The Jaecoo brand, owned by one of China’s largest automakers, Chery, only arrived in the UK in January 2025. Even in this short time, the badge has already become a common sight on British roads thanks to the models offering premium looks, attractive leasing deals, and low prices compared to rivals. In fact, the Jaecoo 7 managed to hold the crown as the best-selling car in the UK for one month earlier this year, and it remains one of the best-selling Chinese cars in the UK.
While the Jaecoo 7 is only offered in plug-in hybrid and pure petrol format, the slightly smaller Jaecoo 5 is now being offered as a fully-electric variant, with the aptly named Jaecoo E5. And, with prices starting at just £27,505 on-the-road, the E5 becomes one of the affordable electric SUVs on sale in the UK – competing with other sub-£30,000 models such as the MGS5 EV, Vauxhall Frontera Electric, and more.
Who is Jaecoo?
Jaecoo is one of several car brands owned by Chery currently on sale in the UK. It also sells the larger Jaecoo 7 (one of the best selling cars in the UK), and the even larger Jaecoo 8. However, the Jaecoo 5 is the only model from the brand offered in fully-electric form right now, and is also its most affordable model.
Jaecoo E5 Price
With a £27,505 starting price, the E5 is priced a few thousand pounds higher than the visually identical petrol-powered Jaecoo 5, which carries a base price of £24,555. However, if you’re able to charge at home the majority of the time, that’s a premium that you’ll eventually recoup through dramatically lower costs per mile compared to a petrol or diesel SUV.
Stretch up to the £30,505 ‘Luxury’ trim level, which we’ve got on test here, and you’ll get significantly more included equipment over the entry-level E5. This includes an eight speaker Sony sound system, a panoramic glass roof, electrically adjusted front seats, electric tailgate, LED headlights, and more.
As you can see from the exterior photos, there’s undeniably a hint of Range Rover Evoque in the style of the E5, particularly from the rear angles. It certainly looks like a more premium car than its £27,505 starting price suggests.
Jaecoo E5 Interior
At first glance, the Jaecoo E5’s interior matches the premium look of the exterior, though a closer inspection reveals some cheaper-feeling materials. That’s roughly what we’d expect at this sub-£30,000 starting price though, with the fit and finish being largely on par with similarly-priced rivals.
The E5’s boxy shape pays dividends on the inside too, with a clear view out over the windscreen. The bonnet stretching out ahead makes it easy to place the car on the road, particularly down narrow streets. Rear legroom is respectable, and the boot’s square shape allows for large loads: 480 litres to be precise, rising to 1,180 litres with the rear seats folded down. The panoramic glass roof, which comes standard on the top-spec Luxury trim, also adds plenty of light to the cabin.
Jaecoo E5 on-board technology
Inside, we’ve got two screens, including a driver’s display with options to show all the usual readouts: current speed, efficiency, navigation aids, and whatever media’s currently playing. That’s paired with a large portrait central touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Graphics on both are crisp and clear, and menu navigation is fast and lag-free. The main screen also has a drop down menu which you can assign shortcuts to, such as disabling driver assistance systems.
The E5 also has built-in navigation for those who’d rather not rely on their phone, and it’s up to scratch. It’s particularly good at identifying nearby chargers, giving live data on how many points are currently in use. Plan a journey that exceeds the car’s range and it’ll suggest stopping points on the route to recharge, along with how long you’ll need to wait based on that charger’s claimed speed.
A built-in 540 degree camera gives an all-round view of the car when you’re parking or manoeuvring at low speeds, and it’s a system that works well. It’s also an impressive piece of kit to see on an EV at this price.
While there’s buttons on the steering wheel for functions such as volume or skipping tracks, the lack of physical buttons for functions such as climate control is a notable omission. If you’re using Apple CarPlay, for instance, you’ll need several touchscreen presses just to get back to those controls. Other cheap electric SUVs, such as the Vauxhall Frontera Electric, refreshingly still offer physical buttons for key functions like this.
There’s a wireless charging pad in the front too, though it only fits one phone. It does have a built-in ventilation fan, so you won’t run into the overheating problems some other cars suffer with this feature. You’ll also find four additional USB ports – two in the front, and two in the back, ensuring all your passengers can keep their phones topped up.
Jaecoo E5 driving experience
The Jaecoo E5’s practicality is likely to make the car a big hit with families, and in that respect, the E5 performs well on the road, with minimal road noise and smooth acceleration thanks to its electric powertrain. The E5 hasn’t yet been tested by Euro NCAP, though its bigger sibling, the Jaecoo 7, scored a top 5/5 score.
No matter which specification of the Jaecoo E5 you go for, the powertrain stays the same, with a 204 horsepower electric motor driving the front wheels. That’s good for a 0-62mph time of 7.7 seconds, and as is typical for EVs, it feels quicker than those figures suggest on paper. That instant torque gives the E5 more than enough punch for overtaking slower traffic or joing fast-moving traffic from short slip roads.
You can switch between three driving models on the E5: eco, normal, and sport, with the notable changes being sharper throttle response and heavier steering as you move towards sport.
Regenerative braking is also adjustable, across three levels, though I found the blend between acceleration and regen particularly difficult to master when trying to keep to a certain speed on downhill stretches. Hopefully it’s something Jaecoo can iron out with an over-the-air update down the line.
Jaecoo E5 Range, Charging, and Efficiency
Every Jaecoo E5 specification uses the same 61.1 kWh LFP battery, with a claimed range of 250 miles. That works out to a rated efficiency of around 4 miles per kWh, and even that figure seems conservative based on my time with the car. During a 60-mile drive along a mix of fast A-roads and town driving, with the air conditioning on, I still managed to achieve 4.3 miles per kWh according to the on-board computer. That suggests that drivers doing most of their miles around town at lower speeds could see even better battery range than the headline 250 mile figure.
If you’re charging up on the public network, the E5 supports a maximum DC charging speed of 80kW. That’s not a groundbreaking speed, but it’s still enough to take the state of charge from 30% to 80% in under 30 minutes, with a suitable public charger.
The E5 also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) functions, allowing you to power devices from the car’s high-voltage battery. That also positions this model as a great camping companion.
Summary
The Jaecoo E5 is a compelling affordable electric SUV, combining a spacious interior with strong efficiency and an attractive exterior design. Some cheap-feeling materials and a lack of physical controls hold it back slightly, but at this price, with brisk performance and a generous level of standard equipment for both trim levels, the E5 is certainly a sub-£30,000 electric SUV worth considering.
