The Chinese are coming, and they keep coming: 33% of the new cars sold in Israel since the beginning of the year were manufactured in China, compared to 19% in South Korea and 15% in Japan.
Despite the increase in sales of hybrid and plug-in cars this year, in a market where most new cars are electrified in some way, gasoline still leads in sales. Even after a decline in electric car sales this year, 45% of 2025 models on the roads were gasoline, compared to 26.6% hybrids, 17.8% electric, and 10.3% plug-in.
Against this backdrop, the new gasoline JAC 5 seems very relevant to the local market. It is also the younger sibling of the new best-seller in Israel, the JAC 7, which has delivered over 10,000 units since the start of the year, surpassing hybrid hits like the Hyundai Kona and Elantra.
JAC is a brand of the Chinese company Chery, which split the licenses between two competing importers: Carmobile imports JAC and will soon launch Omoda, while waiting to receive an import license for the more premium brand Excellantis. Chery is imported by Frisbee, which will also launch the off-road brand iCar.
The design echoes the JAC 7, only in smaller dimensions: 4.38 meters in length (12 cm shorter), 1.86 meters in width (0.5 cm less), 1.65 meters in height (2 cm lower), and a wheelbase of 2.62 meters (5 cm shorter).
The difference is in the powertrain: While the 7 is offered in plug-in and gasoline versions, the 5 is currently offered in gasoline and electric versions, and will receive a hybrid version in Israel by the end of the year.
The gasoline version has a 1,600 cc turbo engine, 147 hp already familiar from the 7 and Chery models, 28 kg·m torque, with a dual-clutch automated transmission. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 10.2 seconds, the top speed is 182 km/h, and the official combined fuel consumption is 14.3 km per liter.
The electric version has a 58.9 kWh battery, a 211 hp motor, with 29.4 kg·m torque. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.7 seconds, top speed is 175 km/h, and the combined range is 402 km. Fast charging is possible at only 80 kW, 11 kW on a three-phase connection, and 3.3 kW on a single-phase connection.
In a market eager for cheaper models, this is interesting news, especially the gasoline version, which offers a family crossover option tens of thousands of shekels cheaper than classic family cars. We took it for its first Israeli test drive.
Design: The 5 continues the design language of the 7, originally created in the design workshops of Land Rover and Range Rover. It looks like a smaller 7, with the same dominant front that differs from the British model, and lines reminiscent of the Range Rover Sport, which costs more than five times as much. Even copying requires knowing who to copy from. The black color of the test car slightly blurs the lines, but in lighter models with the optional black roof, it is certainly an attractive vehicle, though less so than its bigger sibling.
Interior: Again, the base is the JAC 7. It features a large multimedia screen and a separate digital instrument panel translated into Hebrew, with a classic gear lever to the right of the steering wheel. The design is clean, the material quality is good, and although the air conditioning is operated entirely from the screen, requiring you to look away from the road, the car will scold you if it detects your gaze diverted from the sensor above the steering wheel.
There is a fixed screen of buttons for the air conditioning at the bottom of the screen; it is easy to control the temperature and access climate control shortcuts, but physical switches would have been preferable here. At least there are physical adjustment switches for the mirrors, unlike the JAC plug-in; hopefully, this will continue in other versions.
The seating position is high and commanding; at a traffic light, you can look down even on popular crossovers of this size like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-3, as well as BYD Atto 3 and other electric vehicles. Entry and exit are easy, but the front seats lack lateral support.
In the rear, space is good, including headroom and legroom. Only the door is slightly narrow, the seat is a bit low, and the floor is almost flat. There is an air conditioning vent and a charging port.
The trunk is one of the car's strong points, with a capacity of 480 liters, more than many larger crossovers. There is a hanging hook and lighting, and even a spare wheel, so you won’t be stranded for hours somewhere in the Negev or Golan waiting for a tow truck in case of a breakdown.
There are two equipment levels. Premium (from NIS 148,000) includes 18-inch wheels, front LED headlights, a 13.2-inch multimedia screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, USB ports, air conditioning with rear-seat vents, keyless start, electrically adjustable and foldable side mirrors, and the ability to activate the air conditioning via an app before entering the car.
At the Luxury level (NIS 157,000), added features include artificial leather seats, an electric tailgate, panoramic roof with electric shade, electrically adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, wireless phone charging, a power outlet in the trunk, and more.
Safety: The 5 has not yet been tested in a public crash test. Equipment includes 8 airbags, autonomous emergency braking forward and backward, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot alert, lane-keeping and deviation prevention, automatic high beam, front and rear parking sensors, and a panoramic camera (Luxury). The electric version also has sensors to prevent leaving children in the rear seat. Active systems have improved compared to the first JAC models that arrived here, reducing unnecessary warnings, alerts, and corrections.
Engine and Performance: With the same engine as its larger and heavier sibling, it is a nimble car, though not sporty. The efficient dual-clutch transmission helps the engine, which is not the most advanced gasoline engine on the market, and if you want to push the gas and overtake, you won’t struggle to do so.
Fuel Consumption: But this comes at a price. Even in calm intercity driving, you won’t achieve more than 14 km per liter, and during our test, we averaged 12.2 km per liter, after mostly relaxed driving.
Comfort and Handling: Not the car’s strong suit. Comfort is reasonable, and when the suspension hits a pothole or a particularly harsh speed bump, you will hear it working in cases where you won’t feel the impact. The car also jolts a bit over such speed bumps if you try to speed. Grip is reasonable too, but the car is somewhat bulky in corners, and stability control intervention is relatively harsh.
Bottom Line: The JAC 5 proves that a cheap crossover does not have to look cheap. It does not compromise on equipment and offers a relatively long warranty for a gasoline car, similar to what is usually offered for electric cars. It is large enough for a family, mainly thanks to the trunk, which can easily swallow a stroller and luggage. Fuel consumption and road behavior are less pleasant, but will improve in the hybrid version. If you don’t drive much, or someone else pays for your fuel, it is an interesting option right now.
JAC 5 Gasoline Luxury | Specs
Engine: 1,598 cc, turbo gasoline, 147 hp, 28 kg·m torque
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel drive
Performance (manufacturer): 0–100 km/h in 10.2 seconds, top speed 190 km/h, combined fuel 14.3 km/l
Safety: Not tested in European crash test. Full active safety
Warranty: 5 years or 150,000 km
Price (base/test car): NIS 157,000/145,000
Likes: Design, space, equipment, performance, warranty
Dislikes: Handling, comfort, fuel consumption
Score: 8/10