2025 JAECOO J7 SHS Review

A fresh face enters the compact crossover ring — meet the 2026 JAECOO J7 SHS. On paper, the J7 SHS comes across as an intriguing option: stylish, promising performance, and ambitious in its execution. But does it deliver in real-world conditions? We took it for a drive to see where the J7 shines and where it comes up short.

Just a quick look at the J7 and you’ll immediately know that JAECOO aimed to make a statement. Sharp lines, aggressive headlights, and muscular proportions give it road presence. 

The front fascia features sleek LED lighting elements and a wide grille layout. The side profile is dynamic, with a rising beltline and sculpted surfaces that reduce visual bulk. Even the rear doesn’t shy away — the tail lamps and character lines lend just enough flair without going over the top. Furthermore, the fit and finish look good, there are no panel gaps to note, and exterior parts appear well aligned. For a brand that is relatively new, this shows ambition and attention to detail.

What we didn’t like about the design, however, were the wheels. Though they’re pretty large at 19 inches, the design was underwhelming and didn’t complement the J7’s exterior.

Inside, the J7 SHS aims high.  We love the soft-touch surfaces, the J7’s clean dashboard layout, and generally modern vibe. Ambient lighting, well-designed HVAC vents, and decent ergonomics are all on the plus side.

Ride comfort is one of the stronger points. The J7 SHS reportedly absorbs road imperfections gracefully. Even when pushed, the cabin remains composed, and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) are kept in check for the most part. When it moves along, it certainly doesn’t feel like a car made by newcomers in the sector. When you get up to speed, however, expect some road noise to enter the cabin. Another thoughtful feature they added is the ability to control the car’s brake pitch, meaning you can adjust the brakes’ sensitivity according to what you’re used to.

That said, there are trade-offs. Some buttons and controls are finished in piano black plastics. Controlling most interior amenities has to be done via the large touchscreen, and though screen feedback is responsive, it can be quite a hassle digging through the different menus. 

The suspension also deserves some praise. We liken the J7’s suspension to a good driver; it’s there, but you never notice what’s happening in the background because it simply does its job well. 

As for cargo space, the JAECOO J7 SHS has 500 liters of space with the rear seats. Put the rear seats down and you're looking at over 1,000 liters of space to work with.

Under the hood, the J7 SHS runs on JAECOO’s Super Hybrid System (SHS). At its core is a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that acts primarily as a range extender, working alongside an electric motor for a combined system output of 201 hp and 310 Nm of torque. By itself, the gasoline engine generates 141 hp and 215 Nm, but the real magic happens when both power sources work together. Combined, the J7 SHS puts out 275 hp and 365 Nm of torque.

Drive goes to the front wheels through a purpose-built hybrid transmission, and drivers can choose between Eco, Normal, and Sport modes depending on their mood or the conditions. While efficiency is the focus here, the J7 doesn’t feel sluggish — JAECOO claims it can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in just 8.4 seconds, and we certainly felt that with a simple hard push of the accelerator. Being quick is not the main priority for the J7 SHS; efficiency is. JAECOO claims the J7 SHS has a combined range of up to 1489 km. Inside the city, we managed to get 20 km/L, while on the highway, the numbers climb to a staggering 50 km/l.

The 2026 JAECOO J7 SHS is a compelling newcomer — stylish, comfortable on the road, and loaded with tech. During our drive, we found its biggest strengths to be ride quality, design, and most notably, fuel efficiency. That said, there are quirks worth mentioning, such as most vehicle functions being controlled exclusively through the infotainment system. And of course, purchasing from a relatively young brand still carries some uncertainty for many buyers.

If you’re open to trying vehicles from newer automakers and don’t mind being an early adopter, the J7 SHS is worth serious consideration. The variant we tested, the J7 SHS Premium, comes in at a very reasonable P1,499,000, and based on our experience, it can confidently go toe-to-toe with more established competitors in its class.