I had the opportunity to take part in the “9 Countries Super Hybrid Marathon” event organized by the Omoda & Jaecoo group, owned by the Chinese giant Chery. Media representatives from nine countries tested the latest hybrids with the Super Hybrid System on a loop of approximately 650 km.
The route led from Chery's headquarters in Wuhu, through highways, around Lake Chaohu, to the mountain resort of Doushahe. I covered this route “the other way”: as a passenger from Wuhu to Doushahe, and then alone at the wheel on the return section of approximately 320 km. The test car was the aforementioned Jaecoo 7 Hybrid SHS-H 2026 SUV – a dedicated hybrid that, in practice, turned out to be surprisingly competent and economical.
What's hidden under the hood of Jaecoo 7 SHS-H
Jaecoo 7 SHS-H is not yet a plug-in hybrid, which is the version marked with the letters “SHS-P” with a large 18.3 kWh battery. What we got for testing is a classic hybrid in which a small traction battery with a capacity of only 1.83 kWh serves as a support and search for savings, rather than the main source of propulsion.
Jaecoo 7 HEV 2026
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Bartłomiej Sieja / Business Insider
The heart of the system is a 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine with direct injection, combined with an electric motor and a dedicated DHT hybrid gearbox. The total power of the system is a respectable 224 HP, which gives acceleration from zero to 100 km per hour. in 8.3 seconds. The lithium-iron-phosphorus battery is protected by five layers of security, and the combustion engine achieves a class-record thermal efficiency of 44.5%.
For the average driver, this simply means one thing: the car uses every drop of fuel very economically, while providing as much power as possible. The manufacturer declares average fuel consumption of 5.3-5.5 liters per 100 km according to WLTP and a theoretical range exceeding 900-1000 km on a full tank. And we checked it out!
Jaecoo 7 HEV 2026
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Bartłomiej Sieja / Business Insider
A route that verifies everything
The marathon route was designed to really test the car in battle. We started in Wuhu, where Chery's headquarters is located. First, a short city section with numerous traffic lights, then long kilometers on the highway with a speed limit of 120 km per hour, and finally demanding mountain climbs and serpentines to the Doushahe resort. The entire loop included not only fast roads, but also the Chaohu Lake area – a mix that perfectly reflects everyday use.
Jaecoo 7 HEV 2026
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Bartłomiej Sieja / Business Insider
As a passenger on the way there, I could fully relax and watch how the car coped with the load, variable speeds and temperature. Although it is worth noting here, how much impact the air conditioning itself had on fuel consumption.
It turns out that teams consciously driving without air conditioning, wanting to get the best possible result, In this way, they saved up to 1 liter of fuel for every 100 km. With the declared fuel consumption of approximately 5 liters, this is a saving of up to 20%.
I certainly didn't complain about the lack of space. I'm quite wide, but I have short legs. I definitely didn't run out of space.
On my way back, behind the wheel, I felt the same car “from the inside”. I remember the moment when we overtook several cars on the serpentines of a mountain section – the hybrid just took offwithout hesitation and without the dramatic roar of the engine. It was… nice.
Jaecoo 7 HEV 2026
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Bartłomiej Sieja / Business Insider
How to drive this SUV on a daily basis
At first glance, the car does not impress with its designer fireworks or luxurious finish. The interior is functional and the cabin is spacious and comfortable both front and rear. It's also very quiet even at higher speeds – it's one of those cars where you don't get tired of noise after a few hours of driving.
Only the materials used leave much to be desired. Both the plastics and the upholstery are just very… basic. Calling them “cheap” would be pejorative, but even Chery representatives admitted that “price is the king” and they cared about cheapness.
Jaecoo 7 HEV 2026
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Bartłomiej Sieja / Business Insider
However, there are positives in this “boredom”. The electric engine adds power at the right moment and overtaking on the road is safe, although there is no sporty character here. On mountain serpentines, the hybrid dispenses power smoothly, the car holds the road confidently, and switching between drive modes is immediate and palpable.
The king of fuel consumption among SUVs?
It was fuel consumption that turned out to be the biggest advantage. When driving economically in the city, the computer showed approximately 4.0 liters per 100 kilometers. On the highway at a constant speed of 120 km per hour. and fully loaded, the result oscillated between 4.3 and 4.5 liters. Even after the demanding mountain stage, with numerous climbs and turns, the average remained below 5 liters per 100 km.
Jaecoo 7 HEV 2026
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Bartłomiej Sieja / Business Insider
On the return route, which I personally drove for hundreds of kilometers, the values were very similar, ending with 4.9 liters per 100 km. And when people who really wanted to get the lowest possible score entered the competition, it became almost absurd.
Eat without air conditioning and around 90 km per hour. on the highway, it was possible to reduce fuel consumption to even 3.5 liters per 100 km. However, our “normal” driving still resulted in results below the manufacturer's declaration. So we can safely assume that we are dealing with a really large SUV with real fuel consumption of around 5 liters per 100 km. Honestly, I was impressed – this one of the most fuel-efficient small hybrid SUVswhich I tested in the real world, without constant connection to the charger.
Price matters
In an era when many manufacturers are moving en masse to clean electrification, a dedicated small-battery hybrid provides a reasonable bridge. Drivers who want low operating costs but do not have access to chargers or simply do not want to give up the convenience of refueling get a sensible solution here.
Jaecoo 7 HEV 2026
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Bartłomiej Sieja / Business Insider
Chinese brands such as Chery and its sub-brands Omoda and Jaecoo are entering global markets with a specific proposition: high efficiency, solid dynamics and a very good price-quality ratio. Jaecoo 7 SHS-H is one of the cheapest SUVs in the segment and offers decent performance and great fuel consumption.
The price is only PLN 139,000. PLN or, in a richer version, PLN 149,000. zloty. And is it boring? Well… when we cannot afford a Porsche, there is a more plastic solution, which, however, will not drain our pockets…
Verdict after 625 km of the marathon
After this trip, I come back with the belief that the Jaecoo 7 Hybrid SHS-H 2026 is a very good car. It does not thrill you with emotions or the prestige of the brand, but in everyday and long-distance use it provides exactly what a rational driver looking for a reasonable budget expects: low fuel consumption, good dynamics, comfort and no drama.
Jaecoo 7 HEV 2026
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Bartłomiej Sieja / Business Insider
If you are looking for a practical, economical C-segment SUV with a modern hybrid drive and do not want to overpay for the logo – Jaecoo 7 SHS-H is really worth considering. Chinese hybrid technology has just shown that it can be not only cheap, but above all sensible and ready for global competition.
