The Jaecoo J6 is quite the brilliant SUV for those who think that there is more out there than just staid urbanity
Singapore – It looks very much like a Land Rover Defender rip-off, but it is because of this design flattery that the Jaecoo J6 SUV is quite literally a pretty attractive offering. The idea of aping another vehicle is not a new one. If you remember in the late 2000s, Honda introduced their Crossroad – a compact people-carrying SUV, inspired by the Hummer H3, and loosely based on the Civic.
But Jaecoo is not exactly new to the automotive scene. The J6 electric SUV is from the people who once brought us the Chery QQ (which was suspiciously too similar to GM’s Korean division’s Chevy Spark). Back then, it was mobility on the cheap to those on the tightest of budgets. With Chery re-entering Singapore’s auto space with the introduction of two brands – the other being Omoda; it is clear that in less than twenty years, the Chinese carmaker has grown into a brand with some serious offerings. While much of Chery’s success hinges on their domestic market, buyers overseas, especially from first world markets are a different crowd to please.
To my surprise, the Jaecoo J6 does come across as a generally well-built SUV. With its chunky styling, seemingly penned with a bunch of setsquares and rulers; it almost feels that they knew that the world needed a bite-sized, and easier to manage Land Rover Defender. Only over here, propulsion is electric. Perhaps for the design purist, the J6 is blasphemous, but I think they are onto something.
To tell of its soft-roader leanings, the Jaecoo J6 is decked-out in rugged unpainted wheel guards and bumpers. Give the latter a good push, and they feel robust, very much like what you might find on a Suzuki Jimny.
To finish the J6’s two-box form, it is equipped with a jerry can-inspired storage box at the rear. Perhaps the only flaw I can find on the car’s entire exterior would be with this very storage box, as its door is sprung on what appears to be flimsy elastic bands. And if you know your elastic bands (from wearing them), you’d know that they would lose their elasticity over time.
Robust-ish Interior
If you were to squint a little, you would be able to see hints of the Defender influence to the dashboard. On its centre, a wide 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, like many of the J6’s compatriots, holds the toggles to much of the car’s features. But the button-free experience does have significant drawbacks, since most functions are buried within the system. And to make matters worse, the interface is not the most user-friendly. I particularly found it tricky to sort the wipers out once the skies opened-up.
Like with many Chinese offerings, the J6 is not alone when it comes to having the car brimming with features. To my surprise, the SUV is equipped with a premium 12-speaker Infinity system, which offers decent audio. But what does take the cake here, is that while it is now quite common to find Chinese cars to be equipped with front ventilated seats with massage, the rear seats on the J6 also are ventilated. Interestingly, the rear seat bases fold forward if you need to extend the boot, therefore engineers had to factor this in, when designing the cooling.
But you know your passengers at the rear? They could use some proper controls for their climate control and seat ventilation.
I can tell that there is some thought put into the car’s packaging too, since it fits four with ease, and that 450 litre boot is quite spot-on when paired against similarly priced SUVs.
Some Softroad, More On-road
With twin motors, the J6 drives with a neutrality around turns. It feels surprisingly confident, while body roll is not too pronounced. If I were to fuss, I feel that they could have worked on the suspension’s rebound, but as with many EVs, there is more weight that the suspension systems have to mitigate.
The nine drive modes may seem a bit of an overkill, especially since the J6 lacks the necessary wheel articulation to go the full offroading gauntlet. However, I couldn’t resist getting the car off the beaten path and into a muddied-up area, where I made the switch to the appropriate drive mode. Over here, I could tell that the systems kicked in to ensure that the wheels found purchase, which gave me confidence to drive on.
As I piled on the miles, I began to truly enjoy how the J6 delivered its drive. Naturally smooth, with barely noticeable regenerative braking, when left on its lowest setting. Somehow, I feel that they have generally gotten the formula right with their SUV.
There is a Lot of Good
Playful, well-equipped, but above all, disruptive to what is available. But despite its flaws, the J6 is quite the serious offering, and it could prove attractive to those who want something electric, but with a serious sense of play.
Photos & Text: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Heavy on features | Not the best-planned infotainment |
| Drives surprisingly well | Elastic bands on the rear box will not last |
| Fab styling (although borrowed from the LR playbook) | Lower-than-average driving range |
Jaecoo J6 Electric AWD 69.77kWh
| Drivetrain | Full Electric |
| Layout | Dual Motor, AWD |
| Motor power / torque | 275hp / 385Nm |
| Battery capacity | 69.77kWh |
| Efficiency | 23.7kWh/100km |
| Electric Range | 342km |
| 0-100km/h | 6.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 150km/h |
| VES Band | A2 |
| Dealer | Vertex Automobile Pte Ltd |
| Price | S$201,888 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | The Jaecoo J6 is probably the most value-for-money electric soft-roader in Singapore. Styling taken from the Land Rover playbook, also means that it is also very good looking. |
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