By Malusi Msomi

OMODA & JAECOO South Africa has expanded its J5 range with the introduction of the J5 SHS, adding a hybrid powertrain to the existing petrol and recently launched fully electric models.

The new J5 SHS provides South African buyers with another route into electrified motoring while retaining the crossover’s practical, family-focused character.

Hybrid powertrain

The J5 SHS combines a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to produce a combined 165 kW and 295 Nm of torque.

A 1.83 kWh battery allows for electric propulsion at low speeds and in traffic, while power is sent to the front wheels through a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT).

OMODA & JAECOO claims fuel consumption of 5.3 L/100 km. With a 51-litre fuel tank, the manufacturer says the J5 SHS has a theoretical range of up to 980 km.

The chassis uses MacPherson struts at the front and a multilink setup at the rear, while braking is handled by ventilated discs at the front and disc brakes at the rear.

Practical and well equipped

The J5 SHS retains the clean styling of the petrol-powered model, with 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic moonroof and automatic LED headlights.

Inside, the cabin features black leather upholstery, a six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat and four-way manual adjustment for the front passenger. Multi-colour ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control and a leather multifunction steering wheel are also standard.

The infotainment system is centred around a 13.2-inch touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth and voice commands. A 50W wireless charging pad and six-speaker sound system are also included.

The J5 SHS offers 410 litres of boot space, which increases to 1,214 litres with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats folded down. A power-operated tailgate is also standard.

Safety and driver assistance

Safety equipment includes six airbags, electronic stability control, Brake Assist, traction control and ISOFIX child-seat anchorages.

The J5 SHS also comes with a comprehensive list of driver-assistance systems, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane-Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Jam Assist, Emergency Lane Keeping and Integrated Cruise Assist.

A camera and rear parking sensors are included to assist with manoeuvring.

Pricing and warranty

The JAECOO J5 SHS is priced at R459,900.

The purchase price includes a five-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty, a 10-year/one-million km engine warranty, five-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance and a five-year/75,000 km service plan.