"From Classic, Beyond Classic." taking what motorists classically love and going beyond that in the future is one of the ways to aptly describe the Jaecoo J7. My colleague Ryno Fourie had the J7 on test and you can peruse his thoughts here. The J7 is an Urban Offroader SUV, as Jaecoo describes it, and takes inspiration from other classically loved SUVs, distilling it all into a new form. Let's see how the J7's infotainment stacks up against two of its price competitors.
Related: Jaecoo J7 colours and price guide
Jaecoo J7 Infotainment
The J7, out of all the cars here on this list, has the biggest infotainment system screen, measuring up to 14.8 inches, and is set up in a portrait orientation. The entry-level Vortex has a smaller, albeit still large, 13.2 inches. This system houses a majority of the vehicle's functionality, namely the HVAC controls and vehicle systems, and it compliments the digital instrument cluster, too. The system incorporates Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality without the need for third-party apps. If you go for the top-of-the-line Inferno model with All-Wheel-Drive, you also have a menu to display the ARDIS off-road driving. Below the screen is a 50W wireless charger with many USB ports in the front and rear of the vehicle. The menus are decently laid out; if you're savvy with a smartphone, you'll pick this system up easily.
Opel Mokka
The Mokka uses Opel's IntelliLink infotainment system, and depending on the variant you choose, you can have either a 7-inch or 10-inch high-definition screen. The 10-inch version has built-in navigation and has traffic alerts, local alerts and embedded voice control. Music playback can be handled by USB, Bluetooth, Apple Car Play or Android Auto. In the Mokka, at least, you have a rotary dial for volume control and some analogue buttons to handle some infotainment features. The screen is angled towards the driver for easier viewing and operation.
Suzuki Grand Vitara
You can have the Grand Vitara's infotainment in either a 7-inch or 9-inch touchscreen, depending on the variant you decide on. The Grand Vitara has the latest in the line of Suzuki's infotainment systems giving you vehicle diagnostics such as fuel economy, mileage travel and much more. The 9-inch infotainment here is complemented by a heads-up display, 360-degree camera, and Qi wireless charger, too. Apple Car Play and Android Auto are present, with Car Play available wirelessly and Android Auto being exclusively wired on both systems. The system is solely touch-based, but volume adjustment and media modes can be adjusted from the steering wheel controls.
Which is one the best?
We think the Jaecoo's infotainment clinches the victory, with the Suzuki Grand Vitara clinching second place. The J7's sheer size and ARDIS system are something to marvel at, as the screen dominates the centre stack. If you're sold on a J7 after reading this, you can search AutoTrader for the latest used and new offerings and sell your car, too.
