Jaecoo has firmed up its plans for a fully electric J5 in the UK, with the brand stating a WLTP range of up to 248 miles from a 61.1kWh battery and a single front-mounted motor producing 154bhp. The petrol J5 starts at £25,135, and while final EV pricing hasn't been published, dealer briefings point to a start figure in the region of £30,000 when order books open in the second half of 2026.
what's actually been announced
The J5 EV uses the same compact-SUV silhouette as the petrol car launched earlier this year, but swaps the 1.6-litre turbo four for a permanent-magnet synchronous motor. Jaecoo quotes 0-62mph in around 8.8 seconds and a top speed of 107mph. DC rapid charging peaks at 80kW, which the manufacturer says is enough for a 30-80% top-up in roughly 27 minutes. AC charging is capped at 11kW.
Dimensions are unchanged from the combustion car: 4,380mm long, 1,860mm wide, with a 2,260-litre maximum boot volume with the rear seats folded. Kerb weight rises by around 240kg over the petrol, which is modest by class standards and reflects the relatively compact battery pack.
The car will be built in China at Chery's Wuhu plant and shipped through the same UK dealer network Jaecoo has been steadily expanding since the brand's arrival, with around 70 sites expected to be operational by the time the EV reaches showrooms.
where it sits in the market
At a likely £30,000 entry point, the J5 EV lands in one of the most contested corners of the UK new-car market. The MG4 starts under £27,000, the Vauxhall Frontera Electric opens at £26,995, and the Kia EV3 begins at £33,005. Jaecoo's pitch is the usual one for the brand: more equipment for the money, a longer warranty (seven years), and a more conventional SUV body than the hatchback-shaped MG.
Reviewers covering the petrol J5 have been broadly positive on cabin quality and standard kit at the price, while flagging that the ride can feel underdamped on poor surfaces and that the infotainment, though large, isn't the slickest in the segment. Whether the EV inherits those traits will depend on suspension retuning for the heavier powertrain, something Jaecoo has confirmed is part of the UK-specification programme but hasn't detailed publicly.
The consensus across early industry coverage is that the J5 EV's headline range figure is competitive rather than class-leading. 248 miles is roughly on par with the entry MG4 and slightly behind the longer-range EV3, but ahead of the cheapest Frontera Electric variants. Charging speed is the obvious weak point. 80kW peak DC is fine for urban and suburban use, but it'll lengthen motorway stops compared with the 100kW-plus rivals at this money.
what owners of the petrol car are saying
Buyer feedback on the petrol J5, gathered from owner communities and dealer review aggregators, tends to highlight three things: the perceived value at sub-£27,000 in mid-spec trim, the genuinely usable boot, and a sense that the brand is still finding its feet on after-sales response times. That last point matters more for an EV, where software updates and battery-warranty queries are part of the long-term ownership picture, and it's an area Jaecoo will need to get right if the J5 EV is to convert curiosity into orders.
what's still missing
Jaecoo hasn't confirmed final trim walks, exact UK pricing, or first delivery dates. A heat pump is expected as standard, bidirectional charging isn't on the spec sheet, and there's no word yet on a longer-range variant. Expect more detail closer to a formal reveal later in the year.
Sources: Jaecoo UK product communications (May 2026); aggregated industry coverage and owner-community sentiment around the existing J5 petrol range.
