Jaecoo J6 range: How good or bad is it?

Sadly, those charming good looks have their downsides. If you look around online, one of the biggest concerns potential buyers face is range. The Cat A version that we are testing has a battery capacity of 65.69kWh, which is average for an SUV in this price category – but that boxy face doesn’t cut through the air well. Jaecoo doesn’t disclose the J6’s drag coefficient, but it doesn’t take a doctorate in physics to know that it can’t be great.

How far can it go?

Armed with a full charge, I drove the J6 for a weekend over a mixture of highways and city driving, and managed 280km with the trip computer showing 18% charge remaining. Interesting, the computer also claims an average power consumption of 12kWh/100km, which, if you do the math, can’t be right. 

If my average power consumption was truly 12kWh/100km, then 280km would have consumed 33.6kWh. Considering the J6’s battery capacity is 65.69kWh, the car should have around 48% of charge left. Even accounting for idling and whatnot, it should not be left with just an 18% charge.

Working backwards, 18% of capacity means the car consumed 82% of its battery to travel 280km. 82% of the J6’s battery is around 53.7kWh, and that means the actual power consumption is actually around 19.17kWh/100km.

This, in turn, means the range of J6 is around 342km, which, to be fair, is actually not far off the quoted official combined WLTP range of 354km. Bear in mind, however, that this is on a full charge. If you adhere to the 20% to 80% charging rule for daily driving, then that range drops to just around 205km. The 20% to 80% rule states that to preserve the longevity of the battery, you shouldn’t let the charge fall below 20% and you shouldn’t charge it past 80%.

Whether you want to follow this rule is a personal choice, and there’s enough evidence to support both sides of the coin. But considering the costs of cars in Singapore and the cost of a battery replacement should things go wrong, my take is that it’s prudent to follow this rule to the extent that it makes sense for your lifestyle.

What’s undeniable is that this is less of a problem if the car has a high-capacity battery or is really efficient. Which is a pity for the J6 because it is neither.

Final thoughts and buying advice

Some people buy cars with their heads, while some are led by their hearts. If you are the latter, then even having to recharge every 200km is not going to stop you from getting a J6. And honestly, apart from the slightly tragic range, the J6 has few other faults. Unless you are willing to look for something used, there are few other new cars in this price category that combine practicality and charm in a way that this car does. Just brace yourself for more stops at the charging station.

Availability and pricing

The Jaecoo J6 is available now, and prices start at S$179,999. You can find out more at Jaecoo’s website.

Note: Prices are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change depending on the COE bidding.