Jaecoo 8 Review 2026

Jaecoo 8 at a glance:

• Body type: SUV
• Price range: £45,500 - £47,500
• EV Range: 83 miles 
• Number of seats: 7
• Boot capacity: 448 litres (5 seats), 110 litres (7 seats)
• Insurance groups: 38 - 42

Jaecoo 8: Everything you need to know

The Jaecoo 8 is a seven-seat PHEV that arrives as the flagship big brother to the smaller Jaecoo 7, positioning itself as a high-value alternative to established plug-in hybrid seven-seaters such as the Kia Sorento, the Hyundai Santa Fe and even a cut price rival to the Volvo XC90.

Priced from £45,500, it undercuts rivals while offering a level of standard equipment that's usually hidden away on the options list. Features including  heated and ventilated seats front and rear, continous suspension damping control and a 540-degree surround-view camera all come as standard on the 8.

There are two trims in the UK and one engine choice. The Luxury has a traditional seven-seat layout with a middle-row bench that slides and reclines to balance legroom needs. Jaecoo says this is positioned as the 'off-road' model, although you're far more likely to see it on the school run than green-laning. This will be the bigger seller though.

The £47,500 Executive trim replaces that bench with two individual captain’s chairs featuring dedicated armrests and massage functions, reducing its overall seating capacity to six.

Under the bonnet, the Jaecoo 8 has what the firm calls a Super Hybrid System (SHS-P) that pairs a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with three electric motors. This setup produces a combined 428PS and 580Nm of torque, giving a 0-62 mph time of just 5.8 seconds.

Most impressive is the 83-mile electric-only range provided by the 34.4kWh battery. It is backed by a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, with the high-voltage battery covered for eight years.

How we tested the Jaecoo 8

We took a Jaecoo 8 SHS-P out on the winding, undulating A-roads and suburban stretches around High Wycombe. This gave us the chance to test the Continuous Damping Control (CDC) adaptive suspension against typical British potholes and the frequent stop-start flow of Buckinghamshire traffic. 

We paid close attention to how the 3-speed DHT automatic gearbox managed the transition between electric and petrol power when joining the hilly dual carriageways. And we also racked up some motorway miles on the M40 – the types of roads we imagine Jaecoo 8 owners will spend a lot of time on.

Inside, we spent time as both a driver and a passenger. In the Luxury trim, we tested the practicality of the 5+2 seating layout, while in the Executive, we got to enjoy the second-row captain’s chairs, testing the massage functions and powered recline to see if it truly feels like a premium lounge. We even squeezed into the rearmost seats to check the real-world legroom for larger families.

Finally, we veered off the tarmac to test Jaecoo’s off-road marketing. We navigated the 8 through shallow streams and tackled steep, rutted inclines to see how the all-wheel-drive system and dedicated off-road modes handled low-traction situations. With a 600mm wading depth and instant torque from the electric motors, we put its rigidity and water sealing to a decent test.

Is the Jaecoo 8 a good car?

The Jaecoo 8 is a very strong contender if you are looking for an upmarket SUV without the associated price tag. It isn't perfect, but for the right driver, it offers a combination of tech and comfort that is hard to ignore.

With an 83-mile electric range, it beats almost every other PHEV of this size and type. For most UK drivers, this means you can do your entire weekly commute without ever touching the petrol tank. It's also incredibly comfortable and quiet. Between the acoustic glass and the adaptive suspension, it is one of the most relaxing motorway cruisers for the money.

Inside it feels on par with established rivals such as the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento. The use of Nappa leather on the Executive version, suede-like headliners and the massive curved display screen creates an atmosphere usually reserved for the likes of the Volvo XC90. We're really impressed by the quality and finish.

While the tech is slick, the lack of physical buttons for climate control can be frustrating and the safety systems are more of an hindrance than a help, while switching them off is an annoyingly long-winded process. We really wish there was a one button approach, similar to MG's Pilot button, which allows you to personalise and quickly toggle off ADAS safety settings.

While it is a large car, the rear-most seats are strictly for children. If you need a true seven-seater for adults the Volvo XC90 offers slightly better packaging, albeit at a price. Also note that plug-in hybrid versions of the Skoda Kodiaq are restricted to a five-seater layout, whereas the Jaecoo 8 and other rivals can accommodate up to seven people.

Also, as Jaecoo is a relatively new brand in the UK, it’s still unclear how well a big SUV will hold its value long-term compared with its Hyundai or Skoda rivals.

But with 428PS and a 0-62mph time of 5.8 seconds, it is significantly faster than plug-in hybrid versions of the Santa Fe or Kodiaq, yet significantly undercuts both on price. If you are a company car driver looking for a low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax bracket choice or a private buyer who wants the most tech and power for your £45,000, it is unbeatable value.

Jaecoo 8 PHEV: Driving range

With an impressive EV range of 83 miles, the Jaecoo 8 SHS-P, to give it its full title, is way ahead of most rivals. The Skoda Kodiaq PHEV comes close with an official range of 71 miles but only has five seats while the Hyundai Sante Fe lags behind with a range of just 33 miles and the Kia Sorento PHEV will cover just 30 miles officially. Remember that you will get less than this in real world conditions and it will drop even more over winter.

With 40kW DC fast charging capability, you can boost the battery from 30% to 80% in approximately 20 minutes. Although given the cost, we imagine most owners will simply charge at home and rely on the petrol engine for longer journeys. 

Get behind the wheel of the Jaecoo and you'll soon realise this is a car that focuses on comfort and serenity. Given that this a seven-seat family SUV, we're highlighting this as a good thing. 

It may not have the air suspension ride of top-of-the-range Volvo XC90s (which costs signficantly more) but the the standard-fit Continuous Damping Control (CDC) adaptive suspension really helps make this an incredibly comfortable car to cover distances in. 

By scanning the road surface hundreds of times per second, the system adjusts the shock absorbers in real-time, allowing the car to iron out your classic pothole-laden B-road with impressive composure.

It handles rougher surfaces well too and avoids the jarring crashes often found in large SUVs riding on 20-inch wheels. On the motorway, the Jaecoo 8 is most at home. It is incredibly quiet, a result of extensive soundproofing and the use of acoustic laminated glass. Wind and tyre roar are hushed, making it an ideal long-distance car.

Even at higher speeds, the cabin remains a tranquil environment, bolstered by an active noise-cancellation system that works behind the scenes to filter out road drone.

When it comes to the cornering, the Jaecoo 8 prioritises stability over sportiness. Like many large SUVs of this ilk, the electric power steering offers precious little feel. However, it is at least well-weighted and consistent while being light and easy at parking speeds.

It's responsive enough to give you confidence when placing the car on a fast motorway slip road or navigating a tight roundabout. While there is some natural body roll due to the soft suspension setup, the all-wheel drive system helps keep the car planted and predictable.

We don't imagine many Jaecoo 8 owner's will be going seriously off-road but the 8 does have decent off-road ability. There are lockable differentials and an all-terrain response system including hill descent control. It had no problem tackling rutted tracks and loose gravel during our test, plus it coped very well with some extremely steep hills. It also has a maximum wading depth of 600mm.

There's just one model of Jaecoo 8. Badged SHS-P (which stands for Super Hybrid System - Plug-in) it combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol with electric motors and a 34.3kW battery.

That's the same engine that's used in the Jaecoo 7 but the difference here is that the 8 has three electric motors – one driving the rear wheels, one driving the front and the third used for regeneration. On paper this gives 428PS and 560Nm of torque, enough to propel the big 2.2 tonne Jaecoo from 0-62mph in just 5.8 seconds. 

What's so clever is that the Jaecoo 8 drives more like an EV with a petrol engine supporting the electric motor, rather than the other way around – which is the traditional PHEV method. 

So in everyday driving you'll actually be hard pressed to get the petrol engine to come on stream. You have to absolutely floor it or go tackle a big hill and even then you'll struggle to notice. It's imperceptible from behind the wheel – in fact we had to check on the hybrid display to make sure it was actually kicking in.

It's by far the best PHEV system we've driven and as the figures suggest, it's also suitably rapid. There are no worries about joining fast flowing dual carriageways from short slip roads. 

Add in the 83 mile EV range and for many owners you can charge overnight, you won't be dipping into the fuel tank very often. 

The Jaecoo 8 has not yet been crash-tested by Euro NCAP. But Jaecoo has form in securing strong ratings, with the smaller Jaecoo 7 securing the full five stars in 2025.

The 8 comes with 10 airbags and 19 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) fitted, many of which you're likely to switch off as we found them more distracting than helpful. 

Jaecoo’s parent company (Chery) has established a UK-based parts hub and a partnership with Thatcham. This is designed to reassure insurers that parts won't have to be shipped from China for every minor bump – a move that should help reduce premiums as the brand establishes itself in the UK. Usefully, the Jaecoo 8 also comes with a full size spare, a real rarity these days. 

Chery – the parent company of Jaecoo – recently tested one of its CSH hybrid batteries in an extreme high temperature fire test with temperatures of 1000°C for over 100 seconds – and the battery remained stable. 

The Jaecoo 8 has a maximum braked towing capacity of 1600kg, slightly less than the Kia Sorento PHEV and the Hyundai Santa Fe at 1700kg. 

The Continuous Damping Control (CDC) adaptive suspension works to maintain composure and level the chassis even when a trailer is hitched. 

The Jaecoo 8 aims to give you a lounge-on-wheels feel that also easily adapts to family life. And to a large extent it succeeds. Thanks to its 4820mm length – not far short of the Volvo XC90 – it has plenty of space inside and while not as roomy (or as tall) as the Volvo, it's still very spacious.

In its standard seven-seat Luxury configuration, which we spent most of our time in, it has a classic three-row layout with a middle-row bench that slides and reclines to balance legroom between passengers.

The six-seat Executive trim replaces the middle bench with two individual captain’s chairs which include dedicated armrests and massage functions, creating a clear walkthrough to the third row. With a 6ft 2in adult sat in the middle row behind a similarly tall driver, there's more than enough legroom and although the roof is noticeable lower than in an XC90, it's spacious enough.

In both versions, the rear two seats are best for children as legroom is tight, although it's no better or worse than the Hyundai Santa Fe. You can of course slide the middle bench forwards, but if you have anyone sat there, you're basically robbing Peter to pay Paul. As is always the case with seven-seat SUVs, getting to the rear seats isn't that easy either. 

There's decent storage up front and the floating centre console provides an open area underneath while on top there's a 50W cooled wireless smartphone charging pad, which is rubberised to stop your device from sliding about. The main armrest storage incorporates an air-conditioned vent to keep drinks cool, while the door pockets are lined to reduce rattles and will swallow a 1.5-litre water bottle.

The middle row gets air vents in the door pillars and integrated window blinds as standard. That said, we'd have liked some more child-friendly features such as the clever door cup holder in the Hyundai Santa Fe rather than just a narrow door bin.

Oddly, it's better in the rear row with moulded cup holders and small trays either side, so the kids have a place for their gadgets or drinks.

Jaecoo quotes a luggage capacity of 738 litres when in five-seat mode, up to the window. That's pretty good when compared with the competition as you can see below.  

The Jaecoo 8 certainly has ample space with the third row folded down,  but it can't match the cavernous Kia Sorento or the Chery Tiggo 9. It's a good wide space though with only a small boot lip while that third row is easy to fold down with just a pull of a strap. 

The interior of the Jaecoo 8 a significant step up from the smaller Jaecoo 7, trading the angular aesthetics for a smoother design and feeling a cut above in terms of finish. We'd confidently say the quality is a match for the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Skoda Kodiaq. 

The choice of materials impresses with the Executive trim feeling especially upmarket with its Nappa leather upholstery and intricate stitching. If you don't like black there's a bold Cognac leather option for £1000. 

To counter our usual 'scratchy plastics' complaint, Jaecoo has upholstered lots of surfaces and used suede-like textures for the headliner and windscreen pillars. We especially like the textured wood trim on the centre console and across the dash.

During our testing we didn't encounter any squeaks or rattles (which surprisingly isn't actually always the case with new cars...) from the trim or dash. We also liked the nicely damped switchgear and metal-finished foot pedals. Even the air vents feature a neat design that clicks with precision.

The initial build quality feels remarkably robust. Panel gaps are consistent and the cabin remains impressively quiet thanks to acoustic laminated side windows. There are also neat features such the multi-zone ambient lighting. Not useful, but a 'nice to have' feature that lifts the cabin.

Dominating the front cabin of the Jaecoo 8 is a curved display housing two 12.3-inch high-definition screens. While many manufacturers are moving toward a portrait-oriented tablet look, Jaecoo has opted for a panoramic setup that feels more integrated into the dashboard’s flow.

Whether you prefer this to the iPad style design cars like the Volvo XC90 have is of course down to personal preference. What is annoying is that switching off all the ADAS safety extras is a pain and very distracting while on the move.

On the plus side, the system is powered by a high-speed processor and swiping between menus is fluid and thankfully free of lag. We're pleased to say that wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard fit. Given that some established rivals, such as the Volvo XC90, still require a cable this is a big plus.

The software layout is clear with a permanent 'dock' for essential functions although annoyingly that disappears when you switch to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. As we've said many times and will say again – a row of simple buttons for functions such as air-con and volume would be far better.

There is an AI-powered voice assistant which is surprisingly capable at handling cabin temperature or sunroof adjustments without you needing to dive into sub-menus. Again though, a button would just be quicker. If it ain't broke...

Audiophiles will appreciate the 14-speaker Sony sound system, which includes dedicated speakers integrated into the front headrests. You can set this up so the driver hears the navigation without interrupting the music for the rest of the passengers. First world problems and all that. 

The feature that impresses us most is the 540-degree surround-view camera. It uses 'transparent chassis' technology apparently, which lets you see exactly where your wheels are. It's probably meant for off-roading but is actually very handy for parallel parking.

These are the current prices for the Jaecoo 8 from launch (April 2026) although given that prices change often, check the Jaecoo site to make sure you have the most up to date Jaecoo 8 prices. 

Jaecoo usually has good offers on for both PCP and lease, so if you're looking at an 8 compared to rivals, spend time working out what your monthly will be.

Currently Jaecoo is offering a representative 2.9% APR on a PCP on a Jaecoo 8 Luxury. So if you put down £6450 deposit you'll be paying £519 a month. That's over 48 months with an 8000 miles per year limit. Do of course remember that a representative APR doesn't mean you will be offered that.

Is the Jaecoo 8 good value compared with rivals?

On paper the Jaecoo 8 offers exceptional value. It provides a high-performance and long range Plug-in Hybrid and a well equipped interior with seven seats for the price of most rivals' entry-level diesel or petrol models.

Along with the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe there is in-house competition from the Chery Tiggo 9 and the Omoda 9. Jaecoo also points to the Volvo XC60 and bigger XC90 as where the Jaecoo can seriously undercut both in terms of price although whether many XC90 owners would switch to a Jaecoo is another matter.

Where the likes of the Kia and Santa Fe can't compete is in EV range. In a world where 30 miles of electric range is the norm, 83 miles for under £46k is an undeniable bargain. 

And with 428PS and a 0–62 mph time of 5.8 seconds, it is almost significantly faster than almost any other PHEV in this price bracket, which typically hover around the 7 to 8 second mark.

The Jaecoo 8 is cheap to run thanks to that impressive 83-mile EV range. In the real world you're likely to see around 70 miles which is still better than many rivals. A Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV only has a claimed range of 33 miles for instance.

Of course once that battery is empty, you're driving around in a 2.2-tonne all-wheel drive SUV lugging an extra battery and motor – all powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. 

That said, you should still see a decent 40mpg on the motorway in real world conditions (WLTP quotes 50.5mpg) and thanks to a big 70-litre fuel tank it has plenty of range. As ever, ignore the pie-in-the-sky PHEV WLTP economy figure of 543mpg...

The Jaecoo 8 will cost the same £200 annual car tax as any other PHEV. It is also liable for the Expensive Car Supplement, which applies to all cars costing more than £40,000. This means that from years two to six you will be paying an additional £440, bringing your annual car tax bill to £640 at today's rates.

The long-term reliability of a Jaecoo model is unknown, but a strong warranty lasting for seven years and 100,000 miles is reassuring. 

The Jaecoo 8 line up is very simple with just two trim levels. The most popular is set to be the Jaecoo 8 Luxury which comes with seven seats. The Jaecoo 8 Executive comes with six seats, replacing the middle bench with two captain's chairs.

The Jaecoo 8 Luxury comes with: 

• 20-inch machine-finished alloy wheels
• Continuous Damping Control (CDC) adaptive suspension
• LED headlights with Intelligent High Beam Control (IHBC)
• 14-speaker Sony audio system with headrest speakers and active noise cancellation
• 12.3-inch dual screen displays with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 540-degree surround view camera and front/rear parking sensors
• Eco leather upholstery with 8-way power driver’s seat (heated and ventilated)
• Heated and ventilated front passenger and second-row seats
• Panoramic sunroof and acoustic laminated glass
• Dual-zone automatic climate control with second-row vents and control panel
• 50W wireless smartphone charging pad
• 6.6kW V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) external charging capability

Moving up to the Jaecoo 8 Executive adds:

• Nappa leather seat upholstery
• Suede headliner, windscreen pillars and sunvisors
• Second-row power-reclining and folding seats with massage function
• Individual second-row armrests and dual headrests (6-seat configuration)
• Auto-tilt door mirrors in reverse
• Heated steering wheel

Colour options are Granite White at no cost while Iced Slate Grey, Amazonite Blue, Pearl Silver or Basalt Black aren all a £750 option. Two-tone paint for the Luxury grade (standard on Executive) is £600 extra for white and £1200 for other colours.