Former car mechanic Peter Haas has put the JAC e-JS4 through its paces. Here is his experience report:
The design
The color, shape and size of a vehicle is always a matter of taste and individual needs. The size and space of the 4 Series is perfect for our needs. My wife mainly drives it to work and to the shops. As a teacher, she always has luggage with her, which can always be stored either on the rear seat bench or in the trunk, whether it's shopping bags, boxes, bags of small office equipment or for the weekly waste disposal tour, i.e. our everyday life. There is more than enough space for a household of two with the occasional grandchild and child seat.
The driving behavior
The handling is absolutely unproblematic, good-natured. The performance is completely sufficient, rather sporty. The consumption also corresponds to the factory specifications. At a constant 400 KM, consumption is easy and reliable to calculate, regardless of whether it is cold, wet or dry. As with everything in everyday use, as soon as you get to grips with the product, you quickly get used to the peculiarities of operation, such as accelerating, braking, which never proved to be unpleasant, complicated or difficult with the big JAC.
The displays are clear and pleasantly informative. This is more of an issue for those with a coarse motor, but with a little feeling for movements, whether it's the steering, accelerator or brakes, the vehicle is absolutely pleasant to operate in all areas. There was no desire for "more" or "better". Handling in parking garages or tight spaces is absolutely problem-free, as the car is clearly laid out and offers plenty of all-round visibility thanks to the cameras. The steering angle is also fine. The JACli drives very quietly without unpleasant background noises, and on the highway there is still enough reserve power available if you have to accelerate between two trucks to get out of the crash zone or merge into the traffic at a highway entrance. We all agree that the JAC is being beaten below its value, the price-performance ratio is absolutely top.
The steering has a pleasant character, we were not at all bothered by this peculiarity. Western and Asian vehicles have been familiar with smooth steering for a long time, which is different for Europeans, for whatever reason.
Heating and ventilation were not noticed negatively, everything works unobtrusively and well. We found the seats comfortable and were able to adjust them to suit our needs.
In the forest
I couldn't resist using the JAC on forest roads, as I am often out and about in and around the forest as a hunter. It's a real "stalking vehicle" with no engine noise. Cool.
Unfortunately, the lights cannot be switched off, whether inside or outside, there are always lights on. But that's just a side note, because the vehicle's ground clearance means that it can only be driven off-road to a limited extent, so I wouldn't use the JAC as a hunter's car. Mind you, even bumpy forest roads are no problem. Dirt splashes always stay nicely in the wheel arch, which I really see as a big plus. The road dirt stays where it actually belongs and is not spread all over the sides of the vehicle. Small details that are noticeable if you pay attention to them.
The workmanship and price/performance ratio
The workmanship is absolutely fine for a car of this type. Especially on the inside, the carpets, panels and seats can be cleaned quickly and easily. We never felt the need for better material or found the interior to be inferior. We're not talking about a vehicle in the 50,000 price bracket, but in the 30 class. The JAC can always be compared with more expensive cars in the premium class. That's how we see the vehicle.
Peter Haas, 13.2.2024
