigating the menus is a chore.

What this panoramic screen configuration does offer is a little more freedom when designing a dashboard with some personality. Jaecoo combines contrasting materials across several layers, with textures imitating natural wood, a roof with a suede-like finish, door panels with a soft-touch 3D mesh and an eco-friendly character… Of course, there is also configurable ambient lighting, courtesy lights in all three rows of seats, the option of a black or brown upholstery – the latter only in the seven-seat version – and countless details that complete a very carefully crafted atmosphere.

Interior space, comfort and boot: designed for long journeys… with everything

The T2X platform and its great width allow one of the most spacious cabins in the segment, both in the five-seat and seven-seat configurations, and a large-capacity boot that reinforces its family focus. The front seats are impressive, feel genuinely comfortable and have a clearly premium look, with a multi-layer structure and upholstery with double-density foam. They feature electric adjustment, heating and massage. In the second row passengers are equally well looked after: three adults can travel in full comfort. The backrests recline, the seats have heating and ventilation, there are privacy sunshades, several storage compartments and USB sockets… In the seven-seat configuration the third row also reclines, with headrests adjustable in two directions.

Access can be keyless or by NFC card, the doors open at a wide angle, and the dual-zone automatic climate control, with multiple outlets, is combined with excellent sound insulation (laminated glass and active noise cancellation system) that turns the cabin into a sort of rolling lounge.

Cargo volume is, without doubt, another of its strong points: you have 738 litres available for luggage in the five-seat configuration, with the possibility of exceeding 2,000 litres by folding down the seatbacks (split 60/40 in the second row, and two individual 50/50 seats in the third), or 200 litres when all seven seats are in use. These figures place the Jaecoo 8 among the references of its class.

Technology: dual screen, augmented reality and Sony audio

In the technology section, the Jaecoo 8 SHS relies on an electronic architecture based on the renowned Qualcomm 8155 processor, with an 8-core CPU and a computing capacity of 8 TOPS (8 trillion operations per second). Perhaps these figures don’t tell you much, but the brand doesn’t provide them just to show off: the translation is that the system boots in about 2 seconds and has a genuinely fluid response. As we said before: when it comes to screens, as in other aspects of life, quality is often better than quantity. On this basis, Jaecoo claims to have developed its own software to offer an intuitive experience, with logical menus and grouped functions to minimise distractions. We will soon test it thoroughly.

From the central screen you control the multimedia system, navigation, driving assistants, climate control, ambient lighting or the spectacular panoramic camera, which offers a 540° view. Connectivity includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4G WiFi hotspot, several USB/USB-C sockets in all three rows, a 50 W wireless charger, OTA updates and the corresponding mobile app that allows remote management of vehicle functions.

One of the Jaecoo 8’s differentiating elements is the Head-Up Display with augmented reality, which projects an image equivalent to 50 inches at 7.5 metres ahead, showing speed, navigation, distance to the vehicle in front, lane information or traffic signs, with guidance by floating arrows. Natural-language voice control allows you to operate navigation, climate control, the panoramic roof, windows or infotainment functions, among others.

For the more emotional side, the Jaecoo 8 SHS comes as standard with a Sony-signed sound system with 14 speakers, including two in the front headrests. It offers several operating modes, one of which is designed so that calls and navigation prompts sound only in the driver’s headrest without interrupting the music for the rest of the occupants.

SHS plug-in hybrid system: 428 CV, 134 electric km and more than 1,000 km without refuelling

The heart of the Jaecoo 8 SHS is the SHS (Super Hybrid System) plug-in hybrid propulsion system, which on paper offers high performance, very high efficiency and electric range above the average.

• High-efficiency turbo petrol engine: The base is a proven 1.5 TGDI four-cylinder petrol engine – now in its fifth generation – developed specifically to work in hybrid systems, featuring Miller cycle, intelligent HEC combustion, advanced thermal management, supercharging and an intelligent lubrication system, among other technologies. All this allows it to reach a thermal efficiency of 44.5%, one of the highest figures on the market. It weighs just 106 kg.
• Triple electric motor and 3DHT transmission: This engine is combined with three electric motors – two integrated in the front transmission and one on the rear axle – powered by a 34.5 kWh CATL battery, a capacity greater than is usual in today’s PHEVs. The 3DHT transmission, also specific to hybrid vehicles, integrates the two front motors (with a power of 90 kW/220 Nm and 75 kW/170 Nm), three gears and three clutches, with an efficiency of almost 98%, according to Jaecoo.

In practice, the Jaecoo 8 SHS can operate as a pure electric, series hybrid, parallel hybrid or in energy recovery phases, with 9 operating modes and 11 combined ratios that are managed automatically depending on the battery charge and the driver’s demands.

It sounds complex, but the driver can focus just on the essentials: the steering wheel and the pedals. In the city or in stop-and-go traffic the system prioritises electric mode with a single motor; when power is needed, for example when overtaking, it combines the combustion and electric engines in parallel; in hard acceleration it uses both electric motors; and on the motorway it can run with the combustion engine connected directly to the wheels, supported by the electric motors when necessary. When braking, only one of the electric motors integrated in the transmission works as a generator to recover energy at low speed, while for hard braking the dual-motor regeneration comes into action.

All-electric traction and fast charging for the battery

The rear electric motor, with 175 kW (238 CV) and 310 Nm, comes into play both in strong acceleration at low speed and in some of the driving modes (Sand, Snow or Off-road), allowing the Jaecoo 8 SHS to have “on-demand” all-wheel drive. The intelligent electronic management distributes torque independently between the rear wheels, which should help both in low-grip scenarios and when increasing agility through corners. We will check this as soon as we have the chance to drive it.

The battery chemistry is lithium iron phosphate enriched with manganese to increase voltage and available energy, while maintaining safety and stability. Its energy density is 152 Wh/kg. It accepts AC charging at a maximum power of up to 7 kW. And, increasingly common in plug-in hybrids with batteries of already significant capacity, DC charging up to 70 kW, with an estimated time of 20–25 minutes to go from 30 to 80%. There is also V2L functionality, here reaching up to 6.6 kW of power, to power external devices.

Performance, consumption and ranges

The combined maximum power is 315 kW (428 CV) and peak torque reaches 580 Nm. With these figures, the Jaecoo 8 SHS achieves 0–100 km/h in 5.8 seconds, with excellent in-gear response – it goes from 90 to 120 km/h in 3.6 s – and its top speed is limited to 180 km/h. We will have to see how it feels on the road, as we have already experienced with other Chery PHEV models that the announced system power figure is somewhat optimistic. In any case, it does not seem that horsepower will be lacking.

Thanks to the 70-litre fuel tank and the 134 km of electric range, the Jaecoo 8 SHS is homologated for a total range exceeding 1,000 km. The combined WLTP consumption is just 2.1 l/100 km, but you surely know it is under “laboratory” conditions. A simple calculation reveals the real consumption we would have to cover those advertised 1,000 km, once the 134 electric km (which also rarely hold up) are deducted: between 7.5 and 8 l/100 km on average with the battery depleted, which is not bad at all. Bear in mind we are talking about an SUV of more than 2.3 tonnes with sports-car acceleration.

Dynamics and driving modes: comfort, efficiency and a certain off-road vocation

Another feature that should largely define the dynamic qualities of the Jaecoo 8 SHS is the standard electromagnetic CDC suspension, capable of adjusting the damper settings in milliseconds depending on road conditions and driving style. According to Jaecoo, this system reduces pitching under braking and acceleration by up to 46%, body roll in corners by 26.5%, and improves unsprung mass absorption on uneven surfaces by 33%, with three adjustment modes (comfort, standard and sport).

The driver can choose between six driving modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Sand, Snow and Off-road, which adapt power delivery, all-wheel-drive management and suspension response, orienting the car towards efficiency, dynamism or traction in low-grip situations.

The protected battery position, the underbody and side protection and the 540° camera with “transparent” view help tackle tracks and moderate obstacles with some peace of mind, with a fording capacity of up to 600 mm, a very respectable figure for an SUV that is far more luxurious than adventurous in its approach.

Safety and assistants: 20 ADAS as standard

In passive safety, besides the high-strength structure of the platform, the protection approach applied by Jaecoo to the battery stands out: it is housed in the centre of the structure and has a three-layer armour capable of withstanding up to 10 tonnes, electronic protection and automatic disconnection within 2 milliseconds after a collision.

In active safety, the ADAS equipment, as is the norm in all the new Chinese cars arriving on our market, is especially complete as standard. There are up to 20 assistants, including, among others, advanced autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist recognition, front and rear collision warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, integrated cruise assistant, lane departure warning and prevention, emergency lane keeping, intelligent active speed system, blind-spot detector, rear cross-traffic warning and braking, door-open warning, intelligent light control and driver monitoring (DMS).

There is a single trim level, called Exclusive, which leaves no room for options, including absolutely all the elements mentioned throughout this article, from the 540° panoramic camera, electric tailgate, panoramic roof, alarm and augmented-reality HUD, to full LED headlights, leather upholstery, keyless access, aluminium pedals, Sony audio system or the electronically controlled damping suspension.

Conclusion: a bold challenge to the big players with winning cards

With the Jaecoo 8 SHS, the brand not only completes its range at the top end, but also throws down a serious gauntlet in the large plug-in hybrid SUV segment. And it does so with its own cards: design, technology, efficiency and equipment, backed by a network that in barely two years exceeds 100 dealerships and workshops. Not to mention the 7-year or 150,000 km warranty.

We will have to wait for the price to bring all this down to earth, and for a driving test to check whether what it promises on paper translates into sensations that live up to it. But everything points to the Jaecoo 8 SHS’s challenge not being a bluff.

Jaecoo 8 SHS – Image gallery