Jaecoo adds a blacked-out J7 plug-in hybrid to its Australian range for $49,990

Jaecoo has added a Black Edition version of its J7 plug-in hybrid to the Australian range, priced at $49,990 drive-away. The special-edition mid-size SUV is due in dealerships this month, with test drives starting in mid-November.

It is $2,000 more than the SHS-P Summit AWD it is based on, a variant Jaecoo only announced in September as part of a reshuffled model year 2027 lineup for the J7.

What the black pack changes

The exterior chrome has been removed, with the grille, wheels, mirrors, roof rails and other external parts now finished in black. Inside, the car gets a dark headliner and dark pillar trim.

Everything else carries over from the Summit AWD, including projector LED headlights with automatic high-beam, rain-sensing wipers, a panoramic sunroof with power sunshade, a power tailgate, remote start and proximity entry and start.

The cabin keeps the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 14.8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, head-up display, an eight-speaker Sony sound system and a 50W wireless phone charger.

Also standard are leatherette upholstery, heated, ventilated and power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control and colour-adjustable ambient lighting, along with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-centring, rear cross-traffic assist, safe exit warning and a surround-view camera.

The plug-in hybrid underneath

The Black Edition uses the same powertrain as the Summit AWD: a 105kW/215Nm turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with 150kW/310Nm front and 113kW/210Nm rear electric motors, for total system outputs of 260kW and 490Nm.

It runs a dedicated hybrid transmission and the petrol engine takes 91-octane regular unleaded. The 18.4kWh lithium iron phosphate battery can charge at up to 6.6kW on AC and 40kW on DC.

Jaecoo quotes electric range of 80km on the NEDC cycle and fuel consumption of 1.9L/100km. That range figure comes from a different test cycle to the WLTP and EPA numbers used for many rival plug-in hybrids, so it should not be read as a like-for-like comparison with those cars.

Why black packs keep coming

Jaecoo backs its vehicles with an eight-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and offers up to eight years of roadside assistance and eight years of capped-price servicing.

Black editions, sometimes called black packs, are a cheap way for brands to stir up fresh interest in a model, and they lean on the enduring popularity of black exteriors and black interiors in Australia. More than a dozen new black editions were launched in Australia in 2026 alone, including black versions of mid-size SUVs such as the Mitsubishi Outlander LS.

For buyers, the appeal is cosmetic rather than mechanical: the $2,000 premium buys the darkened look and nothing more in the way of power, battery capacity or charging speed. Anyone weighing the Black Edition against the Summit AWD is effectively deciding whether the appearance package is worth the extra spend.

Toyota has raised the price of the LandCruiser 70 Series by $1300 across every model grade and body style, with the new pricing effective from November 1, 2026. The entry-level WorkMate wagon now starts at $76,900 before on-road costs.

What the new pricing looks like

The single-cab/chassis WorkMate is now $78,100 before on-road costs, while the double-cab/chassis version starts at $78,600. The cheapest Troop Carrier, the five-speed manual WorkMate, is priced from $78,500 before on-roads, and the top-spec GXL grade now starts at $79,100 before on-road costs for the manual wagon.

The 70 Series is sold in WorkMate, GX and GXL grades, across wagon, Troop Carrier, two-door single-cab/chassis and four-door double-cab/chassis body styles. Buyers can choose a six-speed automatic or a five-speed manual.

Powertrains and equipment carry over

Automatic versions use a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine producing 150kW and 500Nm, paired with dual-range four-wheel drive. Three-pedal variants share the same engine but with torque trimmed to 450Nm.

Toyota has not confirmed whether the price rises come with any equipment changes. Standard kit on the WorkMate includes 16-inch steel wheels with a full-size spare, LED headlights, a snorkel, vinyl-trimmed seats and door cards, and a 6.7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The mid-spec GX is offered only in two-door cab/chassis form with an automatic transmission, adding 16-inch alloy wheels and wheel-arch extensions. The GXL adds LED fog lights, chrome bumpers and drip rails, cloth seats and carpet flooring.

Manual orders remain paused

Toyota Australia paused orders for manual transmission versions of the 70 Series earlier this year, with automatic versions staying available. The company has not confirmed when manual orders will reopen.

The $1300 increase follows price rises of up to $1000 on the Corolla hatchback range, apart from the flagship GR Corolla, in Australia last month. That pattern suggests Toyota is repricing across its Australian line-up rather than singling out the 70 Series, though buyers of the manual variants face the added uncertainty of not knowing when they can order one at all.

Japanese-market update reported, Australian plans unconfirmed

Last month, website Creative Trend reported that Japanese versions of the 70 Series will be updated from January 2027, adding a 360-degree camera system and infotainment changes while deleting the passenger-side rear-view mirror. That report is unconfirmed and covers the Japanese market only.

Toyota Australia has not announced whether Australian-delivered 70 Series models will receive the same updates, so local buyers should treat the Japanese changes as a separate matter for now.