When you look the part, others may well believe you are the part. So goes the saying. In the case of the new Jetour T2, this may well be true, as the newcomer from Fuzhou in China certainly lives up to this when it comes to adventure SUVs.
Together with its T1 stablemate, the new Jetour T2 embodies a new design direction and strategy for Jetour that further aligns with the Chery sub-brand’s “travel plus” philosophy. Capitalising on Chery’s exposure to Land Rover products, Jetour chief designer Hakan Saracoglu reintroduced the classic boxy Defender shape to the line-up.
The imitation is so pronounced that, from a distance, one is hard-pressed to distinguish the new T2 from the Defender. Embodying ruggedness, slightly more robust capability, the slightly bigger, bolder and boxier T2 is now the brand’s feral poster child in the adventure-ready SUV segment.
During the two months I lived with it over the holiday period, I gave up keeping track of how many people, drawn by the T2’s obvious Defender looks, approached me to find out more about the vehicle. Some were immediately interested, while others were somewhat disappointed when they were informed that the T2 does not come with low-range gearing or diesel power.
However, their ears did prick up when I mentioned that the T-Series is spearheading a new direction for Jetour, serving as a blueprint for an expanding portfolio that includes serious off-roaders and PHEV models. They also reacted favourably when hearing the pricing for the T2, as it does offer outstanding value in the highly competitive SUV segment.
Premium features, all-round versatility
With its variety of premium features and all-rounder versatility, the T2 in range-topping Odyssey trim was easy to live with. It measures 4,785 mm front to rear, is 2,006 mm wide, and stands 1,880 mm tall (due to larger tyres), making it just smaller than a Defender.
In Odyssey trim, the T2 is specced to the hilt, with automatic LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, fog lights, 540° panoramic view cameras, rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, electrically folding and heated side mirrors, roof rails, privacy glass, pool lighting, rain-sensing wipers, illuminated door sills, a huge 64” panoramic sunroof, and an electric tailgate.
This also applies to the interior, with a big, 15.6″ infotainment system up front with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, complemented by a 10.25″ digital instrument cluster, push-button start and keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, USB Type-A and Type-C ports, 128-colour ambient lighting, a wireless smartphone charger and a 12-speaker Sony audio system.
We travelled well over 1,500 km in the T2, and the ventilated front seats, with electric adjustment for the driver, were comfortable and easy to adjust. It took some time to figure out the infotainment system with its high-quality graphics, but once you are used to it, it is easy to navigate.
There are also short-cut switches for the ventilation system and some other functions – a big plus when you try to change settings while bouncing around on an off-road track. In terms of safety, the T2’s advanced driver-assistance systems include cruise control, auto hold assist, rollover mitigation, blind spot monitoring, door open warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear collision warning.
Six airbags, traction and stability control, and hill descent control are standard, but as we have found with most Chinese vehicles, the driver-aid systems can be overzealous, and it became standard practice to switch them off when we got into the vehicle.
‘Travel Plus’ Mode
On the T2, the 2.0TD engine description does not refer to turbodiesel but to direct petrol injection, and the four-cylinder unit delivers ample power, 180 kW and 375 Nm of torque to be exact, driving all four wheels (in X-drive terrain mode) through a seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (7-DCT).
As with most Chinese vehicles, we found that pedal modulation is crucial when pulling away or reversing; otherwise, the T2 “jumps” forward or backwards. However, it becomes easier once you are used to the accelerator sensitivity, in much the same way you get used to all the warning bells going off when you may just seem to be distracted from driving.
With MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link system at the rear, the T2 handles quite superbly for a boxy SUV, although its bigger, more aggressive tyres impede ride comfort. To alleviate this, we deflated them slightly, but then had to live with a constantly flashing tyre-monitor warning!
Designed with mild off-road capabilities in mind, the T2 has an approach angle of 28 degrees, a departure angle of 30 degrees, and a (claimed) wading depth of 700 mm. It also has a BorgWarner torque manager and an electronic limited-slip differential, allowing the vehicle to switch between modes based on conditions.
This system came in very handy on off-road sections, and the T2 proved very capable off-road. However, without low-range gearing, its capacity is limited (so don’t overestimate it, even if it looks the part), and its ride height (220 mm) is too low for serious off-roading.
Last Word
With its more rugged mini-Defender looks, high-quality convenience, comfort, safety, and advanced technology features, the T2, priced at R569,900 in range-topping Odyssey trim and backed by a seven-year/200,000 km warranty; seven-year/75,000 km service plan and ten-year/1,000,000 km engine warranty, represents great value for those wanting to look the part, even though they do not aspire to be Kingsley Holgate.
As such, it will find favour with buyers looking for a soft-roader in the RAV4, Tucson, Sportage, and JAC J7 classes, with GWM Tank 300 and BAIC B40 adventure-SUV looks. As such, it is set to disrupt the local SUV market, even making inroads into the premium compact sport utility segment.
Report by FERDI DE VOS | Images © RYAN ABBOTT
