Suffolk &amp; Cambs


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1203" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_Front3Qt_2000x1200_MAY26.jpg" alt="Jaecoo 8" class="wp-image-48595" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_Front3Qt_2000x1200_MAY26.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_Front3Qt_2000x1200_MAY26-800x481.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_Front3Qt_2000x1200_MAY26-1000x602.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_Front3Qt_2000x1200_MAY26-400x241.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_Front3Qt_2000x1200_MAY26-1536x924.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<p>Last February I took the <a href="https://suffolkcambs.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/cars/new-review-muddy-drives-the-jaecoo-7/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jaecoo 7</a> out for a spin, and if you remember, even the name hints at its spirit – Jaecoo blends the German word &#8220;jäger&#8221; (hunter) with the English term &#8220;cool.&#8221; The Jaecoo 7 also came with a whopping 14.8-inch touchscreen, which I personally found a little overbearing while driving, so I was delighted to slip inside the Jaecoo 8 and discover a much more streamlined system. With advanced digital displays, seamless connectivity and smart driver assistance systems, it delivers a refined, intuitive and confidently connected journey for both driver and passengers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-basics">The basics</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8725-1000x750.jpeg" alt="Jaecoo 8" class="wp-image-48572" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8725-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8725-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8725-400x300.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8725-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8725-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Let me make the introductions. This is the Jaecoo 8, the brand&#8217;s new flagship SUV that sits above the smaller Jaecoo 5 and Jaecoo 7. In the UK it comes in two flavours: a seven-seat Luxury from £45,495 (the one I drove) and a six-seat Executive from £46,995 with a pair of captain&#8217;s chairs in the middle row instead. It&#8217;s a proper size of a thing at 4.82 metres long, going up against the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento – but undercutting most of them handsomely on price, while out-speccing them too.</p>



<p>This is a Plug-in Hybrid, pairing a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with electric motors, a three-speed transmission and four-wheel drive, for a combined 428bhp. That&#8217;s a genuinely serious amount of power for a family SUV.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-far-does-a-tank-charge-take-you">How far does a tank/charge take you?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="640" height="480" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8731.jpeg" alt="Jaecoo 8" class="wp-image-48575" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8731.jpeg 640w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8731-400x300.jpeg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure>



<p>This is where the Jaecoo 8 properly shows off. Officially it&#8217;ll do 83+ miles on electric power alone – enough for a full week&#8217;s commuting or school runs without ever troubling the petrol engine. Combine full electric charge with a full 70-litre tank of fuel and you&#8217;re looking at a genuinely eye-watering 700+ mile combined range. As I like to put it: that&#8217;s far enough to get you from London to Milan on one tank and one charge.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-drive">The drive</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="800" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_Interior_1080x1350_MAY26-800x1000.jpg" alt="Jaecoo 8" class="wp-image-48596" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_Interior_1080x1350_MAY26-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_Interior_1080x1350_MAY26-640x800.jpg 640w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_Interior_1080x1350_MAY26-320x400.jpg 320w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_Interior_1080x1350_MAY26.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></figure>



<p>The drive was smooth and comfortable throughout, and I loved being up high with such a commanding view of the road. It&#8217;ll do 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, which is properly rapid for something this size – quicker than pretty much every other seven-seat PHEV rival on sale. When I eventually climbed back into my own car afterwards, I practically felt like I was sitting on the floor in comparison!</p>



<p>I took out the seven-seater and I&#8217;m not going to sugarcoat it – it&#8217;s a biggun&#8217; (I&#8217;m 5&#8217;3&#8243; and usually zip around in a Golf Plus). But once inside, it felt surprisingly manageable. The driving position is spot-on and spatial awareness is great, helped enormously by the standard-fit 540-degree panoramic camera system, which gives you a comprehensive top-down view of your surroundings, plus a clever &#8220;transparent chassis&#8221; underbody view for navigating tight spaces and rougher terrain. My only gripe was that the middle seat headrest directly behind the driver makes visibility out the back a little tricky – though with all those cameras, you barely need the mirror anyway.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safety">Safety</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="800" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_InteriorTouchscreenCloseUp_CameraView_1080x1350_MAY26-800x1000.jpg" alt="Jaecoo 8" class="wp-image-48597" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_InteriorTouchscreenCloseUp_CameraView_1080x1350_MAY26-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_InteriorTouchscreenCloseUp_CameraView_1080x1350_MAY26-640x800.jpg 640w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_InteriorTouchscreenCloseUp_CameraView_1080x1350_MAY26-320x400.jpg 320w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/Jaecoo8_InteriorTouchscreenCloseUp_CameraView_1080x1350_MAY26.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></figure>



<p>Safety tech is generously specced throughout, with adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert all present, alongside up to 10 airbags depending on trim. There&#8217;s also adaptive CDC suspension that stiffens up when it senses you&#8217;re driving a bit more spiritedly, and genuine off-road ability if you ever need it – seven drive modes including Snow, Mud, Sand and Off Road, plus a 600mm wading depth.</p>



<p>One little touch I loved: I drove the Jaecoo 8 to Chippenham Park in Newmarket for our Muddy Awards drinks evening, and the sat nav instructions were spoken gently through speakers built into my headrest – like a little guardian angel sitting on my shoulder, quietly directing me to my destination without a peep to anyone else in the car.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extras-to-get-excited-about">Extras to get excited about</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8728-1000x750.jpeg" alt="Jaecoo 8 boot space" class="wp-image-48574" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8728-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8728-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8728-400x300.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8728-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8728-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The tech in here is a big step up from the Jaecoo 7. You get dual 12.3-inch curved displays that combine the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen into one seamless panel, running on a Snapdragon 8155 processor so everything responds quickly. It&#8217;s a proper premium Sony sound system too – a full 14-speaker surround setup that includes headrest speakers as standard, plus a subwoofer in the boot, all powered by a 34.5kWh battery that&#8217;s tucked cleverly out of the way.</p>



<p>It was a scorching day when I took the car out, and I had pre-speech nerves ahead of the Awards, so the triple-fan blasting AC kept me cool both on the road and giving my speech. But on the way home, it was heated seats all the way. I just wish I&#8217;d known about the integrated massage function for the front seats before that drive – next time!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practicalities">Practicalities</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="480" height="640" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8733-rotated.jpeg" alt="Jaecoo 8" class="wp-image-48573" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8733-rotated.jpeg 480w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/07/IMG_8733-300x400.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" /></figure>



<p>There&#8217;s a wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air software updates, and a panoramic sunroof to keep things feeling light and airy for everyone on board, front to back.</p>



<p>And if you&#8217;ve got a big brood, this is the perfect car for ferrying around the kids, the dogs and everything in between. If you&#8217;re constantly being told &#8220;you&#8217;ve got your hands full,&#8221; the hands-free boot opening function is a genuine godsend for when your hands are full and the key&#8217;s still in your pocket. Better still, the rear door opening angle can be individually adjusted and the setting saved to the vehicle&#8217;s memory – handy if, like me, you&#8217;re on the shorter side.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">The Muddy Verdict</h2>



<ul>
<li><strong>Good for:</strong> Big families who want serious space, serious tech and serious value, without the badge snobbery or the badge price tag. That combined 700+ mile range and 83-mile EV figure make it brilliant for both long hauls and daily school-run duty.</li>



<li><strong>Not for:</strong> Anyone who doesn&#8217;t need that many seats!</li>



<li><strong>The damage:</strong> From £45,495 on the road for the seven-seat Luxury Plug-in Hybrid, rising to £46,995 for the six-seat Executive version.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Book a test drive today at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.johngrose.co.uk/jaecoo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John Grose Ipswich,</a><em>&nbsp;Ransomes Industrial Estate, Ipswich, IP3 9BE</em>.&nbsp;<em>Tel: 01473 242290</em>.</strong></p>


Muddy Drives… The Jaecoo 8

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