JAC 8: 7-Seater plug-in hybrid with 430 HP

It was a quick conquest. Only in the last quarter of 2024 did JAC, Chery’s semi-luxury brand, land in Israel. In 2025, the JAC 7 became the best-selling model in the country, and toward the end of the year, its smaller sibling, the JAC 5, arrived. The company opens 2026 with the 8: A large 7-seater plug-in vehicle, which, following the tradition of the Chinese conglomerate, shares components with a twin already sold in Israel – the Chery Tiggo 9.

Israelis love 7-seater cars; we have more children than Europeans, and our children have more friends. The Mitsubishi Outlander and Skoda Kodiaq were the kings of the category until the Chery Tiggo 8 arrived. The JAC 8 is slightly larger: At 4.82 meters long, it is just one centimeter shorter than the Santa Fe, but 6 cm longer than the Kodiaq and 10 cm longer than the Outlander. In China, it is marketed with 6 seats, but the Chinese learned local preferences and added a third seat in the middle row for us.

Chery knows how to design, or at least draw successful inspiration from others. The JAC 7 strongly resembles the Range Rover Evoque, and the 8 adds a dramatic Audi-style grille. The result looks good and luxurious, especially thanks to the blacked-out side pillars that blend well with the gray color of the test car and the 20-inch wheels. The overall feeling is of an expensive car – soon we’ll check if it delivers.

The design resembles the Tiggo 9, but the materials feel richer and more premium. The screens are large, the seats are electrically adjustable, and in the well-equipped version, they also offer massage. This version also includes an effective head-up display (HUD), allowing a choice between a minimalist speed view and full details of the control systems.

But not everything is rosy: It seems Chery declared war on physical buttons. You can manually adjust the mirrors and air vents (thankfully), but the climate control, massage activation, and other functions are buried deep in the multimedia screen. This requires too many taps, and the screen’s response is slightly slow – a shame, and mostly dangerous. Forward and side visibility is excellent, but backward you’ll have to rely almost entirely on the 360-degree cameras.

The second row is very spacious and includes a flat floor, air vents, heating, and ventilation. The row slides on rails to balance legroom with the third row. Access to seats 6 and 7 is reasonable, but they are low and mainly suitable for children. When in use, the trunk shrinks to a symbolic 200 liters (measured to the roof), and the charging cable remains "loose" due to lack of dedicated storage. For real family use, you’ll need to fold a seat or equip a roof rack. Spare wheel? None.

There are two trim levels. The ‘Luxury’ (starting at NIS 230,000) offers a panoramic roof, dual 12.3-inch screens, cooled wireless charging, leather-like upholstery, and a Sony sound system with 8 speakers. This is a very impressive entry-level version. The ‘Limited’ (NIS 255,000) adds a head-up display, seat massage, Nappa leather, steering wheel heating, and rear sunshades.

The 8 has not yet been tested in European crash tests (unlike its smaller siblings who received 5 stars). It has 9 airbags (10 in the Limited) and a full active system. The systems function well and can be disabled, although they re-arm with each ignition.

A combination of a 1.5L turbo-gasoline engine and three electric motors. JAC keeps the combined power vague (Rolls-Royce modesty?), but since the twin produces 430 HP, the figure is probably similar. Despite a weight of 2.3 tons, the car accelerates well in "Normal" and rockets in "Sport" mode (5.8 seconds to 100 km/h). The gasoline engine kicks in under load or above 70 km/h, becoming noticeable and loud.

Fuel consumption depends on the battery: With a full charge, we achieved 105-110 km on electricity alone (manufacturer claim: 134 km). When the battery depletes, you get about 15-16 km per liter in relaxed driving – a good figure for these dimensions, although the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is more efficient.

Suspension tuning is too soft for daily use and too stiff in "Sport," and the adaptive dampers struggle to control body roll in corners. Despite all-wheel drive and a differential lock, don’t count on off-road: Approach angles and road tires limit it to asphalt only.

NIS 250K is a considerable sum, but the JAC 8 is about NIS 100,000 cheaper than direct competitors from Hyundai and Toyota. It is stylish, well-equipped, and comfortable, and if charged, also very economical. This is a Chinese car that provides impressive value for money, and given the “price war” in the market, we may see an even more accessible 2X4 version in the future.