Generate a summary

Subscribe

Find a car

Jaecoo’s new flagship, the 8 family SUV, is heading to the UK next year — positioned above the brand’s 5 and 7 models and aimed squarely at larger European rivals such as the Volkswagen Tayron and Skoda Kodiaq.

A small number of UK dealers have already listed the car online and a Jaecoo spokesperson has confirmed the launch. Full UK specifications are still being finalised, but the model follows the pattern we’ve seen in other right-hand-drive markets: in Australia the 8 is offered with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that develops around 245 bhp and 284 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can choose between front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive depending on trim, and both use an eight-speed automatic; the top trims add adaptive suspension for a more composed ride.

Where the Jaecoo 8 really tries to stand out is inside. The cabin pairs a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a matching infotainment touchscreen powered by a Qualcomm chip — the same processor family used in a number of Volvo and Polestar models — and the spec sheet reads like a tech lover’s wish list: head-up display, massaging driver’s seat, a 14-speaker Sony audio system and ambient LED lighting that flows across the dashboard and doorcards. The 8 is sold worldwide in five-, six- and seven-seat layouts, so families will have flexible options.

Price details for the UK haven’t been released yet. The 8 will certainly cost more than the smaller 7 (which currently starts at about £30,115), but Jaecoo appears set to position it competitively — likely undercutting rivals such as the Skoda Kodiaq, which today begins around £39,905.

Bottom line: the Jaecoo 8 aims to give buyers a roomy, tech-heavy alternative to established European SUVs — promising premium gadgets and generous kit for a price that could make rivals sit up and take notice.

Get started now

Find your next car with Netmotors.

Start now