Jaecoo only arrived in the UK at the start of 2025 and as such, their lineup is still in its infancy with a meagre two models: the Jaecoo 5 compact crossover and the Jaecoo 7 mid-size SUV. One of a rapidly growing lot of offshoots of the Chinese automotive goliath Chery, Jaecoo, alongside their sibling Omoda, are hungry for a slice of the SUV pie. The new E5 (not to be confused with the Omoda model of the same name), which is set to arrive in the UK in October, will be the firm’s first EV and position itself as the sustainable twin of the combustion-engine Jaecoo 5.
Despite its very appealing starting price of £27,505, the E5 has a distinctly premium appearance. Its square and stocky frame would comfortably absorb it into Land Rover’s repertoire of luxury vehicles, with strong traces of the Evoque in particular. Fortunately, the high-end overtones extend into the interior as well, thanks to the impressive range of kit on offer, which has become a habit of Chinese automakers.
There are two trim levels available, with the entry-level Pure being armed with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, a 540-degree camera, a six-speaker Sony sound system, adjustable front seats, and adaptive cruise control, along with a suite of other autonomous driver assists and safety features.
An extra £3,000 will upgrade to the Luxury trim level, which outfits the base E5 with an eight-speaker sound system, ventilated and heated front seats, ambient interior lighting, wireless phone charging bins, an electrically powered tailgate, and a panoramic sunroof. All models also feature a 13.2-inch portrait infotainment screen with a voice assistant as standard.
While inferior to the Peugeot e-2008 and Kia EV3 in range, a 61-kWh battery provides sufficient juice for 248 miles on a single charge, which does edge out the Ford Puma Gen-E, one of its primary competitors. The Jaecoo also boasts vehicle-to-load charging, which means the battery can be used to supply other electrical devices; however, this comes at the expense of charging speed. Unlike most of its rivals that can charge at a much faster 100 kW, the E5 is limited to 80 kW DC charging, which will restore the battery from 30 to 80 percent in 27 minutes.
Performance-wise, the E5 packs a modest punch with a 204 bhp motor driving the front wheels and delivering 0-62 mph acceleration in 7.7 seconds. For context, this is faster than the e-2008 and is comparable to the EV3. Practicality is also a strength of the Jaecoo, with a 480-litre boot and a “Pet Mode”, which can be activated to ensure any animal companions are kept safe when the vehicle is parked.
Nevertheless, the E5 remains an excellent alternative to the likes of the Puma Gen-e and EV3, which are considerably more expensive, thanks to its assortment of premium features, good boot size, and respectable range and power.