Price (test base): NIS 164,000 / 155,000Competitors: MG ZS, Toyota Yaris Cross, BYD Atto 2 Plug-in, Chery FX, Nissan JukeLiked: Design, equipment, priceDisliked: Ergonomics, ride comfort, fuel consumptionScore: 8/10The Israeli “check in the mail” trick has now been upgraded technologically to “your call is important to us” and “I am not the driver” on Waze.
Plug-in vehicles are also a kind of trick: On paper they are the perfect car – both electric in daily use with dozens of kilometers of zero-emission driving, and a hybrid without range anxiety on long weekend trips.
That is how they are marketed, but in reality it depends on usage.
A large share of drivers, if not most, do not bother charging the car from a socket, and thus end up with a vehicle that receives generous tax benefits even though it is a heavy hybrid that is not always efficient.And when the tax authority and the treasury do not take a side here, the Chinese are doing it for them.
Although the flood of Chinese plug-in models has quadrupled their market share in Israel since the start of the year to 24%, hybrids already stand at 32%.
It is no longer just Toyota, Hyundai and Kia, but also Chinese manufacturers.
MG started the trend, Chery joined – first with its own brand and now with JAECOO, Chery’s sub-brand.
The JAECOO 5 now receives a hybrid powertrain alongside its petrol and electric versions.
By the end of the year, the best-selling JAECOO 7 in Israel will also receive such a version, alongside plug-in and petrol variants.
Prediction: By 2027, hybrids will be the largest segment in the market, overtaking petrol.For now, the price of the 5 is competitive: From NIS 155,000 for the hybrid, about NIS 20,000 less than Hyundai Kona, Toyota Corolla Cross and Kia Niro, and similar to its twin, the Chery FX.
Since the hybrid version launched in Israel earlier this year, sales of the 5 have surged, with nearly 5,000 units delivered since the beginning of 2026, more than 90% of them in the hybrid version.
A good deal?
After seeing it in China, we brought it for a full road test.DesignThe black color of the test car does it no favors.
In the two-tone version with a black roof it looks better, and resembles even more the car that inspired the JAECOO – the Range Rover Evoque.
The same dominant front end, and lines that look like a JAECOO 7 that has been slightly deflated.
Dimensions remain unchanged from the petrol and electric models: 4.38 meters long, 1.86 meters wide, 1.65 meters high, and a wheelbase of 2.62 meters.InteriorHere too, what was is what remains.
A 13.2-inch multimedia screen and an 8.8-inch instrument cluster.
Credit goes to physical buttons for mirror adjustment and air vents (unlike the 7), as well as control of the panoramic roof, which also benefits from an important sunshade in summer.
Climate control is still buried in the screens.
There is a touch strip for climate control, but once switching to Android Auto or CarPlay it disappears from the display, and you need several screen taps to reach it.
When returning to the Waze map, it vanishes again.The seating position is high, but the driver’s seat is stiff and lacks support.
The steering wheel buttons are not comfortable to press and are not very readable in daylight.
In the rear, the door threshold is not very wide and space is reasonable.
There is a flat floor and an air vent outlet, but the seat will comfortably fit two adults.
However, it is wide enough for three small children in child seats, something not every crossover in this price range can offer.The trunk offers 410 liters of capacity – reasonable but not outstanding, especially since this is measured to the roof rather than to seat height as is more common.
Beneath it there is an additional compartment, mostly empty except for the relocated 12V battery.
A waste of space, even more frustrating when realizing this is the same area used in the petrol version for a spare wheel, which is missing here.
Even hybrids get punctures.
And because this is a battery, it is simply bolted to the bottom of the empty space without protection around it, meaning you will not want to place other items there that could hit it.There are two trim levels:Premium (from NIS 155,000): 13.2-inch multimedia screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 8.8-inch driver display, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, USB-C ports front and rear, smart key, remote control of air conditioning and window operation, surround cameras, and electrically folding side mirrors with defog heating.Luxury (from NIS 164,000), the version we tested: Roof rails, two-tone paint, electric adjustment for driver and passenger seats (including heating and ventilation), panoramic roof with electric sunshade, powered tailgate, and an 8-speaker Sony sound system.SafetyThe JAECOO 5 has not yet been tested in Euro NCAP crash testing.
The specification includes 7 airbags, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and lane departure correction, blind spot monitoring, a system to prevent leaving children in the car, and warning for door opening into traffic.
The alerts are not too intrusive, especially after disabling the driver attention camera.Engine and performanceAs with Volkswagen or Stellantis, Chery has learned to take one powertrain and integrate it into multiple models.
We have already seen this setup in the Chery FX and will soon see it in the JAECOO 7 and Omoda 4.
A 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine producing 141 hp works alongside an electric motor producing 201 hp, for a combined output of 221 hp.
Drive is front-wheel.Performance is generally good, although mid-range acceleration is weaker than expected from the output due to slow throttle response, including in sport mode.
Regenerative braking can be adjusted in three levels, but only via the screen, and it resets every drive.
At low speeds, and when the battery is sufficiently charged, the car can drive electrically for up to 2 km continuously.Fuel consumptionJAECOO claims 19 km per liter.
We achieved 16 km per liter, similar to what we saw in the Chery FX.
A reasonable figure, but given relaxed driving in eco mode most of the time, we expected more – as achieved by Toyota and the Korean competitors.Comfort and handlingWhether due to weight savings compared to the electric version or different tuning, the hybrid 5 is slightly more comfortable than its sibling model, although the suspension is still clearly audible and road impacts are felt.
On the other hand, the soft suspension setup hurts cornering behavior – which is safe but not confidence-inspiring.
The ride is also not quiet enough.Bottom lineThe JAECOO 5 Hybrid refines the formula of the 7, with attractive design, good equipment and a much more accessible price that makes it relevant to many more drivers.
The hybrid costs NIS 7,000 more than the petrol version, a gap that can be offset by lower fuel consumption and better resale value.
Warranty is relatively long – 6 years or 150,000 km.
Who wouldn’t want a family hybrid crossover at the price of a Toyota Corolla?Ride comfort, road behavior and ergonomics are less impressive, but this is nothing Chery has not heard before.
Fuel consumption could also be better.
Hopefully these will be improved in a facelift.
For now, it is easy to understand why the 5 is already becoming a hit and to wonder whether it might even outsell its bigger sibling.JAECOO 5: Technical detailsEngines: 1.5-liter turbo petrol with 141 hp and 21.9 kgm, and an electric motor with 201 hp and 31.6 kgm.
Combined output 221 hp.Transmission: Single-speed, front-wheel drivePerformance:0–100 km/h: 7.9 secondsTop speed: 180 km/hCombined fuel consumption (manufacturer): 18.8 km per literCombined fuel consumption (test): 16 km per literDimensions:Length: 4.38 mWidth: 1.86 mHeight: 1.65 mWheelbase: 2.62 mTrunk: 410 litersCurb weight: 1,536 kgSafety:Euro NCAP rating: Not yet testedActive safety: Autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and correction, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, door opening warning for traffic, child presence detectionWarranty:6 years or 150,000 km for the vehicle, 8 years or 150,000 km battery warranty.
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