I’ll spare you from any tito references this time around and just say that for all that it is, the Jetour T2 is indeed a good SUV. However, one can’t deny it’s not for everybody. Sure, it’s pricey but aside from that, it’s also too obvious. The very macho silhouette, over-emphasized flares, and the Jetour badge at the grille isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. This is where the Jetour T1 comes in.
The T1 is not exactly an opposite to the T2, but it has enough distinction to make it palatable to the off-road curious crowd. For starters it doesn’t have that JETOUR lettering on the grille and its side profile is a bit more tame. No more outlandish arcs and flares this time around. The rear was also kept tidy with the absence of the spare tire cover and because of that, we have a conventional tailgate that’s easier to open in tight spaces. It’s powered and has a memory function as well.
It’s only 80 mm shorter than the T2, but the T1 is still wide as it’s only 39 mm narrower. That’s like half my pinky. It retained the 2,800 mm wheelbase and still stands 200 mm above ground. The roof rails are also functional too as it can hold up to 300 kilos at a standstill, or up to 150 kilos when on the move. That means you can carry a lot of things at the back, then set up camp on the roof when you’re at your destination.
The cabin is also very close to that of the T2, save for a few things. They removed the grab handle at the center console, but there’s now a grab bar in front of the front passenger. The vents look different, and the set of buttons on the shifter area are distinct as well.
A slight advantage for the T1 would be the array of buttons under the 15.6-inch touchscreen. You don’t have to fiddle much with the panel anymore for the basic air controls. The T1 also reminded me how glorious this screen was. It’s the same size as the T2 and the full 15.6-inches can be utilized by Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so that it looks like a laptop on the dashboard. You’d have to be something else if you miss a turn in Waze with that big of a visual aid.
Driving the T1 is easy and comfortable. This thing is wide so there’s no problem even if 2 big dudes sit in front or at the second row. Despite that though, it’s easy to estimate in narrow spaces even without using the 540-degree camera system. The panoramic sunroof has a solid cover and the glass is thick enough that most wind noise doesn’t happen even at the speed limit.
It didn’t take much to see where the basic functions are, as well as the extras like drive modes. The steering is light which is nice in the city. It doesn’t firm up as much as I wanted to on the highway though. But that is saved by the car’s Lane Keeping System.
Speaking of, the T1 is served with a complete set of Advanced Driver Assist System on a silver plate. There’s Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Front Collision Warning, Active Braking, and Blind Spot Monitoring among others. Only, they are not apparent from the start.
Let’s face it, these are safety features. But sometimes they are not tailored well to our country. The Lane Keeping System may be annoying, or the Emergency Braking may be a bit too eager. The fact that we can totally have them off if we want to here in the T1 is a plus for me. I want them in my car, but I want them when I need them. Do not override my inputs.
It fulfills its promise of efficiency as well. We were overtaking every single truck in SCTEX and yet the car returned 22 km/L. We weren’t even using sport mode and the power is just continuous and unrelenting. By computation it can really last the estimated 1,200+ km of combined range.
The Jetour T1 is not perfect. It has a bit of body roll, the rear vent has a single grille despite having 2 vents, and the loading height of the tailgate is a bit high. Add to the fact that it sits on the pricier side of the segment at P 1,898,000 SRP (P 1,798,000 introductory price) and it looks like it will have an uphill battle against the likes of the Ford Territory and BYD Sealion 6.
You have to hand its flowers though. Jetour definitely made the right cuts in making a slightly smaller and more affordable T2 and they did that without holding it back. The T1 still has all the best bits of the T2 like a good electrified powertrain, space, creature comforts, a comfortable and quiet cabin as well. If you’re pondering on the T2 for a while but its design is too rugged for you, the T1 is the perfect match. It looks the part, but won’t be an outcast on the red carpet. Just make sure to remove the mud from the tires first.
Words and Photos by Vincent Villa
i-DM for Jetour means intelligent-Dual Motor while for BYD it's DM-i which means Dual Motor-intelligent. Reverse terming for the Chinese automakers which proves who they really are, copying one another.
ReplyDeleteIt's home grown tech either way. What's bad about that?
DeleteCopycats. Proudly made in China as an evidence of their works.
DeleteThese comments are so dumb. If you want to call them copycats then call them out on actual things they are copying. Using the similar names as proof is just stupid.
DeleteGo to YouTube and search the Sikasabu Motor channel. It's a Japanese channel that has detailed videos on the engineering of all sorts of cars. You can look at their videos covering BYD and see how they compare their system with other brands. The channel themselves call it a very unique application. You'll also see how many brands share the same exact systems, so I guess that's better than copying in your mind.
How’s the suspension tuning? Is it composed in any speed / road OR wallowy like the virtually the rest of its chinese competition?
ReplyDeleteJetour T1 PHEV isn't meant to compete with the Territory and Sealion 6 as Jetour Philippines positioned and priced the X70 Plus PHEV and Dashing PHEV as direct rivals of those PHEV SUVs.
ReplyDeleteJetour T1 PHEV was intended as an affordable and smaller alternative to the best selling Jetour T2.
Ive heard this car has a lot of gimmicks. How the stereo, they were Sonys iirc?
ReplyDeleteHow about the layered glass on windshield and windows? Are they effective in reducing noise inside the cabin?
Is this car comfortable? Like when compared to an Everest or CR-V
Watch a video review or book a test drive. That's a lot of questions to ask. lol
DeleteIs this the Jetour car that has a 1Million kms or 10 year warranty?.. looks promising.
ReplyDelete