First Drive: Jaecoo J5 Inferno
In South Africa, there are now around 20 brands that are either full-fledged Chinese, a sub-brand of a Chinese giant or directly associated with a Chinese carmaker with a permanent local presence. That doesn’t include the dozens of models, much less derivatives, that are jostling for sales, with more on the way. The latest model to join this ever-growing market presence is the Jaecoo J5.
Why are Chinese cars so popular?
This is largely down to the price. It’s taken me some time to catch on, but apparently South African buyers are becoming less concerned about brand heritage and pedigree and now care more about the maths. A case in point is the J5’s launch price that starts at R369,900 for the Vortex, R429,900 (Glacier) and R479,900 for the range-topping Inferno.
The strategy is pretty much the same across the board for Chinese players by giving cost-sensitive buyers a boatload of tech, asking them to forgive the lack of brand lineage and letting the monthly repayment do the rest. In a country where the middle class are becoming more cash-strapped than ever, well, it's a clever play.
It looks familiar?
Keen observation since yes, it very much looks like something we’ve seen before. The finishes around the front, the headlights, the rear light units, and the boxy shape have all taken some weighty inspiration from the British quarters. The grille is unashamedly original, though. It’s sprawling and obviously designed to be the main focal point of the car.
On the inside, it follows the trend of other Chinese carmakers with a noticeable minimalist look. It may be too much (or too little) for some who prefer button-type interaction points, with nearly all functions stored within the tablet-style infotainment screen. It’s good to see a breakaway from the wraparound hyperscreen modules for a change. For car functions and entertainment, the aforementioned 13.2-inch tablet exists, while need-to-know driving information is projected on an 8-inch retro-inspired digital readout cluster you can glance at through the steering wheel.
How about the engines?
That’d be ‘engine’. Singular. The entire Jaecoo J5 range ships with the tried-and-familiar 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 115kW and 230Nm. It’s paired to a CVT gearbox that sends power to the front wheels. Around town, the combination is smooth enough. On the highway, and asking it to perform to the tune of surrounding traffic, the rubber-banding becomes prevalent with little in the way of actual acceleration to match the urgency of the soundtrack.
Comfort is good for the most part. It’s easy to drive with good visibility thanks to the upright styling, while the steering feel hasn’t been dampened into the realms of inanimate, with the road’s surface accurately translated to the palms. The ride quality of the Inferno derivatives we drove leans on the firmer side, but this can be attributed to the 18-inch wheels and 55-profile tyres. Both the Vortex and Glacier models come with 17-inch wheels and a 60 profile.
Is it worth it?
If you prioritise features, fundamental value for money and easier instalments over brand prestige, heritage and overall drive refinement, then yes, I suppose it’s worth it to look at the Jaecoo J5. The locally manufactured Toyota Corolla Cross starts at R414,800, while looking at the French quarters, the Renault Captur starts at just shy of half a bar (R489,999).
Not even the Korean brands, once considered affordable, can compete with the J5’s competitive pricing, with Hyundai’s Creta starting at R449,900, while the Kia Seltos is priced at R379,995 for a base LS manual but deletes several features South African buyers will factor into their buying decision, like cruise control and the bigger screen that's available across the Jaecoo J5 range.
As a side note, and once launch month has run its course, both the Vortex and Glacier models will be priced at R379,900 and R439,000 while the range-topping Inferno’s price will remain unchanged.
Verdict
Ultimately, Chinese brands show no signs of relenting on their collective South African market push, with several new brands expected to enter the market within the next six months. While the value aspect of Chinese cars is undeniable, some questions still linger around long-term resale value and future support. The latter point shouldn’t be of concern as the Jaecoo J5 falls under the now-established Chery umbrella and brings a 5-year/150,000km warranty and a 5-year/75,000km service plan.
But that bit about the Chery umbrella also brings me to my next point. Cars hailing from China are starting to feel the same. They look different, and they have different tech load-out philosophies, but the J5 fundamentally feels too similar to some other nameplates under Chery’s custodianship. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it really leaves me wondering: what’s the point?
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