Jaecoo J5 Core: South Africa's new budget-friendly SUV option

Jaecoo South Africa has broadened its J5 offering with a new entry point called the Core, aimed at buyers who want the brand’s rugged-urban flavour without stretching their budget. It slots in beneath the Vortex, Glacier and Inferno trims, but the basics remain familiar.

Engine

Under the bonnet, the Core sticks with the J5’s 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, producing 115kW and 230Nm, driving the front wheels via a CVT with Eco, Normal and Sport modes. Claimed fuel consumption is 7.5l/100km, which translates to 600–plus kilometres between fill-ups.

The mechanical package stays the same, with MacPherson struts up front and a multilink setup at the rear. Ventilated front discs and rear discs take care of stopping duties.

Specification level

It rides on 17-inch alloys, has LED daytime running lights, automatic headlights and wipers, power-adjustable mirrors and rear parking sensors. The luggage area remains one of the J5’s strengths, 480 litres with the rear seats up, expanding to 1,284 litres when folded, with a towing capacity of 750kg.

Black cloth seats offer manual adjustment (six-way for the driver, four-way for the passenger) and automatic climate control comes standard. A nine-inch touchscreen handles infotainment with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while an eight-inch digital cluster takes care of the driving info.

Safety comes in the form of ABS, EBD, ESP, traction control, brake assist, roll stability control, hill start assist, hill descent control, dual front airbags, ISOFIX mounts and multi-collision braking.

Jaecoo says the intention behind the Core was to create “a more attainable option without compromising the fundamental strengths of the model.” 

All versions, including the new Core, come with a two-year/30 000km service plan, five-year/150 000km warranty, 10-year/1-million km engine warranty, and five-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance.

Pricing (December 2025)

• J5 Core: R339 900.
• J5 Vortex: R379 900.
• J5 Glacier: R439 900.
• J5 Inferno: R479 900.