For Caster Semenya, the JAECOO J7 SHS has become a natural part of daily life. The South African athlete, three-time 800m world champion, double Olympic gold medallist, Commonwealth gold medallist, author, coach and mother of two has spent the past six months behind the wheel of JAECOO’s plug-in hybrid SUV.
In that time, the J7 SHS has become her everyday choice, valued for its comfort, space, smooth drive and family-friendly practicality. “I have had the J7 for a year now,” says Semenya. “This car was chosen for me and I have zero regrets. I love the vehicle because it is a classy ride, it drives so smoothly, is spacious and the perfect ride for me and my family. It is also very stylish.”
Semenya has named her JAECOO “Black Mamba”, a reference to the SUV’s sleek appearance and smooth feel on the road, as well as her own affinity for snakes and her sporting nickname, Cobra.
While the J7 SHS is Semenya’s daily drive, it is also well-suited to the longer family journeys that matter most to her. Some of her favourite moments in the vehicle happen on the road to Limpopo, where she hails from. “I love driving home to Limpopo,” she says. “A typical drive home is filled with voices of my children talking up a storm, laughter and sing-alongs. Those moments are truly my favourite. We try to take trips home often.”
The J7 SHS’s plug-in hybrid technology supports both daily and long-distance use. With a claimed 90 km electric-only range and a combined range of up to 1,200 km, it offers flexibility for shorter commutes as well as longer family journeys. Average fuel consumption of 4.7 L/100 km and combined outputs of 255 kW and 525 N.m of torque further underline the efficiency and performance expected from a modern plug-in hybrid SUV.
Inside, Semenya says the J7 SHS’s comfort remains one of its strongest qualities. She highlights the soft leather upholstery, sunroof and large display screen among the features she enjoys most, with the 14.8-inch touchscreen allowing her to manage navigation, temperature and music with ease.
The vehicle has also become part of her active routine. On most days, the 500-litre boot is likely to carry children’s toys, training sneakers, a gym bag and spikes, while music is a constant part of her time behind the wheel.
After a year with the J7 SHS, Semenya says there is nothing she dislikes about the SUV. For her, it continues to meet the needs of family life, daily driving and time on the road. “It is spacious and the perfect ride for me and my family,” she concludes.
