Jaecoo 5 Review 2025

The Jaecoo 5 is the second car from the Chinese brand to reach our shores after it launched in 2025. After the success of the larger Jaecoo 7, can the Jaecoo 5 provide a viable, value-for-money alternative for small SUVs such as the Hyundai Kona, the Skoda Kamiq, the Vauxhall Frontera and more? Read on to find out what we've made of it in our Jaecoo 5 review.

Such has been the sucess of the Jaecoo 7, it's easy to forget that the brand is very, very new to the UK. But customers seem to like its mix of low pricing, high equipment levels and premium-for-the-money image, so it's no surprise that the Jaecoo 5 follows much the same pattern. The 5 is the petrol-powered equivalent of the Jaecoo E5, but aside from the powertrain and the different front-end styling, much remains the same.   

Like its larger showroom-mate, the Jaecoo 5 manages to simultaneously convey an impression of both the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Velar when viewed from the side and rear. However, the little SUV is only 4350mm long, which makes it a little longer than popular alternatives like the Ford Puma and the Nissan Juke but shorter than the MG ZS.

It’s a highly competitive corner of the market with a wealth of other well-regarded small SUV rivals the Jaecoo 5 will have to try and tempt buyers away from including the striking Hyundai Kona, the spacious Skoda Kamiq and the new Vauxhall Frontera.

So, what’s Jaecoo’s gameplay for the 5? Well, on the engine front it seems a little out of step. The fully electric Jaecoo E5 is also available, but for combustion engine fans the sole propulsion choice is a 1.6-litre turbocharged, non-hybrid petrol engine producing 147PS and 275Nm.

Considering it’s the only engine available, those numbers are punchy compared with the Jaecoo’s rivals whose entry-level models are significantly less powerful, but with good reason – they're designed to minimise fuel consumption.

Along with the Jaecoo 5’s core underpinnings, the engine’s also shared with other SUVs from within the same manufacturing group including the Omoda 5 and the recently announced Chery Tiggo 7. As per those models, drive is sent exclusively to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

While its close cousins also look very similar to each other inside, the Jaecoo 5’s cabin is more closely aligned with the 7’s – the dashboard is minimalist in theme with a driver’s display screen inset between air vents along the horizontal, while a reclined, portrait-oriented multimedia touchscreen rises from the centre console.

Disappointingly there are no physical adjusters for its climate control functions, with those also being accessed via the infotainment interface. At least the temperature settings are permanently on show.

Elsewhere around the Jaecoo 5’s interior are 35 separate storage spaces, including centre console trays for smartphones, a pair of cupholders and a lidded cubby beneath the central armrest. Behind the rear seats is a 480-litre boot space which out-volumes the rivals mentioned above, extending to 1180 litres when they’re folded over.

Two levels of specification are available for the Jaecoo 5 with the entry-level Pure model counting automatic lights, a six-speaker audio system plus wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity among its highlights.

Additional features for the range-topping Luxury specification version include two further speakers, a wireless and cooled smartphone charging pad, dual-zone climate control with ductwork to the central storage cubby, heated, ventilated and electrically adjustable front seats, as well as an electrically operated sunroof.

How much does all of this cost? In Pure specification the Jaecoo 5 will set you back £24,505 while the better-appointed Luxury version is priced at £28,000. In other words, for the amount of car, power and equipment it appears to be good value against the opposition – the Nissan, Vauxhall and MG can all be bought for less, albeit with significantly less grunt and kit at your disposal.

You sit rather high in the Jaecoo 5 is the high driving position, which gives you a good view of the road ahead although we'd like a little more adjustability in the driver's seat. Like the electric E5 and the Jaecoo 7 before them, the 5's suspension tuning was handled by the brand's German R&D centre, with the aim of delivering a setup that particularly suits European roads.

On the move, the Jaecoo 5 feels fairly composed, but it’s not what you’d call engaging. The steering lacks feedback and can feel a little numb at times, though it’s accurate enough for everyday driving. The suspension is on the firm and fidgety side, transmitting more small bumps than you’d expect, but it deals with larger potholes and rougher surfaces well. Overall comfort is acceptable, particularly at a steady cruise.

Based on our back-to-back drives of both models, the petrol model feels a touch more settled than the E5, likely thanks to its lighter front end, and it’s quiet enough at higher speeds. It’s not a car that rewards enthusiastic driving, but for most buyers it will prove easy, predictable and undemanding to live with.

The Jaecoo 5 keeps things simple with a single 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, producing 147PS and 275 Nm of torque, sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. That puts it right in the mix with its rivals, although many of those offer a choice of petrol powertrains, which Jaecoo does not. It’s not blisteringly quick, but there’s enough punch for overtakes and confident motorway merging.

There’s plenty of power for everyday driving and the gearbox shifts smoothly enough, though it can feel a touch hesitant and unsophistictaed at low speeds. Overall, though, the setup strikes a reasonable balance between performance and refinement.

The Jaecoo 5 comes with a comprehensive list of safety systems as standard. Highlights include lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, emergency lane keeping and a multi-collision defence system designed to reduce the risk of secondary impacts after a crash. In total, there are 19 driver assistance features, covering everything from collision prevention to driver fatigue monitoring.

There’s also a full set of airbags, including front, side and curtain protection, plus Isofix mountings on the outer rear seats for child seats. The Jaecoo 5 hasn’t yet been tested by independent safety organisation Euro NCAP, but given that the larger Jaecoo 7 achieved a five-star safety rating, expectations for this smaller SUV are high.

The Jaecoo 5 has a 750kg towing capacity, which makes iut suitable for light trailers or bike racks, but sits behind a lot of its (more expensive) rivals.

With a length of 4380mm and a 1860mm width, the Jaecoo 5 is squarely in the same ballpark as the likes of the Nissan Qashqai and the SEAT Ateca, size-wise.

Legroom and headroom in the back is plentiful, even for taller adults, although the middle-seat passenger will have to contend with a small lump in the floor that slightly restricts legroom. There are Isofix child-seat mounting points on the outer rear seats.

There are numerous storage spaces all around the Jaecoo 5's interior, with two large cupholders between the front seats, a deep central cubby under the armrest, decent-sized door bins and a shelf behind the main screen. There are door pockets in the back, too, and a reasonable glove box.

The boot is a good size for a car of this type, with 480 litres of space with the rear seats up. The rear seat uprights are split 60:40 – fold them both down and they go just about flat as long as you have the moveable boot floor at its highest setting, and you'll get 1180 litres of capacity to play with, which is roomy for a car of this type. Roof rails are standard.

Given the price point, the quality of the Jaecoo's interior feels impressively premium, at least in the top-spec Luxury trim that we tried. The main touchpoints feel solid and tactile, although as you get lower in the car the quality of the plastic drops in the name of cost-saving. The glovebox and door bins, for example, feel rather basic, but for the money it's really not bad.

The Jaecoo 5's large portrait-orientated touchscreen looks sharp and reacts quickly. During our test drive we leant heavily on Apple CarPlay, which works seamlessly, and while we'd prefer some physical shortcut buttons for jumping between sections or adjusting the air conditioning, there is at least a drag-up shortcut bar at the button of the screen to quickly get you where you need to go. The digital driver display is rather small, but it lays out all the information you need in a clear and logical way.

One of the Jaecoo 5’s biggest attractions is its headline price. The range starts at £24,505 for the Pure trim, which already includes a generous list of features, from a 13.2-inch central touchscreen to a full suite of driver-assistance systems. The Luxury version comes in at £28,000, adding heated and ventilated electric seats, ambient lighting, a panoramic roof and an upgraded SONY sound system.

As with the E5, the only extra to factor in is paint. Granite White is standard, while other colours add £500, and the two-tone finishes are £1,000. That means even the most expensive Jaecoo 5 will cost around £29,000.

At that price, the Jaecoo 5 undercuts most rivals. A Nissan Qashqai starts from roughly £30,000, while the Seat Ateca and Skoda Kamiq are both more expensive once you spec them to a similar level. The Dacia Bigster is one of the few SUVs to match it for value, although it goes for a different, rugged vibe.

Fuel economy figures for the Jaecoo 5 are still to be confirmed, but with its 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine and seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, expect it to return around 40mpg in mixed driving. That should make it competitive with similarly sized petrol SUVs like the Nissan Qashqai and SEAT Ateca.

Like its electric sibling, the Jaecoo 5 is backed by a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, with no mileage limit for the first three years, which should help give buyers peace of mind as the brand establishes itself in the UK. Servicing is required every 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first, which is fairly typical for a turbocharged petrol SUV.

Insurance group ratings haven’t yet been published, but they’re expected to be in line with other mainstream family SUVs, and crucially, the Jaecoo 5’s pricing keeps it well below the £40,000 luxury car tax threshold. That means you’ll pay the standard £195 annual Vehicle Excise Duty.

Jaecoo keeps things simple with the 5, offering just two trims – Pure and Luxury.

The entry-level Jaecoo 5 Pure model is generously equipped and includes:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED daytime running lights
• LED rear lights
• Halogen headlights
• Air conditioning
• Synthetic-leather steering wheel
• Dark-cloth seat trim
• 6-speaker audio system
• 13.2-inch infotainment display
• 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Hill Descent Control
• Lane Departure Prevention
• Multiple Collision Defence System (MCB)
• 540-degree panoramic camera system
• Drive modes (Normal, Eco, Sport)
• Adaptive Cruise Control

Step up to the Jaecoo 5 Luxury trim and you’ll gain:

• Heated steering wheel
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• 8-speaker Sony audio system
• Wireless smartphone charging
• Dual-zone climate control
• Power-operated tailgate
• Panoramic glass roof
• Full LED headlights
• ECO-leather upholstery
• Keyless entry and start