Omoda 5 vs Jaecoo 7: same company, very different cars, but which should you buy? 

Omoda and Jaecoo dealers are popping up all over the country, and while both brands are owned by the same company, Chery Automotive, and they’re sold under the same roof, they’re actually very different.

If you walk onto a dealer’s forecourt you may see the Jaecoo 7 and Omoda 5 parked next to each other and be torn on which is better for you. They’re roughly the same size, offer a similar range of engines, although the Omoda is available as an electric car, and come with good levels of standard equipment, but the Jaecoo is around £4,000 more expensive.

So what are the differences between these two cars? Well we’re going to compare the two side by side to find out.

Jaecoo 7 vs Omoda 5: design

The most obvious difference between these two cars is the design, because they look totally different.

The Jaecoo 7 has a bit of a baby Range Rover vibe about it. The boxy profile, wide grille and bluff nose make it look like more of a rugged off-roader compared to the sleek and coupe-like Omoda 5.

Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the Jaecoo 7 has more of a premium look about it. The Omoda has more of a sporty appearance, so it comes down to which is more your vibe.

Jaecoo 7 vs Omoda 5: interior and equipment

These cars both come with similar amounts of standard equipment, but the cabins themselves are very different.

The Jaecoo 7 gets a portrait-oriented infotainment system which ranges from 13.2- to 14.8-inches depending on which model you go for, as well as a separate 10.25-inch digital driver’s display. The Omoda gets twin 10.25-inch landscape screens, one for your infotainment and another in front of the driver, behind one sheet of glass.

Both cars come with a generous kit list. You get adaptive cruise control, electrically adjustable heated seats, LED lights, and automatic lights and wipers as standard. The Jaecoo is slightly better-equipped as it has faux leather seats and a panoramic roof on the basic car.

There’s not much in it when it comes to interior quality, but the Jaecoo 7 does feel like a slightly more premium product inside. It has a slightly cooler and more youthful design as well with its rugged-looking exposed (fake) bolts in the door handles and the squared-off dashboard.

The Omoda 5 has a classier vibe, with rose gold trim and Alcantara on the centre console, but the Jaecoo 7 has more of a wow-factor which is backed up by quality which can almost match the more mainstream competition.

Jaecoo 7 vs Omoda 5: space and practicality

It’s a clear win for the Jaecoo 7 in terms of practicality, because it’s much more spacious inside than the Omoda.

It is a slightly bigger car, but even compared to similarly-sized models such as the Volkswagen T-Cross the Omoda 5 trails behind on interior space. The 380-litre boot is 75 litres smaller than a Volkswagen T-Cross’ and a whopping 120 litres less than the Jaecoo’s.

Rear seat space in the Omoda is nothing to write home about either. The Jaecoo’s boxy roofline gives it more headroom, and legroom is more impressive as well.

If you’re looking for a runaround for you and a partner and occasionally need to carry four people, the Omoda 5 will suit you fine. The Jaecoo 7 is a much better bet for growing families and those who need plenty of space.

Jaecoo 7 vs Omoda 5: engines and driving

The Omoda 5 and Jaecoo 7 both come with a 1.6-litre petrol engine as standard. In the Jaecoo it has 147hp, while the Omoda has 186hp.

That extra power is noticeable, because the Omoda 5 feels much more brisk than the Jaecoo. Neither engine is particularly economical though, both will return around 35mpg in the real world.

The Jaecoo 7 is also offered with a plug-in hybrid engine, which makes it a good choice for company car drivers looking for the lowest tax rates. It’ll do up to 53 miles on electric power alone, and it’s much smoother and more refined than the slightly noisy petrol version.

You could also go for the fully-electric Omoda E5, which has a 204hp motor and up to 257 miles of range. It’ll be the best of the bunch for company car tax, but for the same money you could have the more comfortable and spacious Skoda Elroq.

Out on the road neither of these cars are class-leading. Both feel a bit vague and wallowy around corners, but at least they’re easy to drive around town. The Jaecoo 7 has better visibility thanks to its boxy shape, and both cars are available with a 360-degree camera to make those awkward car parks a bit easier.

There’s not really much to separate these cars in terms of the way they drive, it really comes down to which engine you prefer. If you want an electric car, the Omoda E5 is the only way to go. The basic petrol engines in these cars aren’t the best in terms of fuel economy or refinement, but the plug-in hybrid system in the Jaecoo 7 is pretty decent.

Jaecoo 7 vs Omoda 5: prices and savings

The Omoda 5 starts from £25,915 for the petrol version, but you can save an average of nearly £2,000 on one through Carwow at the time of writing. That’s decent value for money considering the amount of kit you get – a Volkswagen T-Cross will cost you a few thousand pounds more for a similar level of equipment.

As for the all-electric Omoda E5, that car starts from just over £33,000. Through Carwow you can save an average of just under £5,000 at the time of writing, but it’s still similar money to the more spacious and comfortable Skoda Elroq.

Prices for the Jaecoo 7 start from just over £30,000, rising to £35,000 for the plug-in hybrid version. Through Carwow at the time of writing you can save an average of around £2,300, making it approximately £5,000 cheaper than an equivalent Volkswagen Tiguan.

Jaecoo 7 vs Omoda 5 verdict: which is right for you?

Both of these cars represent great value for money, offering a lot of standard equipment for not a lot of cash. The Omoda 5 is cheaper, but it’s the Jaecoo 7 which stands out in this test.

It may be a bit more expensive, but it’s a lot more spacious and has a more premium look and feel. It may not be as good to drive as something like a Volkswagen Tiguan or Kia Sportage, but if you’re not fussed about driving dynamics and just want a really well-equipped and posh-feeling SUV, the Jaecoo 7 is well worth considering.