Previewed: Jaecoo J8 SUV in Malaysia – Coming in 2H 2024

Previewed alongside the J7 today is the Jaecoo J8 – a midsize SUV set to debut later in 2H 2024.

Aside from the J7, Jaecoo’s special media preview event today also features a surprise appearance by its D-segment SUV fighter, the Jaecoo J8. Also known as the Chery Tiggo 9 in China, the J8 is set to debut later in the second half of 2024, possibly nearing the end of the year.

Previously shown during the Chery International User Summit (CIUS) last year, the J8 is a pretty large SUV, measuring 4,820 MM long, 1,930 MM wide, 1,699 MM tall, and having a wheelbase of 2,820 MM. Sharing the same T1X platform as the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, the J8 is set to go against the likes of the Mazda CX-8, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, and the Proton X90 in the competitive D-segment SUV market space.

Previewed here is a left-hand drive unit specced for other international markets, suggesting that there’ll be a slight tweak and changes in specifications for our local spec. Nevertheless, the J8 boasts a very strong stature, thanks to its commanding front face featuring a massive front grille with vertical slits, flanked by a pair of sleek LED headlights.

Similar to the J7, the J8 also comes with flushed door handles and a sharp shoulder line that runs through its side part, while the whole car is riding on massive 20-inch alloy wheels. At the rear, the J8 sports an almost similar LED taillight design as its smaller sibling, also featuring a full-width LED bar with Jaecoo lettering placed between them.

Aside from this two-row five-seater layout, the Jaecoo J8 also comes in a three-row six- or seven-seater version

On board, the J8 is laden with both tech and comfort amenities, similar to its Chinese twin we’ve previewed before. Up front lies a dual 12.3-inch display layout, a head-up display (HUD) for drivers, textured wood veneers across the front dash and door cards, a floating central console with a wireless charger, an ambient lighting system, a full panoramic sunroof, as well as ventilated and powered front seats. Besides the two-row five-seater layout present on this model here, the J8 is also offered with a six- or seven-seat layout.

On the powertrain front, the full-ICE J8 hides a 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbocharged mill rated at 245 HP and 385 NM under its hood – the same unit used on the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro. Mated to a 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox, the J8 is available in both front- (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options, with this exact unit sporting the latter setup. For other markets, the J8 is also offered with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain setup.

As we mentioned earlier, the Jaecoo J8 is set to make its landfall in our market later in the second half of the year. For now, no preliminary specifications or tentative prices were given by Jaecoo Malaysia, but we were clued in by insiders that the J8 will also be locally-assembled (CKD) here in Malaysia, similar to the J7.

So folks, what do you think of the upcoming Jaecoo J8? Could this luxury off-roading Chinese SUV bring a fight to the likes of the Japanese and Korean D-SUVs available out there? As always, don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments below…