Can the EJ6 handle off-road terrain?

Techtravelmonitor was one of the media organizations invited to join the exclusive test drive of the JAECOO EJ6, one of the first fully electric sport utility vehicles (SUV) set for release in the Philippines.

Here’s our short review and first impressions of the EJ6 after taking it for a spin on a challenging off-road terrain.

The controls

First, the controls: The EJ6 controls are all electronic, from seat adjusters, door controls, gear selectors, etc. There is a massive touch control panel, and a shiny control knob at the center of the console, which we mistook for the gear shifter.

There is a certain “feel” when one is driving an EV. The cabin seems to be a lot quieter, a lot more modern, and for first-timers can be quite disconcerting.

So imagine being inside an ultra-modern SUV and knowing that you are going to test-dive it to really know how it performs in off-road conditions. It seems JAECOO wants to back its marketing spiel that the EJ6 is truly an SUV that happened to be powered by electric motors.

The experience

We made the necessary adjustments, and “Drive” mode to prep up the EJ6 and after the driving instructor gave us the route and a few driving tips, we slowly eased the EJ6 on a clay road.

Clay is said to be one of the most challenging off-road terrains, but the stock tires of the EJ6 held their own, providing decent grip and traction. The clay road caused the SUV to slip and slide, as expected. After getting used to the “drifts,” we were able to regain decent control.

The steering was very responsive. Although we were not encouraged to speed up and instead roll with “crawl” speed, we generally were able to have control of the vehicle throughout the run.

One can feel the 4WD system engaging as needed, as we try to navigate the short clay route. In one instance, we were asked to oversteer—with decent speed—to fully appreciate the 4WD system. The EJ6 responded by locking the rear tires, making sure the vehicle would not stray too far on the side and instead “pivoted” in position.

The EJ6 in action

To cap the off-road challenge, we were asked to drive the SUV up on a mild, but very slippery uphill track. The EJ6 managed to rise to challenge, after a few rotations of the wheels.

Recap

To recap, it was an enjoyable experience driving the EJ6 on an off-road track. We were surprised that despite the challenging terrain, the motors remained quiet. However, whether this is a plus or a minus for true-blue off-roaders remains to be seen.

OMODA&JAECOO Philippines meanwhile said the EJ6 and other car models from the company will be officially launched on February 18.

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