Part 1 of this series looked at the JAECOO J5’s exterior design and running gear, and what RM108,000 buys against segment rivals. This second instalment turns to the cabin, where JAECOO has packed in several features not commonly found at this price point, and to the safety systems supporting them.

The J5’s dashboard is built around a vertically-oriented 13.2-inch touchscreen supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paired with a separate digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver. The vertical orientation suited navigation apps better than it did some media interfaces during the test, a trade-off common to portrait-style infotainment layouts. A column-mounted electronic gear selector frees up centre console space, and a frameless rear-view mirror adds a cleaner look to the cabin without an obvious functional downside.

Two features stood out as unusual for the segment. The first is a 50W wireless charging pad, rated to charge compatible devices faster than the air-vent-mounted pads common in this price bracket — noticeable when topping up a phone during a short errand run rather than a longer highway leg. The second is an in-car karaoke mode with a wireless microphone, paired with multi-colour ambient lighting offering what JAECOO describes as a 16.8-million colour gamut. Neither feature changes how the car drives, but both point to a cabin designed around weekend use — family trips, road games, longer drives with passengers — rather than being purely commute-focused.

Front seats are ventilated, a feature JAECOO markets as exclusive in its class, finished in soft-touch PU upholstery with high-density rebound foam intended to reduce fatigue on longer journeys. The upholstery itself carries TÜV certification for low-VOC, pet-friendly materials, with JAECOO citing clean-air filtration and easy-to-clean surfaces as part of the same package — a detail likely to matter more to buyers with pets or young children than to enthusiast drivers, but a genuine point of difference in a segment where interior materials are rarely a headline feature.

Rear-seat width is rated up to 1,320mm, translating to noticeably more shoulder room for three abreast than the segment typically offers, and comes with adequate legroom even for me (I’m 178cm tall). Overhead, a huge panoramic canopy measuring 1.45 square metres — which JAECOO also markets as class-leading — uses double-glazed, soundproofed glass, a specification that showed up most clearly on the highway stretches, where wind noise stayed noticeably subdued for the price bracket. The same double glazing extends to the front windows.

The J5 is fitted with six airbags as standard, alongside a Level 2 ADAS suite that JAECOO lists at 19 individual driver-assistance features. These include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, lane centring assist, autonomous emergency braking, evasive steering assist, blind spot monitoring with collision prevention, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, and door opening warning — the last of these relevant on narrower Klang Valley streets where a door swinging into a passing motorcyclist is a genuine hazard rather than a theoretical one. Curve speed assist and traffic jam assist round out a list unusually long for a sub-RM110,000 SUV.

Parking and low-speed manoeuvring are supported by a 540-degree HD surround-view camera system — an unusual specification, covering more angles than the more common 360-degree setup — along with front and rear parking sensors and a powered tailgate. The stability and braking suite includes ABS, EBD, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, roll stability control, hill-start assist and hill descent control, alongside an electric parking brake and tyre pressure monitoring.

Across the test weekend, the ADAS suite’s most noticeable trait was restraint — lane centring assist held a steady line on the highway without the frequent, unnecessary steering corrections some systems in this segment are prone to, while the adaptive cruise control function was most useful on highways.

All in all, I quite enjoyed my weekend with the JAECOO J5. It took a while to get used to at first, as this was my first time driving a JAECOO, but once I got the hang of it, I did appreciate its features and how its more compact size made it a breeze to drive through the narrower neighbourhood roads in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

I was quite impressed by the premium materials in the interior, particularly the “brushed metal” trims on the interior of the doors. The ventilated seats were comfortable, especially in Malaysia’s year-round hot climate. I hope to see all vehicles priced above RM100,000 come standard with ventilated seats in the not-too-distant future.

A very comfortable and enjoyable ride indeed, and it’s no wonder that I see more and more JAECOO SUVs (especially the J7) around my neighbourhood.

The JAECOO J5 is priced in Malaysia from RM108,000 on-the-road without insurance, and comes with a seven-year, 150,000km warranty.

For more info, head over to https://www.omodajaecoo.com.my/modelj5

After a weekend behind the wheel of the JAECOO J5, our final (dining) stop was Mimosa Artisan Kitchen & Bar, located at the newly opened MET Galleria — one of the mall’s first tenants at a time when roughly 80% of the retail space remains empty. The outlet is divided into three sections: an al fresco area for those who like fresh air, a bar with high-table seating, and a main dining area that’s furnished with sofas and dining tables.

The bar serves Guinness draught, Kilkenny, Tiger and Heineken on tap, as well as a host of premium liquors and whiskies like Royal Brackla – suitable for unwinding with colleagues or friends after work.

Mimosa’s contemporary bistro-bar design lends itself to a range of occasions, from business meetings with clients or partners to family gatherings and birthday celebrations among friends.

Food wise – the Chef’s Signatures section anchors the menu with three dishes: the Capellini de la Mer, a cold capellini with yuzu truffle, Hokkaido scallop, caviar and ikura, priced at RM88; the Kyoto Miso Cod, served with caramelised sikyo miso, chargrilled mushroom and kombu dashi clam fumet, at RM120; and the Australian Wagyu MB8, chargrilled and finished with seasonal vegetables and red wine jus, at RM160.

Western classics on offer include a classic fish and chips with triple-cooked fries and tartar sauce (RM38), a herb-roasted poulet rôti with potato purée (RM38), and a wagyu smash burger with cheddar and caramelised onion (RM48). The pasta list runs from a squid ink vongole bianco with fresh clams (RM38) to a bolognese rigatoni with parmesan reggiano (RM35).

On the Asian side, the menu features nasi goreng iga bakar with chargrilled beef ribs (RM38), nasi lemak served with either ayam goreng sambal matah or gulai ayam banjir (RM30), and soto Betawi Jakarta, a Jakarta-style beef soup in coconut cream broth (RM36).

Bar snacks such as truffle fries (RM18), chicken/ beef satay (RM25), pisang goreng (RM25), and perkedel jagung, or white corn fritters (RM25) and more provide lighter options for guests looking to have some food with their drinks.

For this visit, we ordered the Bottarga de Mare, salt and pepper calamari, Australian lamb rack, aged duck breast and unagi claypot rice.

The Bottarga de Mare, lamb rack and duck breast arrived with presentation befitting a premium restaurant, plated with visible care. The lamb rack stood out on taste, with a combination of flavours that pointed to careful thought in the kitchen. The salt and pepper calamari made for an easy pairing dish, though as the meal was a brunch sitting, it was enjoyed without alcohol.

The unagi claypot rice proved the highlight of the meal. Chargrilled unagi over claypot rice with an onsen egg and kabayaki glaze is not a common find on menus in Malaysia, which added to its appeal. Overall, a most hearty and satisfying meal in a welcoming and comfortable environment!

Mimosa Artisan Kitchen & Bar is located at Unit F29, First Floor, MET Galleria MET 1 KL Metropolis, Jalan Boulevard, Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Open daily from 11am to 1am.

For more info, head over to https://www.instagram.com/mimosa.kl.my/

---

Photos shot by the author using the vivo X300 Pro.