Which Jaecoo 7 should you buy? 

The Jaecoo 7 is not only the most popular Chinese car on sale in the UK, it’s one of the most popular cars full stop. It’s easy to see why it’s selling like hotcakes – you get loads of space, plenty of equipment and a posh interior for the same price as some small hatchbacks.

However, it’s important that you pick the right Jaecoo 7 for your needs. They do all come well-equipped, but the engine lineup is a tad confusing to the uninitiated and some versions come with more kit than others.

Here’s a rundown of all the engines and trim levels on offers, as well as my pick of the range.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Choosing the right Jaecoo 7: engines

The first thing you have to pick on the Jaecoo 7 configurator is the right engine. There are three to choose from.

First up is the basic petrol engine – a 1.6-litre four-cylinder with 147hp. It’s paired to a seven-speed automatic gearbox, and this is the worst of the three options. It’s quite noisy and unrefined, and in the real world you’ll only get around 30mpg from it. You can also get an all-wheel drive version which is better off-road, but even worse on fuel.

That engine makes even less sense when you look at the next option: the SHS-H. That’s Jaecoo speak for self-charging hybrid, and it has a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired to a small electric motor. It’s much smoother and quieter than the petrol engine, if not quite as economical as a Toyota Yaris Cross, and it’s also the cheapest option.

The basic petrol version starts from £30,165, whereas the SHS-H costs £29,210. It’s a bit of a no-brainer, really.

Finally, there’s the SHS-P. This is a plug-in hybrid system, and the pick of the range in my books. It can do up to 56 miles on electric power alone, and it’s really good at managing the charge level so you can cover meaningful distance on electric power alone, even when you forget to charge it up.

Prices start from £35,170, but I reckon it’s worth paying the extra.

Choosing the right Jaecoo 7: trim levels

This is where things get a tad more complicated, because the trim levels change depending on which engine you choose.

The basic petrol model is available in Deluxe trim for £30,165, or you can pay an extra £3,860 for the Luxury. As standard you get a 13.2-inch infotainment screen, a panoramic glass roof, adaptive cruise control and heated seats. Upgrading to Luxury adds all-wheel drive, a larger screen and a Sony Sound system.

If you fancy the SHS-H, that car kicks off with the Pure model. It has cloth seats, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control and front and rear parking sensors, all for £29,210. Upgrading to the Deluxe costs an extra £2,600, and adds heated and ventilated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging and a Sony sound system.

Finally the Plug-in hybrid SHS-P comes in one trim level. It’s called the Luxury, and as standard you get a 14.8-inch touchscreen, heated front and rear seats, adaptive cruise control and a head-up display. All this comes in at £35,170, or you can pay an extra £1,300 or so for the Black Luxury, which has all the same kit but gets blacked out trims, grilles and wheels.

Choosing the right Jaecoo 7: which one is best?

Once you’ve picked your engine and trim level, there’s nothing left to choose but the colour. So which version is best?

Well, I’d avoid the noisy, thirsty petrol engine, and while the SHS-H self-charging hybrid is better I’d still go for the SHS-P plug-in hybrid. It’s the best engine of the bunch.

And while the starting price is higher, the SHS-P comes with every bit of kit as standard. By the time you’ve specced the SHS-H to the same level, it’s only a couple of thousand pounds cheaper.

Also, you can currently save up to £2,400 on the plug-in hybrid, bringing the price down to just over £33,000. That’s around £3,500 less than a basic Volkswagen Golf eHybrid, a car which is smaller and not as well equipped as the Jaecoo.

I wouldn’t bother paying the extra for the Black Luxury, so that leaves us with a conclusion.

The best Jaecoo 7 you can buy is the SHS-P Luxury.

Jaecoo 7 alternatives

Not convinced by the Jaecoo 7? Well there are plenty of other SUVs out there for you to choose from. We’ve got an article running you through all the best alternatives, but here are our three favourites.

1. Citroen C5 Aircross

The C5 Aircross is really comfortable to drive, good-looking and spacious inside, but it doesn’t feel as posh as the Jaecoo in some areas – take the scratchy plastics on the door panel, for example. It is great-value though, and you can save an average of over £3,000 through Carwow.

2. MG HS

If you get a plug-in hybrid version of the MG HS, it’ll do up to 75 miles on electric power alone. That’s almost 20 miles more than the Jaecoo, and with Carwow discounts it’s also cheaper. You can save an average of almost £4,900 on an HS at the time of writing. It’s just a shame that the infotainment system isn’t as intuitive as the Jaecoo’s.

3. Skoda Karoq

The Skoda Karoq is a no-nonsense, sensible choice in the world of family SUVs. It may not be all that exciting to look at, but it’s roomy inside, comfortable, cheap to run and well built. You can also save an average of £4,500 on a new Karoq through Carwow at the time of writing.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Want to see the latest car content first? Add Carwow as a preferred source here. Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos. You can also subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news sent straight to your phone.