A reviewer who spent months with a top-spec Jaecoo 7 Luxury says choosing the 1.6T 4WD petrol over the 1.5 SHS plug-in hybrid was a mistake after testing the PHEV.
The Jaecoo 1.5 SHS PHEV pairs a 1,499cc turbo engine with an electric motor and an 18.3kWh battery driving the front wheels via a CVT for a combined 201bhp and 229lb ft, while the petrol 1.6T is a 1,598cc 145bhp unit driving all wheels through a seven-speed DCT.
The PHEV reached 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds versus 11.8 seconds for the petrol and returned real-world figures above 40.7mpg, often into the 50s, compared with about 30.4mpg for the petrol; its claimed 56-mile electric range covered the reviewer’s commute and the PHEV’s price premium has narrowed to £1,180 at £35,175.
The reviewer found the Jaecoo PHEV generally more relaxed and refined, though the petrol engine can be intrusive when the battery depletes and heavy throttle can produce an unsettling overboost sensation; the PHEV’s interior also felt noticeably different despite shared seats and cabin layout.
This article is based on reporting from AutoCar.
Read the full article at AutoCar.
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