Nowadays, hybrids in the Philippine market come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Specifically, buyers now have access to a number of electrified subcompact rides from locally available nameplates, and arguably, these cars may just be the right ones to get for places like Cebu City and Metro Manila. 

For one thing, they’re efficient but powerful. This is then combined with the very compact sizes that help them become easier to handle through tight city streets. 

Omoda and Jaecoo’s local arm is well aware of this, and so it has launched the all-new J5 SHS-S at this year’s Manila International Auto Show (MIAS). 

The aforementioned, of course, reinforces the company’s foothold in the local market, since the J5 SHS-S itself is a well-equipped subcompact crossover that is priced relatively low compared to the competition. 

But the question now is, what are the alternatives to the Jaecoo J5 SHS-S? Let’s find out here. 

Jaecoo J5 SHS-S

Before listing down its key competitors in the local scene, let us first take stock of what the all-new Jaecoo J5 SHS-S is offering for would-be adopters. 

For its powertrain, the J5 SHS-S uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired with an electric motor, a 1.83-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery, and a single-speed dedicated hybrid transmission. 

Altogether, the said system can put out 342 horsepower (hp) and 525 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. It also has a total combined range of 990 kilometers (km), as well as selectable drive modes (economy and sport). 

On the outside, the Jaecoo J5 SHS-S follows the brand’s distinctly styled “waterfall front grille” and the “Mountain Road” LED lighting design. These elements, together with the model’s boxy body, provide the J5 with a sport utility vehicle (SUV)-like silhouette. 

Size-wise, the Jaecoo J5 SHS-S is 4,380 millimeters (mm) long, 1,860 mm wide, and 1,650 mm in height. It also has a wheelbase of 2,620 mm and a ground clearance of 176 mm. 

Notable exterior amenities include automatic headlamp functionality, LED headlamp clusters, LED taillights, LED daytime running lamps, LED rear fog lamps, roof racks, a panoramic glass sunroof, a power tailgate, and a set of 18-inch alloy wheels. 

The interior of the Jaecoo J5 SHS-S, meanwhile, features a five-seater layout with leather-upholstered seats and plenty of soft-touch surfaces on its interior door cards and dashboard. 

Other noteworthy creature comforts present on the said Jaecoo nameplate include, but are not limited to: 

• Power-adjust driver’s seat
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Ambient lighting
• Electronic parking brake with auto hold
• Leather steering wheel
• 13.2-inch infotainment system

Safety-wise, the Jaecoo J5 SHS-S comes standard with dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain airbags, ISOFIX, ant-lock braking, stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, hill-descent control, roll stability control, and tire pressure monitoring - among others. 

Those are supported by a number of advanced driver-assist systems, which include: 

• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Speed limit warning
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure prevention
• Lane change assist
• Front vehicle departure alert
• Forward collision warning
• Rear cross traffic alert and braking
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Traffic jam assist
• Intelligent evasion system
• Active speed limiter
• Mutli-collision braking

Price-wise, the Jaecoo J5 SHS-S retails at P999,000 for the entry-level Comfort and P1.099 million for the top-spec Luxury. 

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Nissan Kicks e-POWER

One of the key rivals of the Jaecoo J5 SHS-S in the local market is the Nissan Kicks e-POWER, which currently has a price ranging from P1.179 million-P1.479 million. 

Like all of the crossovers on this list, the Kicks e-POWER is electrified, but its powertrain works differently. Sure, it is still a closed-loop hybrid that doesn’t need to be plugged in to charge, but its primary means of propulsion is its electric motor. This is different from other hybrids, which combine the power of both the internal combustion engine and electric motor. 

At maximum, the Nissan Kicks e-POWER can generate up to 134 hp and 280 Nm of torque. This comes from a 1.5-liter inline-three gasoline mill that charges a 2.13 kWh battery. The battery, meanwhile, supplies power to an alternating-current (AC) synchronous motor. 

Style-wise, the Philippine-market version of the Kicks e-POWER features a familiar crossover silhouette adorned with the Nissan V-Motion grille. It also wears LED exterior lighting fixtures with automatic headlamps, roof rails, power-folding/adjustable side mirrors, and a set of 17-inch alloy wheels. 

When it comes to size, the Nissan crossover measures 4,300 mm long, 1,760 mm wide, and 1,615 mm high. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,620 mm and a ground clearance of 180 mm. 

Inside the Nissan Kicks e-POWER is a five-seater setup that was kitted out with leather upholstered seats, a power-adjustable front seat, a 60:40 split-folding rear seat, and automatic climate controls. 

Other noteworthy interior amenities available to the Nissan Kicks e-POWER, include, but are not limited to: 

• Seven-inch digital gauge cluster
• Tilt and telescopic steering column
• Electronic parking brake with auto hold
• 12-volt accessory outlet
• USB ports
• Drive mode selector
• Keyless entry
• Push-to-start button
• Six-piece speaker set

Handling on-board entertainment and navigation for the Nissan nameplate is an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Safety-wise, the Kicks e-POWER’s standard kit consisting of six airbags, anti-lock braking, vehicle dynamic control, an anti-theft system, and rear parking sensors. Those are supported by a suite of ADAS features such as a 360-degree view monitor, forward collision warning, emergency braking, driver attention alert, and the Nissan e-Pedal Stop. 

Note that the Nissan e-Pedal Stop is the brand’s proprietary one-pedal driving system, which is enabled when the car is in Economy or Sport drive modes. It depends on the car’s strong regenerative braking system, which has enough force to stop the car without pressing the brake pedal. 

Toyota Yaris Cross HEV

Another similarly sized alternative to the Jaecoo J5 SHS-S is the Toyota Yaris Cross HEV, priced at P1.61 million for its S HEV trim and P1.69 million for its top-spec SE HEV variant. 

For its powertrain, the Toyota subcompact hybrid crossover utilizes a 1.5-liter inline-four gasoline engine paired with an electric motor and a battery. Altogether, this system can put out 109 hp and 121 Nm of torque. 

Contrary to other models on this list, which mostly use dedicated hybrid transmissions, the Toyota Yaris Cross HEV sends power to its front wheels with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). 

With regard to styling, the Toyota Yaris Cross HEV looks like a smaller version of its larger sibling - the Toyota Corolla Cross HEV. It does get the standard crossover silhouette, but it does come with additional niceties courtesy of the Toyota SE body kit and rear spoiler. 

Regarding exterior equipment, the model features a full complement of LED lighting fixtures, power-adjustable/folding side mirrors, roof rails, and a panoramic moonroof. Completing the look of the Toyota model is a set of 18-inch alloy wheels. 

In terms of size, the Toyota Yaris Cross HEV is 4,310 mm long, 1,770 mm wide, and 1,615 mm in height. Its wheelbase spans 2,620 mm, and it has a ground clearance of 212 mm. 

Like other rides on this list, the Toyota Yaris Cross HEV is a five-seater model. Inside its cabin are amenities like leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a 60:40 split-folding rear seat, and an automatic climate control system. 

Other creature comforts found inside the Toyota Yaris Cross HEV include: 

• Push-to-start button
• Keyless entry
• Drive mode selector
• Electronic parking brake with auto hold
• Power rear door with kick sensor
• Paddle shifters
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• USB
• 12-volt accessory outlets
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Six-piece Pioneer sound system
• Seven-inch digital gauge cluster

Sitting in the middle of the Toyota Yaris Cross HEV’s dashboard is a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The said screen can also accept voice commands. 

Safety-wise, the Toyota Yaris Cross HEV’s basic kit is made up of dual front airbags, side airbags, curtain child airbags, vehicle stability control, hill-start assist, anti-lock braking, ISOFIX, front/rear parking sensors, and a front/rear drive video recorder (dashcam). 

Providing additional safety for the Toyota nameplate is an array of ADAS features, which include: 

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear-cross traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control
• Pre-collision system
• Automatic high beams
• Lane trace assist
• Lane keep assist

Chery Tiggo Cross HEV

One of the newer competitors of the Jaecoo J5 SHS-S in the local market is the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV. As of this writing, this model retails at P1.198 million. 

Under the hood of the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV is a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a permanent magnet synchronous motor and a 1.83 kWh battery. In total, the system can produce 201 hp and 310 Nm of torque. 

Like many other models on this list, the Chery-made crossover uses a dedicated hybrid transmission. It also has economy and sport modes. 

Style-wise, the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV continues the SUV-like design elements seen on other local Chery models. It has a tall, imposing grille, sharp LED lighting fixtures, and generously sized windows. 

Key exterior features of the electrified Chery nameplate include a set of 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels, roof rails, power-folding side mirrors, and a sunroof. 

Size-wise, the model measures 4,320 mm long, 1,831 mm wide, and 1,652 mm high. Its wheelbase spans 2,610 mm, and it also has a ground clearance of 190 mm. 

Inside the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV is a five-seater layout flush with a dual-zone automatic climate control system, soft-touch panels, and plenty of silver decorative accents. Those go together with a push-to-start button, a power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, a six-piece speaker set, and a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster. 

Seamlessly linked to the vehicle’s gauge cluster is a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Topping up devices inside the vehicle, meanwhile, is done by USB ports or a wireless smartphone charging pad. 

Safety-wise, the Chery HEV nameplate comes standard with anti-lock braking, hill-descent control, rear parking sensors, traction control, a total of six airbags, an anti-theft system, cruise control, electronic stability control, and ISOFIX. 

The model also gets autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree view monitor, and front collision warning - among others. 

Final thoughts

Based on the Jaecoo J5 SHS-S’s on-paper specifications, it sits as one of the more powerful cars on this list. This, of course, will be an attractive point of consideration for many buyers, as it may be well-suited for long-ish road trips, such as the climb to Baguio City. And of course, one cannot deny that more powerful cars are always fun to drive, within reason, of course. 

Additionally, the Jaecoo model is offered at a relatively lower price point compared to its chief rivals. And surely, this will always be a strong point for a vehicle regardless of the segment. 

Also read:

Check out the Jaecoo J5 SHS-H's 3 strong points

Jaecoo J5 SHS-S: 5 stylish hues

Jaecoo J7 SHS vs EJ6

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