LDV D90 vs Jaecoo J7 SHS

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

LDV D90 in South Africa

LDV D90

D90 Flagship Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 899,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 160 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 10.99 km/l
VS
Jaecoo J7 SHS in South Africa

Jaecoo J7 SHS

SHS Plug-in Hybrid Current
ZAR 689,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 255 kW 🔧 525 Nm ⛽ 100.0 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

LDV D90 vs Jaecoo J7 SHS: the short answer

J7 SHS has a modest catalogue-index lead, while D90 remains close.

J7 SHS starts ZAR 210,000 cheaper D90 from ZAR 899,900 · J7 SHS from ZAR 689,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification D90 J7 SHS
Maximum Power D90160 kW @ 4000 rpm J7 SHS255 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque D90500 Nm @ 1500-2400 rpm J7 SHS525 Nm
Engine Size D901996 cc J7 SHS1500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy D9010.99 km/l J7 SHS100.0 km/l
Ground Clearance D90210 mm J7 SHS174 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

D90

Strengths
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

J7 SHS

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

D90

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

J7 SHS

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec D90 J7 SHS
Model Introduced Year 2025 2025
Generation Current South African D90 generation. Current South Africa J7 SHS range
Facelift History No later South African facelift is published. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since 2025 2025
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Seven-seat large SUV SUV
Model Year 2025 2026
Production Status active active
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg - Not Available
Spec D90 J7 SHS
Length 5046 mm 4500 mm
Width 2016 mm 1865 mm
Height 1876 mm 1670 mm
Wheelbase 2950 mm 2672 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm 174 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 170 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 60 l
Boot/Cargo Space 343 l 500 l
Kerb Weight 2370 kg 1795 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3100 kg 2210 kg
Payload Capacity 730 kg 420 kg
Towing Capacity 3100 kg 1300 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.45 m 5.4 m
Front Headroom 1010 mm 1010 mm
Rear Headroom 990 mm 975 mm
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1050 mm
Rear Legroom 950 mm 910 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This D90 and J7 SHS comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: D90 82 vs J7 SHS 91.

Efficiency index: D90 45 vs J7 SHS 96.

Safety-equipment index: D90 93 vs J7 SHS 94.

Practicality index: D90 78 vs J7 SHS 62.

Ownership-cover index: D90 not separately scored vs J7 SHS not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

J7 SHS leads by 9 points

J7 SHS has a modest catalogue-index lead, while D90 remains close.

Evidence leader 85 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 68% source coverage
85
#1 Evidence leader

J7 SHS

68% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 96 Check Practicality 62
Performance 91
Efficiency 96
Safety 94
Practicality 62
Leads by 9 points
76
#2

D90

68% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 45
Performance 82
Efficiency 45
Safety 93
Practicality 78
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance J7 SHS +9 Efficiency J7 SHS +51 Safety J7 SHS +1 Practicality D90 +16

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

J7 SHS

Performance 91/100
Efficiency 96/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 62/100

D90

Performance 82/100
Efficiency 45/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 78/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Jaecoo J7 SHS leads the specification evidence index with 85 pts vs 76 pts for D90

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, J7 SHS leads. However, D90 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

D90 vs J7 SHS questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.