Jaecoo E5 (2025) Review

Introduction

If you’re not a keen observer of the automotive market, then you may not have heard of Jaecoo. It’s a Chinese-owned brand that only launched in the UK at the start of 2025, but it has immediately found success. Its first car, the Jaecoo 7, has positively flown off the showroom floors (it was Scotland’s second best-selling car in August 2025, fact-fans), and now there’s a sequel.

This is the Jaecoo E5, an electric sibling to the petrol-powered Jaecoo 5. Both versions aim to continue the success story of the Jaecoo 7 by offering a stylish and classy family car, with a lengthy list of standard features, but at a rock-bottom price. This battery-powered small SUV starts at just £27,505, which dramatically undercuts its similarly-sized electric rivals.

In fact, the Jaecoo’s pricing makes it more affordable even than apparently-cheap smaller cars, like the MGS5 EV and the Jeep Avenger Electric.

With space for five, a decent-sized boot and an official range of up to 248 miles on a single charge, the E5 is, on paper, a heck of a lot of car for the cash before you even factor in a generous standard spec list – Jaecoo says that the entry-level Pure trim has “everything you need” while the top-spec Luxury model has “everything you want”. Well, we’ll be the judge of that. Read on to see if the reality matches the pitch.

At a Glance

The Jaecoo E5 is a battery-powered SUV that, size-wise, competes with the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric, the Peugeot E-2008, the Kia Niro EV, the BYD Atto 3 and more. But – and it’s a big but – the Jaecoo is considerably more affordable to buy. The Kona Electric starts at £35,000, the Peugeot E-2008 costs from £37,190, the Kia Niro EV is £37,335 and the BYD Atto 3 starts at £37,705.

Remember, the E5 costs from £27,505 and even in top-spec Luxury trim, with a plethora of mod-cons, is just £30,505.

For that money, you get a front-wheel-drive setup that uses a 61.1kWh battery with a 207PS, 288Nm electric motor. The official 0-62mph time is 7.7 seconds and the range is 248 miles on a full charge, which is pretty comparable to its pricier rivals.

Looks-wise, Jaecoo says the E5 is inspired by nature – mountains, landscapes, that kind of thing – although we can’t help think that it looks somewhat Range Rovery, too. (The Range Rover Evoque, by the way, is another potential rival.) Still, it’s smart and sleek with 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. You can tell the E5 from the petrol-powered 5 because the electric model is missing Jaecoo’s signature “waterfall” grille.

Inside, you’ll find a wealth of kit on even the standard car, including a huge 13.2-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a big 480-litre boot and numerous storage spaces.

Key Features

The E5 has a single powertrain driving the front wheels – a 204PS motor with a 61.1kWh battery – and a choice of two trim levels. Both are very well-equipped – the entry-level Pure model features the full 13.2-inch touchscreen with an 8.8-inch digital drive display, a 540-degree camera system, and some 19 advanced driver assistance systems, as well as Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability that lets you run various appliances from the car’s battery – ideal if you’re camping.

The Luxury model gets extra features like a panoramic glass sunroof, dual-zone climate control and interior ambient lighting, as well as wireless high-speed phone charging for two devices, electrically adjustable heated and ventilated front seats and an eight-speaker Sony sound system.

Range & Batteries

The Jaecoo E5’s single battery option is a 61.1kWh unit that promises an official range of up to 248 miles on a full charge. An 11kW on-board charger is included, allowing a full home AC charging in around 10 hours on a single-phase system or eight hours on three-phase. It’ll DC charge at up to 80kW, which isn’t particularly fast, but Jaecoo quotes a 30% to 80% refill in around 27 minutes – time for a coffee and a cake, at least.

To compare to rivals, the Jaecoo E5 has an identical range to the smaller but similarly priced Jeep Avenger Electric, while the MG4 EV Long Range – again, smaller but similarly priced – will manage up to 281 miles and charges faster too. If you compare against cars of a similar size, the E5’s range is competitive but not class-leading.

The E5 also features a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) system that lets you power external devices from the car’s battery – very useful when camping or for powering tools, for example.

Performance & Drive

On paper, the Jaecoo E5 looks like an absolute bargain, but if the driving experience isn’t up to scratch, it could prove a false economy. Thankfully, that’s not the case. Nothing about the way the E5 drives will win any awards, but there’s nothing particularly bad, either. It feels somewhat unsophisticated compared to its more expensive rivals, but then that’s at least one of the reasons why it’s so much more affordable.

Put your foot down and the 204PS from the electric motor will get you up to speed more than quickly enough for just about every scenario, although you’ll feel the torque from the motor tugging slightly at the steering as you do so. The steering is far from pin-sharp and doesn’t promote enthusiastic driving – this is very much a car that rewards gentle cruising.

The ride is probably the E5’s biggest weak point – it’s fussy and fidgety over even relatively smooth roads, but it’s damped well enough that it’s never crashy or uncomfortable even when the road surface gets rough and potholed. On a £40,000 car the lack of refinement might raise more of an eyebrow, but when you look at the price of the Jaecoo it’s within the realms of acceptability.

Running Costs & Emissions

As with all electric vehicles, there’s the potential for the Jaecoo to save you considerable amounts of money compared to its petrol sibling. Electricity costs can be far less than petrol, especially if you can charge at home or at your office, and even more so if you have an EV-specific tariff that gives you the cheapest deal on car-charging. 

For example, a home tariff that gives EV charging for 7p per kWh will refill the E5 from empty for less than £5. A regular rate of around 29p per kWh will cost about £17. Public fast charging will be considerably more expensive – up to around 90p per kWh.

The Jaecoo EV qualifies for the lowest rate of VED (Vehicle Excise Duty, often known as road tax) in its first year, which is built into the purchase price of the car. The flat rate of tax applies after that, which is £195 a year. No Jaecoo E5 costs more than the £40,000 boundary that would trigger the expensive car surcharge.

Insurance could be slightly more pricey. The Jaecoo sits in insurance group 34 of 50, which is slightly higher than some of its (admittedly pricier) rivals.

Interior & Technology

Jump into the Jaecoo E5 and you’re faced with a smart, minimalist dashboard design dominated by the 13.2-inch portrait touchscreen that leans up against the centre of the dashboard, with a small but wide 8.8-inch digital driver display. The system uses a quick processor and responds quickly, and it’s intuitive to use, although wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as standard so we suspect most people will just use those for most functions.

It’s a shame there are no physical controls to adjust the air conditioning or jump between sections, but there is at least the option to drag up controls from the bottom of the screen, even in CarPlay, to adjust things relatively quickly. Luxury-spec cars get a dual wireless phone charger in front of the screen to keep your mobiles topped up.

Material quality is generally pretty good. We’ve only tried the top-spec Luxury model, which gets some extra swanky bits like a soft-touch dashboard, but the main touchpoints are solid and have a good finish. The lower you get in the car, the lower the quality of materials – the door bins and glovebox feel a little flimsier, for example, but overall the impression is positive. It’s perhaps best to think of the E5 as a value-for-money car with some snazzy bits, rather than a premium car with some cheap bits – the price should again underline this.

Practicality & Boot Space

The Jaecoo E5 is a large car for its type (and price), and is packed with storage options – Jaecoo says there are at least 35 storage spots and while we haven’t counted them, there are a lot. A pair of cupholders between the front seats, a storage shelf behind the infotainment screen, and a deep cubby under the central armrest cover the fundamentals nicely, while there’s a reasonable glovebox and big door bins in the front and the back.

Five adults should be able to get in without too much trouble, although the central back seat offers slightly less legroom. But generally headroom and legroom is very good.

The boot, at 480 litres in capacity, is an impressive size for this type of car, and the back seats fold down in a 60/40 split to create an almost flat loading space if you have the adjustable boot floor at its highest setting. The total space when it’s opened up is 1180 litres.

Safety

Independent safety organisation Euro NCAP has yet to test the Jaecoo E5, although given the success of the Jaecoo 7 – a maximum five-star score – hopes will be high that the smaller car will reach similar heights.

The E5 comes with Isofix child-seat mounting points on the outer rear seats and features 19 different driver assistance systems, from lane-departure warning and blind-spot detection to adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert. There’s also a 540-degree camera system that includes underbody and chassis views, and bright LED headlights on the Luxury trim – the Pure model has to make do with halogen units, which seems rather outdated.

Options

Jaecoo keeps things refreshingly straightforward with the E5 by offering just two trim levels – Pure and Luxury – and a small but fairly meaningful range of optional extras.

The Pure trim is the entry point, though you wouldn’t immediately know it from the specification. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, LED rear lights and those halogen headlights. Inside, there’s a synthetic-leather steering wheel, cloth upholstery, and air conditioning. A 6-speaker sound system handles audio duties. On the safety and convenience front, all models get adaptive cruise control, lane-departure prevention, hill descent control, multiple-collision defence, the 540-degree panoramic camera system and a choice of Normal, Eco and Sport driving modes.

Stepping up to the Luxury trim brings a notable boost in comfort and tech. Highlights include heated and ventilated front seats with electric adjustment, a heated steering wheel and upgraded ECO-leather upholstery. Dual-zone climate control and wireless smartphone charging are also added, while sound quality improves with an eight-speaker Sony audio system. A panoramic glass roof and power-operated boot lid enhance practicality and style, and LED headlights replace the halogen units from the base trim.

Luxury models also include pet-friendly and eco leather trim, Pet Mode (which keeps the car cool if you’re away from it), and Camping Mode features.

Camping Mode keeps the climate control, USB ports, and selected interior power outlets running even with the ignition off, allowing you to power accessories like fridges, lights, or air pumps without draining the 12 V system too quickly. It works in conjunction with the E5’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, which lets you draw power from the high-voltage battery via an external adapter. In the Luxury trim, Camping Mode can also make use of the under-bonnet external speakers, enabling music playback when you’re pitched up.

Roof rails on Luxury variants are rated for up to 75kg of load, should you need space for bikes or a rooftop box.

Paint is the primary add-on: Granite White is standard, while Zircon Grey, Lazuli Blue, Copper Green and Basalt Black cost £500 each. For those after a more distinctive look, two-tone finishes (Granite White or Copper Green paired with a black roof) are offered at £1000.

Rival Cars

If you’re considering the Jaecoo E5, there are various other cars you should take a look at. These include the BYD Atto 3, the Kia Niro EV, the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Peugeot e-2008. The Atto 3 and Niro are impressive when it comes to range and refinement, and the Kona offers a good balance of price and general polish. 

The e-2008 is smaller but great around town. The E5 is particularly impressive when it comes to spec for the price, and has smart looks and a competitive, if not leading range of 248 miles. It’s less dynamically impressive than these rivals when it comes to refinement, too.

Verdict & Next Steps

The new Jaecoo E5 makes an impressive debut as an affordable, feature-rich entry into the small electric SUV market. With suave good looks, a tech-filled cabin and a generous level of standard equipment, it brings genuine appeal to buyers who want a modern, family-friendly EV without breaking the bank. The 248-mile range should be enough for most daily needs, while its refined electric powertrain and practical, pet-friendly interior make it both usable and likeable.

It’s not particularly dynamic or sophisticated to drive, and most rivals offer a little more polish or brand cachet, but the Jaecoo E5 counters that with sheer value. Backed by a seven-year warranty and a well-judged blend of style, comfort and practicality, the E5 feels like another hit for Jaecoo – if you don’t mind sacrificing some refinement in the name of price, it’s easy to recommend.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Jaecoo E5 / Jaecoo 5 Electric 

**Correct as of 09/10/2025. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £2,701.71 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.