New JAECOO 5: brutal design, off-road spirit and a very competitive price

Let’s admit it, the SUV market was starting to feel stale. Every month a brand sells you the “ultimate SUV”, but the truth is most of them end up being more of the same: expensive, lacking personality and more focused on Instagram than on real adventure. Until now. The JAECOO 5 arrives from China focusing on what matters most, space and price, and it does so with a very clear approach: get off the asphalt, take your dog along, sing at the top of your lungs with karaoke mode and not leave half your salary at the petrol station.

Presented in style at Automobile Barcelona, the JAECOO 5 is not just the entry step into the young Chinese brand’s range, it is a warning that this new compact SUV comes with everything. Design, technology, real off-road capabilities and an interior designed even for those who take their dog out more than their in-laws.

From concept car to everyday car

It’s hard to believe we’re talking about a C-segment SUV when you look at it head-on. Its vertical waterfall-style grille and elongated LED headlights make it clear this is not the typical “urban crossover with aspirations”. The proportions are clean, with its cubic silhouette and details such as the floating roof, making it look more expensive than it is (which is already a good start).

At 4.38 metres long, 1.86 wide and 1.65 tall, the JAECOO 5 has the look of a compact on the outside, but with plenty of presence to hold its own on any terrain. Its 2.63-metre wheelbase allows a spacious and comfortable interior, proving you can be practical without looking like a school bus. The rear is finished with a sharp light signature that connects the tail lights.

Pet-friendly, family-crazy and 100% digital interior

Open the door of the JAECOO 5 and you realise someone has thought about everything. It is spacious (82.8% of the interior is usable, more than many larger cars), very bright (1.45 m² of sunroof) and full of details that make you wonder why European makers haven’t done this before.

Got a dog? Nobody will look at you funny here. Antibacterial upholstery, an air system that traps hair and easy-to-clean materials. Got noisy kids or the soul of a frustrated singer? Activate karaoke mode and let the show flow. There’s even a hefty subwoofer to give body to the most embarrassing versions of “Despacito”.

The 13.2” vertical central screen is the command centre, accompanied by a digital display behind the steering wheel. Everything flows, everything works. There are no impossible hidden menus or awkward buttons: here you come to enjoy, not to read the manual.

Engines for every taste (and budget)

Unlike other brands that palm you off with a hybrid out of compromise, JAECOO goes straight to the point with a genuinely multi-energy range. Petrol and electric versions will arrive in Spain first. The petrol one, with a 1.6 TGDI with 145 CV and 275 Nm, pairs with a 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox by Getrag, with 200-bar high-pressure direct injection, DVVT variable valve timing on intake and exhaust, and high-pressure swirl combustion technology (concave piston design). Reasonable performance, moderate consumption and zero complications.

Prefer to plug it in? The JAECOO 5 EV promises over 400 km of range. Want the best of both worlds? In 2026 the HEV will arrive with a hybrid system and a 1.5 turbo engine. The best part? It is the only JAECOO with front-wheel drive, which may sound like a drawback… until you see how well it moves off the asphalt.

A true adventurer

Approach angles of 20º, departure angle of 30º, fording depth of 600 mm. 540º camera to see everything around and beneath the car (yes, like in video games). Hill descent control, drive modes, multi-link suspension and a structure with more than 23,000 Nm/degree of torsional rigidity. The JAECOO 5 is not frightened by a gravel track or a jam on the M-30.

Moreover, JAECOO hasn’t stopped at selling the car: they have created a whole ecosystem of accessories for campers. Roof bars with 75 kg payload? Yes. Roof tent, modular kitchen, portable shower? Also. Everything you need to go out and conquer any kind of adventure.

With 19 ADAS systems as standard and a platform that has been tested over more than 2 million kilometres, the JAECOO 5 doesn’t just want you to go far: it wants you to come back in one piece. From adaptive cruise control to front collision warning, everything is here. No surcharges, no absurd optional packages. What you see is what you get: design, space, real technology, off-road capability and a price that, if it stays competitive, will make the mainstream B and C segment rivals very nervous.

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadJaecoo 54 versions · from 27,500 €