All-electric crossover duel: Jaecoo J5 EV vs. BYD Atto 3

With the introduction of the Jaecoo J5 electric vehicle (EV) for the local market, the compact all-electric crossover segment has no doubt become livelier. 

It is, after all, positioned as a highly accessible EV nameplate. Coupled with its considerable array of amenities and on-board tech, many who are intent on going towards electric mobility are surely including it in their respective short lists. 

As already mentioned above, however, the all-new Jaecoo J5 EV faces a lot of competition in the Philippines. One of these is the BYD nameplate that technically started the all-electric crossover craze: the Atto 3. 

So, which of these two rides is better on paper? Let’s find out through this comparison. 

Powertrain

When it comes to powertrains, the Jaecoo J5 EV uses a single permanent magnet synchronous motor and a 58.9-kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium iron phosphate battery. With this setup, the J5 EV can produce up to 207 horsepower (hp) and 288 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. The model can also cover up to 461 kilometers (km) from a single full charge, as indicated by the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

On the one hand, the BYD Atto 3 Premium variant also comes with a single motor setup. This goes together with a 60.5 kWh battery. At maximum, the BYD model can produce up to 201 hp and 310 Nm of torque, as well as a NEDC range of 480 km.  

Based on the figures above, the Jaecoo model has marginally more hp, but the BYD has more torque. Also, the BYD does come with significantly more range than the Jaecoo. 

In terms of charging, it also appears that the BYD is just about on par with the Jaecoo nameplate. When using its DC port, the BYD Atto 3 can increase its state-of-charge from 30-80 percent in just 30 minutes, while the Jaecoo J5 EV can do this in 28 minutes. 

Both crossovers also come with the usual EV accouterments, such as a vehicle-to-load system and a regenerative braking system. 

On the one hand, we can say that the Jaecoo J5 EV’s suspension is more sophisticated. Both crossovers use a MacPherson strut, but the J5 EV’s rear end is a multi-link suspension, which offers move independence of motion compared to the Atto 3’s simpler torsion beam rear suspension. 

The two crossovers also rely on front and rear disc brakes for stopping power. Furthermore, both are front-wheel-drive nameplates. 

Here is a table summarizing the mechanical and performance details of the Jaecoo J5 EV and the BYD Atto 3 (Premium): 

Model	Jaecoo J5 EV	BYD Atto 3
Motor setup	Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Drive train	Front-wheel-drive
Horsepower	207	201
Torque	288	310
Range (NEDC)	461 km	480 km
Battery size	58.9 kWh	60.5 kWh
Front suspension	MacPherson strut
Rear suspension	Multi-link	Torsion beam
Brakes	Front and rear discs

Exterior

On the outside, the Jaecoo J5 EV and the BYD Atto 3 are great representations of their respective brand’s design directions. 

For the Jaecoo, it comes with a boxy silhouette that is clearly inspired by off-road-capable European sport utility vehicles (SUV). Otherwise, it carries itself with elegance thanks to its mostly smooth front clip and its rather quiet-looking rear end. 

The BYD Atto 3, meanwhile, opted for a sharper, more keen take on the familiar crossover formula. It still has a closed-off grille, but it presents more in the way of character lines and some noticeable bulges on its hood. 

Apart from styling cues, both EV crossovers come with LED lighting fixtures, automatic headlamp functionality, power-folding/adjustable headlamps, roof rails, and a power tailgate. As far as wheel size is concerned, both crossovers ride on a set of 18-inch wheels, each with their own unique designs, with the Jaecoo’s leaning more towards aerodynamics. 

Speaking of which, the Jaecoo J5 EV exclusively comes with an active aerodynamic component, specifically inside its grille. This, by far, is quite a unique feature for the said nameplate and is seldom seen in other models in its class. 

Size-wise, here’s a straight comparison of measurements of the Jaecoo J5 EV and the BYD Atto 3: 

Model	Jaecoo J5 EV	BYD Atto 3
Length (in millimeters)	4,380	4,455
Width (in mm)	1,860	1,875
Height (in mm)	1,650	1,615
Wheelbase length (in mm)	2,620	2,720
Ground clearance (in mm)	166 (laden)	150 (laden)

Based on the figures above, the BYD Atto 3 is slightly larger than the Jaecoo J5 EV overall. The Jaecoo, however, has an advantage over the BYD when it comes to weight and ground clearance - an important point, especially for those who regularly drive through poorly maintained roads or areas with a lot of speed bumps. On the one hand, the BYD’s slightly shorter ground clearance is still more than enough for this use case. 

Other stories: Geely EX5 EM-i vs other PHEV crossovers This Toyota Corolla Cross HEV proves xEVs are more than just A-to-B cars Plush people carrier skirmish: Hyundai Staria HEV vs. BYD eMAX 9 DM-i

 

Interior

Inside both all-electric crossovers is a five-seater layout adorned with leather upholstery and plenty of soft-touch surfaces. Both also get automatic climate controls, ambient lighting systems, wireless smartphone charging pads, USB ports, and an ample amount of storage room. 

Other amenities that are common between the two include a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a foldable rear seat with split functionality, an electronic parking brake, a drive mode selector, digital gauge clusters, and a smart key. Unique to the BYD, however, is an NFC card reader.

For on-board entertainment and navigation, the Jeacoo J5 EV comes with a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This display is linked to an eight-piece Sony speaker set. 

Meanwhile, the BYD has a much larger 15.8-inch screen that also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sound from the said display is output by an eight-piece Dirac HD speaker set. 

Apart from being larger, the Atto 3 Premium’s infotainment system also has some tricks up its sleeve. Specifically, it gets over-the-air updates, 4G connectivity, and a voice assistant - all features that aren’t indicated on the J5 EV’s spec sheet. 

Safety

Safety-wise, both crossovers get an ample amount of gear. Specifically, the Jaecoo J5 EV and the BYD Atto 3 each come with anti-lock braking, stability control, ISOFIX, tire pressure monitoring, hill-descent control, and an anti-theft system - among others. On the one hand, the Jaecoo has six airbags, while the BYD has a total of seven. 

For their advanced driver-assist systems, both rides each come with their own forms of the following: 

• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic emergency braking 
• Rear-cross traffic alert 
• Traffic sign recognition
• Blind spot detection
• 360-degree view camera

The Jaecoo nameplate adds to those with traffic jam assist, an active speed limiter, intelligent evasion assist, and rear cross-traffic braking - among others. 

Final thoughts

On paper, the Jaecoo J5 EV has enough features and onboard technologies to hand a candle against the BYD Atto 3. But not only that, it has a rather unique exterior design that helps it stand out more against many other rivals. 

Also, the Jaecoo J5 EV’s price of P1.399 million places it at an advantage against the significantly more expensive BYD Atto 3 Dynamic and Atto 3 Premium, which retail at P1.638 million and P1.848 million, respectively. 

Also read:

Here are 3 reasons why you should consider the Jaecoo J8

3 big reasons to like the Jaecoo J5 EV

Check out the Jaecoo J5 SHS-H’ similarly-sized rivals

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