Chinese manufacturers continue to climb up the market. Weeks after Chery launched the Tiggo 9 in Israel, a 7-seater plug-in crossover with all-wheel drive for NIS 245,000, its twin from JAC arrives, with a more competitive starting price of NIS 230,000.
The 8 will try to build on the great success of the smaller JAC 7, which recorded 14,200 deliveries this year, mainly in the plug-in version. The 8 adds an extra row of seats, a reinforced drivetrain, a longer electric range, and additional equipment.
With a length of 4.82 meters, a width of 1.93 meters, a height of 1.71 meters, and a wheelbase of 2.82 meters, the 8 is larger than common 7-seater crossovers like the Chery Tiggo 8 and Mitsubishi Outlander, as well as larger ones such as the Škoda Kodiaq, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe — and slightly larger than the Tiggo 9. The weight stands at 2.2 tons.
The drivetrain is based on a 1,500 cc turbo petrol engine with 143 hp and 21.9 kg·m of torque, and three electric motors: Two at the front with 101 and 122 hp, and one at the rear with 238 hp. The manufacturer does not disclose the combined output, which is expected to reach approximately 600 hp. There is also a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Performance: Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 5.8 seconds, and the top speed is 180 km/h. The official combined electric range is 134 km, and the combined fuel efficiency is 47.6 km per liter.
Electricity: A 34.46 kWh battery allows for a relatively long range. Slow charging is possible at 6.6 kW, taking 5.5 hours to charge from 10% to 100%, and fast charging at 70 kW (25 minutes).
Most driving is expected to be on electricity, with the petrol engine joining at high speeds, serving to charge the battery, or activating immediately off-road when the rear differential lock is engaged — a rare function in vehicles of this type. Ground clearance is 18.05 cm, with approach and departure angles of 20 degrees, allowing basic off-road capability. Adaptive suspensions are expected to improve comfort even off asphalt.
The base version for Kacheri (NIS 230,000) comes with 20-inch wheels, LED headlights, fog lights, roof rails, and a panoramic sunroof. There is also a 12.3-inch multimedia screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a ventilated wireless charging pad for mobile phones. The seats feature artificial leather upholstery, electrically adjustable driver and passenger seats, and movable second-row seats. At the rear, there is an air conditioning vent with intensity and temperature control, four USB-C ports, and a 12V socket. The sound system is by Sony, with 8 speakers.
The Limited trim (NIS 255,000) upgrades to a Sony system with 14 speakers, including two speakers in the driver’s headrest, a head-up display, an electrically adjustable heated steering wheel, electronic door opening, sunshades for the second-row windows, heated and ventilated front seats, and reading lights for the third row. The vehicle also includes Nappa leather upholstery, an 8-way driver seat with electric thigh support, a massage function for the driver and passenger, and an auto-dimming interior mirror.
Safety: The vehicle has not yet been tested in the European crash test. The specification includes 9 airbags in the base model and 10 in the Limited, including autonomous emergency braking for forward and backward driving, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and correction, blind spot detection, warning for opening doors into a non-free lane, surround-view cameras, and front and rear parking sensors.