By Otsile Kadiege

Jaecoo South Africa is on a roll this year. After recently announcing the new, fully-electric J6 which debuted at the 2024 Festival Of Motoring, Jaecoo SA is expanding the local model range with the new J5 which was revealed at the 2024 Omoda & Jaecoo International User Summit in Wuhu, China, this October. The compact crossover SUV will be slotted beneath the J7 and like the electric J6, it will also be available in SA in 2025.

Exterior design and styling

Like the larger J7, the J5 features a bold, assertive design combining modern styling cues with rugged touches. The prominent JAECOO grille flows seamlessly into the slim headlights, lending the vehicle plenty of presence. The generous ground clearance and subtly pronounced wheel arches underscore the J5’s adventurous personality. At the rear, an upmarket light-bar incorporates the taillights and ‘JAECOO’ nameplate, while the refined rear bumper integrates neatly with the bodywork.

Interior design and tech

The cabin of the J5 is yet to be seen. However, like the exterior, we should expect the interior of the J5 to look similar to the J7. That said, here are some features of the J5: 13.2-inch touchscreen with integrated entertainment applications and smart navigation, a 1.45 m² panoramic sunroof and an air conditioning system with a powerful filtration system.

Powertrain and availability

Jaecoo is yet to reveal additional J5 details related to its performance, however we expect the J5 to use the same 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine found in the J7 with slightly less power and torque. Pricing and model range will be announced closer to the on-sale date.