The new Jetour T-Series has been launched locally with two model ranges, the T1 and T2. The event, which took place at the Grand Parade in Cape Town, saw hundreds of individuals, from government officials to dealer principals to the media, attend as they showcased the range the Chinese automaker believes will change the lifestyle SUV segment.
Related: Jetour, the stylish SUV brand enters South Africa
The new Jetour T1 and T2 will officially go on sale in mid-November, but if you want to prepare a deposit, you can sell your car quickly and easily on our website here. You can also search for new or used Jetour models on AutoTrader here.
Styling
When looking at the T-Series models, it quickly becomes apparent that the Chinese automaker focuses on the light off-roading/adventure SUV segment. The T1 provides a no-nonsense, squarish design but is still very stylish and, more importantly, rather unique. The easiest way for this writer to describe it is if the head designers from Renault, Volvo, and Jeep came together and had to create one car.
The T2 takes the rugged, squarish theme even further but quickly reminds you of the Land Rover Defender 110 or the Suzuki Jimny 5-door. Customers can expect Matrix LED headlamps with height adjustment and 19-inch aluminium wheels on the T1 and T2. The T1 will be available in five exterior colours: Glacier White, Sand Gold, Titan Silver, Onyx Black and Aqua Green. The T2 also gets Glacier White, Onyx Black and Aqua Green, but omits Sand Gold and replaces Titan Silver with Lunar Silver.
Ultimately, both strike a good balance between rugged and stylish, and both made a good impression at the local reveal. But for those customisation enthusiasts, there is some good news. Jetour offers many approved customisation options, from bold wheel designs to roof spoilers to rugged off-roading gear.
Interior
Step inside, and a plush interior greets you. While the T1 gets a black leather interior with orange details such as stitching and piping, the T2 sees a slight change in the design and is finished with red stitching and piping. The T2 also see the incorporation of suede seats for the interior.
For both models, there is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster in front of the driver, while customers can expect up to 15.6 inches for the touchscreen infotainment system. The systems in both models offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and promise to be smooth and snappy, as the vehicle uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip for processing.
Higher-tier derivatives will feature a 12-speaker plus one subwoofer Sony sound system for better audio. The T1 and T2 will also get panoramic sunroofs for that added premium finish.
Performance
Both the Jetour T1 and T2 ranges get the same 1.5-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 125 kW and 270 Nm to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. A 180kW and 375Nm, turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol motor is also available in both ranges, sending power to all four wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
While we didn't get to drive and thus experience the power and drivetrain combinations, the performance figures are very competitive in this price range and segment. When we get the first test units, we will give an accurate fuel consumption figure and report back on the characteristics of the powertrains.
Safety
Most of the steel used in the Jetour T1 and T2 is high-strength steel, which better distributes impact forces during a collision. Both models also have various standard safety features and Advanced Driver Assistant Systems, such as autonomous emergency braking. While we know the T2 comes standard with six airbags, it is safe to assume the T1 will either equal this amount or be very near it.
While Jetour's internal crash test results indicate that it should score five stars, no official crash test results have been published from Euro NCAP or ANCAP.
Verdict
While we haven't experienced the Jetour T1 or T2 in real-world conditions or a short test drive, the fit and finish quality seems high. What we can confirm, however, is that the specification levels and claimed performance figures are very competitive in the price range for each model range, and we are excited to sample both models.
