The JAECOO J5 Genting Run: Can the “New Premium” Handle the Climb?

In Malaysia, there is only one place to truly test the mettle of a new car: the winding, mist-covered road up to Genting Highlands. It’s a test of torque, cooling, and—most importantly—handling.

We recently joined legendary automotive journalist and veteran driver YS Khong for a “Genting Run” in the new JAECOO J5. Sitting in the passenger seat was Kimmy, our Head of Marketing at JAECOO Puncak Alam, who experienced firsthand what the J5 can do when pushed to its limits by a master.

The Strategy: Built for Efficiency, Tested for Performance

Before the climb began, Khong noted the J5’s technical baseline. It’s an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) machine—no hybrid batteries, no electric motors—just a pure 1.5L Turbocharged engine.

“They have tuned the car down to make sure you get good fuel economy,” Khong observed. With a 0-100 km/h time of 10 seconds, the J5 isn’t designed to be a racing machine, but as the first few corners of the Genting climb proved, it’s a car that “handles actually quite well”.

“Misty and Sharp”: The First Five Turns

As the team left the fast cars behind and headed into the mist, the J5 faced its first real challenge: the tight, damp corners of the lower Genting slopes.

Khong was immediately impressed by the car’s poise. “That was turn number two… this is three and four… actually, this car is quite nice to drive,” he remarked as he guided the SUV through the fog. Even with the Front Collision Warning (FCW) occasionally chirping in the misty conditions, the J5 remained steady.

Suspension: The “Sweet Spot” of Engineering

One of the highlights of the drive was the discussion on suspension tuning. Khong explained that engineers have to choose a point on a spectrum: too soft and you lose handling; too hard and you lose comfort.

“They have chosen a very nice point for a middle-of-the-road approach,” Khong noted. He rated the J5’s suspension as “comfortable side of firm”. This balance allowed him to take sharp turns at full throttle while Kimmy remained comfortable in the passenger seat, even during “hectic driving”.

“Floor It”: Pushing the 1.5L Turbo

As they reached the steeper sections, Kimmy asked the question every Malaysian buyer wants to know: “Is this the max speed?”.

“My foot is flat on the throttle,” Khong replied. While the J5 (with 147 PS) doesn’t have the “terminal speed” of a high-performance sports car, Khong praised how the power was put down. “The stabilizing is still quite okay… I’m driving the car based on its ability”.

Even through the sharpest turns at the bottom of the hill, where the Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) flashed under hard braking, the J5 responded predictably. “It did exactly what I thought it would do—it cut in,” Khong said after navigating a particularly tricky corner.

The Passenger Experience: Kimmy’s Verdict

For Kimmy, the most surprising part of the run wasn’t just the speed, but the stability. She compared it to other popular B-segment SUVs, noting that while some competitors feel “shaky” or lose grip at the back during acceleration, the J5 felt remarkably solid.

“I barely feel anything… it doesn’t feel like it’s very shaky,” Kimmy observed. Khong attributed this to a combination of the basic car setup and smooth driving technique—a “dance with the car through the corners”.

Final Verdict: Who is the J5 for?

After reaching the top “in one piece,” YS Khong provided his final rating for the JAECOO J5:

• Comfort: First Class.

• Handling: 7 out of 10 (High for an SUV).

• Value: At RM108,000, it is an excellent value daily runabout.

“If you are working in Genting and want a car that is nice to drive and economical to run—yes, this is it,” Khong concluded. While it isn’t a weekend “track toy,” its ability to handle a spirited Genting climb proves that the J5 is more than just a pretty face; it’s a capable, well-engineered machine.

Experience the J5 at JAECOO Puncak Alam

You don’t have to be a legendary racing driver like YS Khong to appreciate the JAECOO J5. Whether you’re navigating the daily traffic of Puncak Alam or planning your own weekend getaway to the highlands, the J5 is built to handle it all with “New Premium” poise.

Visit us at JAECOO Puncak Alam today. Take the J5 for your own test drive. Discover why the “middle-of-the-road” suspension and “wide stance” design make the J5 the most exciting new arrival in Malaysia.