JAECOO South Africa has expanded its J5 line-up with the launch of the J5 SHS, a new hybrid version of the compact crossover priced at R459,900.
The SHS joins the existing petrol-powered J5 and the recently introduced fully electric J5 BEV, giving South African buyers three powertrain options within the range. JAECOO launched the J5 locally in September 2025, while the J5 BEV followed as the brand’s first electric vehicle in South Africa.
The J5 SHS pairs a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, producing a combined 165 kW and 295 Nm. A 1.83 kWh battery allows it to use electric propulsion at low speeds and in traffic, while power is sent to the front wheels through a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission.
JAECOO claims fuel consumption of 5.3 L/100 km. With a 51-litre fuel tank, the company says the J5 SHS has a theoretical range of up to 980 km. There’s no need to plug it in, making the SHS the middle ground in the J5 range for buyers who want some electrification without moving to a full EV.
The suspension uses MacPherson struts at the front and a multilink set-up at the rear, with disc brakes all round and ventilated discs up front. Visually, it largely follows the petrol J5, with 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights and a panoramic moonroof.
Inside, there’s black leather upholstery, six-way electric adjustment for the driver’s seat and four-way manual adjustment for the front passenger. The J5 SHS also gets dual-zone climate control, multi-colour ambient lighting, an eight-inch driver display and a powered tailgate.
A 13.2-inch central touchscreen handles the infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included as standard. Bluetooth, voice commands, 50W wireless phone charging and a six-speaker audio system are also included.
Boot capacity is 410 litres with the rear seats upright and increases to 1,214 litres with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats folded.
The safety specification includes six airbags, electronic stability control, brake assist, traction control and ISOFIX mounting points. Adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning and prevention, Traffic Jam Assist, Emergency Lane Keeping and Integrated Cruise Assist are among the driver-assistance systems fitted as standard.
The launch comes as JAECOO and sibling brand OMODA continue to grow their South African footprint. Combined local sales reached 12,597 vehicles in 2025, up 147% from 5,097 the previous year, as the brands broadened their local model ranges and added more hybrid options. OMODA & JAECOO’s rapid South African growth also gives the J5 SHS a considerably larger local customer base to sell into than the brand had even a year ago.
The J5 SHS comes with a five-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty, a 10-year/one-million kilometre engine warranty, five years of unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance and a five-year/75,000 km service plan.
The JAECOO J5 SHS is priced at R459,900 in South Africa.