JAECOO J5 – BETTER THAN THE PRICE SUGGESTS

If you’re in the market for a small SUV that’s not going to break the bank, the Jaecoo J5 could be the answer. But be sure to check out the competition, because parent company Chery markets what is essentially the same car under different names with different price tags, including the Chery C5 and Chery Tiggo 4. The J5 is available in petrol, hybrid and EV form, but both the hybrid and EV cost considerably more. Setting the trio apart are styling and equipment levels. STYLING The J5 is a… Read more

CHERY TIGGO 9 PHEV – SUPER IN NAME ONLY ELITE

  Let’s get something straight. Wheels magazine (is it still a magazine?) may have recognised the Chery Tiggo 9 as Australia’s best value large SUV. But they’re talking about the top of the range Ultimate model, not the entry Elite which is the one most punters will end up buying at this end of the market. And the Elite is a quite different beast, front-wheel drive, with a smaller battery, less powerful drivetrain, less electric only range and of course less equipment. But it costs less and it still seats… Read more

JAECOO J5 SURFS BIG WAVE OF EV

The name Jaecoo is said to be derived from Jager, the German word for hunter, with a reference, presumably, to a ‘leader of the pack’ empowering owners to thrive in a ‘wild life’, as in an existential world in turmoil. Since its debut in 2023 the Chinese brand, owned by Chery International, has expanded globally on the back of product it says is built for ‘those who seek purpose, precision and performance’. A long bow. Jaecoo J5 is a small SUV that comes with the choice of petrol or electric… Read more

TIGGO 9 PLUG-IN PARTNER TAKES TO ‘SUPER HIGHWAY’

Australians went from buying an electric vehicle – hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or full electric – once every 50 minutes four years ago to once every three minutes in April, according to Aussie Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen. Needless to say, there’s a lot going on, with manufacturers, especially those from China, having a field day. Chery, one of the biggest, not satisfied with standard petro/electric hybrid performance has extended its super highway’ journey, adding to its rapidly expanding Tiggo range with a top-of-the-range CSH (for Chery Super Hybrid) ‘9’ model…. Read more

CHERY TIGGO 4 HYBRID ‘GIVING MORE FOR LESS’

Since being introduced to the local market, the petrol powered Tiggo 4 has proven to be a popular choice among new car buyers, picking up a string of awards along the way. Now the best-selling small SUV from Chinese auto giant Chery has taken on hybrid status. Similar to the petrol-powered models, the Tiggo 4 Hybrid is available in two value- packed variants, the entry-level Urban, starting at $29,990, and top-of-the-range Ultimate, at $34,990. Both are driveaway. The car is firmly rooted in budget territory with the likes of the… Read more

CHERY TIGGO 4 HYBRID ULTIMATE

It’s cheap and it’s a hybrid, that’s what it is. In fact, Chery reckons the Tiggo 4 is Australia’s cheapest hybrid SUV as well as Chery’s best-selling SUV. It’s powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine together with the help of an electric motor, that combine to offer budget-friendly fuel consumption of 5.4L/100km. The Tiggo feels cheap . . . but let’s find out. STYLING Tiggo 4 Hybrid is available in two grades: Urban and top-of-the-range Ultimate. Urban is priced from $29,990 driveaway, the Ultimate from $34,990 – both prices… Read more

OMODA 9 – IT’S A LOT OF CAR FOR THE MONEY.

  Another week, another Super Hybrid to drive — this time the Omoda 9 plug-in hybrid. Omoda, which is now a separate brand, is part of the Chinese Chery group which includes Jaecoo. In fact, Omoda and Jaecoo share the same dealerships. Some dealers also offer Chery-branded vehicles. The Omoda name represents sporty crossovers while Jaecoo is associated with more rugged SUVs. The Omoda 9 is also sold as the Exeed Yaoguang (or RX for export markets). It’s all a bit confusing. STYLING The five-seat SUV is offered in one… Read more

CHERY PLAYS MUSICAL CHAIRS WITH ITS NEW OMODA BRAND

It’s getting quite difficult to keep track of the constantly evolving brands and sub- brands within the giant Chinese Chery group. The most recent development is the establishment of what is effectively a new sister brand to Chery called Omoda Jaecoo, a premium brand that operates independently of their shared parent company. We recently reported on the two Jaecoo models (J7 and J8) that are currently on sale in Australia. This time we’re reviewing the first of the dedicated Omoda vehicles the Omoda 9 that went on sale here in… Read more

SUPER HYBRID CHERY ON TOP

The Chinese continue to carve off a sizable slice of the automobile cake worldwide, and with Chery on top, it’s hard to see this changing anytime soon. Last month the company claimed 3305-unit sales, putting it in the top ten Down Under. Now the fastest growing brand in Australia, Chery has done this on the back of the success of the Tiggo 4 and 7 SUVs, recently joined by the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid, capable of travelling up to 1200 kilometres on one tank of fuel and a single charge…. Read more

JAECOO J7 – CHINA’S BEST YET?

Another name to grapple with as the surge in Chinese imports gathers strength and they not only coming with quantity but also quality. This time we’re looking at Jaecoo which joins Omoda and Tiggo as sub-brands within the giant Chery group, the fourth-largest of China’s plethora of manufacturers and, along with SAIC one of its largest exporters Although Chery did make a brief and unsuccessful attempt to enter the Australian market about 10 years ago it has only just re-launched here and remains largely unknown. Which is a blessing in… Read more