2026 Jaecoo J8 SHS priced for Australia: 315kW seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV arrives to take on BYD Sealion 8, Toyota Kluger and many, many more
Jaecoo has expanded its Australian line-up with the arrival of the new J8 SHS, introducing the Chinese brand’s largest, most powerful and most expensive plug-in hybrid SUV yet.
Priced from $59,990 before on-road costs, the seven-seat J8 SHS Summit combines a 34kWh battery with a turbocharged petrol engine and three electric motors to produce a hefty 315kW and 580Nm, while offering up to 169km of electric-only driving range on the more generous NEDC test cycle.
The flagship SUV becomes the latest model to adopt Jaecoo’s Super Hybrid System (SHS), which has already been introduced in the smaller J7 SHS, but takes the technology into Australia’s highly competitive large seven-seat SUV market.
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Its closest electrified rival is the BYD Sealion 8, while it will also compete with popular family SUVs including the Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento. It also sits above the closely related Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid within the broader Chery Group line-up.
Power comes from a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 105kW and 215Nm, working with two electric motors driving the front wheels and a third electric motor powering the rear axle.
Together they deliver 315kW and 580Nm through Jaecoo’s Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (3DHT), while the electrically driven all-wheel-drive system claims a total driving range of more than 1000km.
The 34kWh battery can be recharged at up to 70kW using a DC fast charger, while Jaecoo says the large battery allows many owners to complete everyday driving almost entirely on electric power.
Unlike many rivals that spread equipment across multiple grades, the J8 SHS will initially be offered in a single, highly specified Summit variant.
Standard equipment includes 20-inch alloy wheels, quilted leather upholstery, heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, dual 12.3-inch displays, a head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 14-speaker Sony sound system with speakers integrated into the driver’s headrest, a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, built-in fragrance system, 50W wireless phone charger and a 360-degree camera.
The seven-seat cabin provides 200 litres of luggage space with all seats in use, expanding to 738 litres with the third row folded flat.
Safety equipment includes 10 airbags and a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, emergency lane keeping and forward collision warning.
The J8 SHS also offers a 1600kg braked towing capacity and is backed by an eight-year unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, an eight-year unlimited-kilometre high-voltage battery warranty, eight years of capped-price servicing and up to eight years of roadside assistance.
The J8 SHS arrives in Australian dealerships this month as Jaecoo Australia’s new flagship model, further expanding the company’s Super Hybrid System line-up into the large family SUV segment.
It sits above the J8 ICE range, the J7 and the J5 EV. It is the first jaecoo in Australia to be priced above $50,000.
