2026 Jaecoo J5 small SUV will bring three powertrain options to Australia

The 2026 Jaecoo J5 has been confirmed for Australian release with the choice of three powertrains – petrol, hybrid and electric – but the all-new small SUV will arrive here later than expected in February next year.

Previously due for local launch by the end of this year, the J5 will slot in under the existing Jaecoo J7 mid-size SUV in the Chinese auto brand’s growing Australian model range, in terms of both size and price.

Pricing and specifications are yet to be announced, but Omoda Jaecoo Australia today confirmed initial local details, including three powertrain options starting with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 108kW of power and 210Nm of torque, and matched with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

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Also available will be a petrol-electric 1.5-litre series-parallel hybrid system, and a battery-electric version offering a WLTP range of 402km.

Like the larger, related J7, Jaecoo says the J5 will major on “premium design, technology and safety” and will bring “the same design language and outdoor-focused approach to a new corner of the SUV segment”.

Featuring the same upright silhouette, wide shoulders and signature waterfall grille as the J7, the five-seat J5 measures 4380mm long, 1860mm wide and 1650mm tall on a 2620mm wheelbase, making it slightly shorter overall than Chinese brand’s own Omoda 5. But up to 50mm longer than the top-selling Hyundai Kona.

It will also offer 480 litres of cargo capacity behind the 60/40-split rear seats, which when folded flat liberate up to 1284L of luggage space.

Standard equipment confirmed today by Omoda Jaecoo include a 13.2-inch portrait-style infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, a six-speaker audio system, and a full range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

“The J5 represents a significant step forward for Jaecoo in Australia, bringing greater choice in new energy and a more accessible path to premium motoring,” said Omoda Jaecoo Australia chief commercial officer, Roy Munoz.

“It carries the design, quality and features that have made our J7 so popular into a more compact and attainable package. With the J5, we’re giving Australians broader options without compromising on refinement, practicality or performance.

“Whether you’re travelling solo, with family, or four-legged passengers in tow, it has been engineered with thoughtful features for every journey, complemented by advanced safety and driver-assistance technologies. It delivers the modern premium SUV experience, without the bulk.”

For context, the J5 is already on sale in the UK in two trim levels – Pure and Luxury – priced from £24,505 before on-road costs, compared to £30,115 for the base J7, which costs $34,990 drive-away in Australia, indicating a sub-$30,000 starting price for the J5 here.

The UK-market J5 comes with a 108kW/275Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, giving it a claimed 0-100km/h time of 10.0 seconds. 

Power is sent to the front wheels, although an all-wheel drive version is available in other markets. It’s unclear if it will be offered locally.

The all-electric version of the J5 is sold in the UK as the Jaecoo E5, which has a front-mounted 152kW/288Nm electric motor powered by a 61.1kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery providing 399km of WLTP range and DC fast-charging at up to 80kW.

In the UK, it has a base price that’s £3000 higher than the equivalent petrol-powered model.

UK models come with a 540-degree camera system and 19 ADAS functions as standard, and Luxury grades add power-adjustable front seats with heating and memory, wireless smartphone charging, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, and an eight-speaker Sony sound system. 

To the end of September, the Omoda Jaecoo brand – which offers the J7, J8 and Omoda 9 crossover SUVs – has delivered 2144 vehicles so far this year in Australia.

MORE: Explore the Jaecoo showroom