Jaecoo J8 SHS-P review: Extra seats and PHEV system lift it to higher ground

To be a serious player in the Australian new-car market, you must sell a large seven-seat SUV – and until now, Chery’s premium arm Jaecoo has lacked one.

That changed recently, however, when a new seven-seat plug-in hybrid variant of the brand’s J8 large SUV was launched here.

As a refresher, the J8 originally launched locally in May 2025 with two five-seat variants, powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine. Fast-forward more than 12 months and while sales of Jaecoo’s smaller models have taken off, the J8 has not, likely because it does not feature an in-vogue third row
of seating or a hybrid drivetrain.

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The new J8 SHS-P changes that, with two extra seats in the boot and the same tri-motor plug-in hybrid drivetrain as its twin-under-the-skin, the Chery Tiggo 9.

Pricing for the new SHS-P Summit starts at $59,990 plus on-road costs, which is almost $10,000 more expensive than the next-rung-down J8 Ridge AWD (driveaway). Thankfully, there is a boatload of standard equipment, with features including 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, quilted leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with massaging, a head-up display, 14-speaker Sony audio and a 50W wireless phone charger.

Inside, there are plenty of soft-touch surfaces, even on panels like the centre console. The seats feel suitably expensive and offer a wide range of adjustment, and the overall presentation is convincing enough to support Jaecoo’s premium aspirations.

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Up front, the dual 12.3-inch displays are perfectly functional but already look a generation behind the latest systems emerging from China. The infotainment interface, in particular, feels dated alongside something like the new Chery Tiggo 9, which is slightly awkward considering how much the two SUVs share underneath.

Packaging also leaves you wondering where some of the J8’s considerable exterior size has gone. Second-row accommodation is tighter than expected, particularly for legroom, while the third row lies firmly in occasional-use territory – if you’re six-foot or above, don’t even bother. The boot capacity is 200 litres with all seven seats erected, expanding to 738 litres with the third row folded.

It’s the drivetrain that provides the J8 SHS-P with its major point of difference. A 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine works with three electric motors – two at the front and another at the rear – to produce a substantial 315kW and 580Nm.

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The J8 is quick, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of just 5.8 seconds, impressive for a 2320kg (kerb) large SUV. It’s effortless rather than dramatic, but there’s no questioning the available grunt. Unfortunately, the chassis doesn’t share the drivetrain’s enthusiasm.

Jaecoo has prioritised comfort, but even in its firmer setting, the suspension is too soft. The J8 floats and wallows over even smaller bumps, taking too long to settle after larger movements, while faster direction changes introduce plenty of body roll. Combine that with its light steering and there’s very little fun to be extracted from the J8 SHS-P on a winding road.

We don’t expect a seven-seat SUV to perform like a sports car, but extra firmness would inspire more confidence. Around town and on the motorway, however, the soft suspension, quiet electric running and low road noise make the J8 SHS-P a relaxed cruiser.

Efficiency is another strength. The large 34kWh battery offers an electric range claim of 169km on the optimistic NEDC cycle, but we managed an impressive 148km from a full charge in real-world driving. Across our testing, combined consumption settled at a solid 3.8L/100km. It can also DC fast charge at up to 70kW for a 30-80 per cent charge in 25 minutes.

Ultimately, this J8 is a head-over-heart buy, but one that makes a lot more sense than other J8 variants. It offers strong performance, useful electric range, low fuel consumption and a huge equipment list for around $65,000 driveaway.

The SHS-P Summit has a lot of power, equipment and electrification for the money, and it’s definitely the J8 to choose. But, like the petrol models, a little more polish – particularly underneath – would turn a stacked spec sheet into a strong case for a purchase.

Jaecoo J8 SHS-P Summit standard features:

• 20-inch alloy wheels (with a tyre repair kit)
• Dusk-sensing automatic LED exterior lighting
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Keyless entry and start with remote start
• Rear privacy glass
• Heated/auto-folding mirrors
• Auto-retracting door handles
• Electric tailgate with easy-open functionality
• Roof rails
• Panoramic sunroof
• Quilted leather upholstery
• Synthetic leather-wrapped steering wheel with electric adjustment
• 8-way driver/6-way front passenger electric front seat adjustment with massaging
• Heated and ventilated front and middle outboard rear seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Dual 12.3-inch displays
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satelite navigation
• AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio
• 14-speaker Sony sound system (including two speakers in the driver’s headrest)
• 4x USB charging ports
• 50W wireless phone charger
• Head-up display
• Eco, normal, sport, snow, sand and offroad driving modes
• 10x airbags
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane keeping assistance with adaptive lane guidance
• Adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Door open warning
• Driver monitoring
• Auto high beam
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 360-degree camera
• Anti-theft alarm
• Tyre pressure monitoring

Jaecoo J8 SHS-P specifications: