Jaecoo J5 EV: The $26,000 Budget EV With a Big Flaw

Chery, once unknown outside China, has grown its overseas lineup with the Jaecoo brand, launched in 2023 and sold only abroad. The Jaecoo 7, nicknamed the 'Temu Range Rover' in the UK, recently topped sales charts there. Now, the smaller J5 EV is drawing attention for its low price and Land Rover-inspired looks, earning it the 'Baby Range Rover' tag.

In Australia, the J5 EV starts at AU$36,990 (US$26,000), making it one of the cheapest EVs on sale, second only to the BYD Atto 2 among SUVs. A petrol version starts at AU$25,990, and a hybrid is coming. 9 kWh battery, and a claimed 402 km (250 miles) range. Standard kit includes a glass roof, eight-speaker audio, 18-inch wheels, seven airbags, and driver aids like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.

The interior punches above its price, with soft synthetic leather and a portrait infotainment screen that curves into the console, similar to recent Mercedes models. But the software is basic, and climate controls are buried in menus, you must exit Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to adjust temperature.

The screen also suffers from glare. Rear space is good, with a flat floor and 480 liters of cargo capacity, plus hidden under-floor storage.

7 seconds to 100 km/h, but torque steer is noticeable. The bigger issue is regenerative braking: it's poorly calibrated across all three settings. In the strongest mode, even a slight touch of the throttle jolts the car into coasting, making it frustrating to use. The steering is also too light, though the suspension rides smoothly.

2 kWh/100 km in mixed driving, slightly above the claimed figure. 55 kWh in 14 minutes. The verdict: the J5 EV is solid for EV newcomers, but the brake regen flaw makes it hard to recommend to experienced EV drivers. Fixing that, plus improving the infotainment, would make it far more complete, possibly via an over-the-air update.