Malaysia is one of 7 nations to put the Jaecoo J7 PHEV to the test in an ultra-long-range driving marathon from Guangzhou to Wuhu, China.

Along with Malaysia, the multinational contingent comprising Italy, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkiye, and the United Kingdom travelled over 1,300 km on a single tank of fuel and a full battery without stopping to recharge.

“We understand that range anxiety is a concern among drivers when it comes to electric vehicles. This is why Jaecoo placed the J7 PHEV in the hands of drivers from around the world to witness the unprecedented experience of travelling with confidence and peace of mind,” said Chery Corporate Malaysia Executive Vice President, Leo Chen.

“Our strategy to introduce the J7 PHEV is timely as the market demands the best of both worlds, engine performance and fuel efficiency.”

The 13-hour drive from Guangzhou began on 16 October as the multinational contingent navigated various driving environments, including traffic congestion during morning rush hour, national roads, and intercity expressways.

The J7 PHEV has a class-leading pure electric range of 106km (NEDC) and the lowest fuel consumption in its class, at 5.99 L/100km, in a power-depleted state. However, during the journey, the J7 PHEV surpassed its claimed pure electric range, going 19.2 km more by achieving a range of 125.2 km.

Due to be launched in Malaysia by the end of this year, the J7 PHEV looks virtually identical to its petrol-powered counterpart as well as sharing identical safety systems and creature comforts.

Distinct differences of the J7 PHEV include its hybrid engine and unrivalled range, DC charging ability, and external output, which enable users to charge and power electronic equipment such as a projector, kettle, or hairdryer, particularly on outdoor adventures.

Two variants of the J7 PHEV are announced, Two-wheel Drive (2WD/FWD) and All-wheel drive (AWD) with the latter offering 7 driving modes - Economy, Standard, Sport, Sand, Mud, Snow, or Off-Road.

Both variants’ PHEV system is a 1.5-litre TGDi petrol engine hooked to an e-motor that is in turn powered by an 18.3-kWh battery. Combined, the PHEV’s system output is 347 PS/525 Nm.

Jaecoo Malaysia has opened registration of interest for the Jaecoo J7 PHEV and will be previewed to the public from Wednesday, 23 October to Sunday, 27 October at LG2 Orange Wing, Sunway Pyramid.

Deliveries are expected to begin by February 2025 after a launch by the end of 2024. In the meantime, the petrol-powered Jaecoo J7 range starts from RM 138,800 for the J7 2WD and RM 148,800 for the J7 AWD.

Also read: Jaecoo J7 PHEV in Malaysia: Registration of interest opens, 347 PS/525 Nm, claimed 4.9 l/100 km fuel consumption!