Jetour Malaysia recently invited us for a short test drive of its upcoming T2. The Jetour T2 is a more rugged-looking SUV aimed at buyers who want a tougher design while retaining the comfort of a conventional SUV. This intent is clearly reflected in the vehicle’s styling, which adopts the boxy proportions commonly associated with rugged SUVs on the market.
As a quick introduction, the T2 is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged engine producing 254PS and 390Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, with power sent to all four wheels via Jetour’s XWD intelligent system. Inside, the T2 features a large 15.6-inch infotainment display that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, connected to a 12-speaker Sony sound system. In front of the driver sits a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
For this drive, Jetour arranged a route from Bamboo Hills to the Awana Hotel in Genting. To be fair, Jetour placed four members of the media in one car, so each of us had a relatively short driving stint of about 30 minutes. Two drivers took turns driving up to the hotel, while the other two covered the return journey. The selected roads allowed us to experience the T2 primarily on highways and mountain roads. As it was a rainy day, we also had the opportunity to observe how the vehicle’s all-wheel-drive system performed in wet conditions.
I drove during the second stint, covering the stretch from Genting Sempah R&R up to Awana Genting. The moment I got behind the wheel, I immediately noticed that the transmission’s clutch engagement felt more responsive and smoother compared to the Jetour Dashing. It appears Jetour has applied lessons learned from its earlier models and refined the driving experience in this newer vehicle. On the uphill climb, the engine delivered sufficient power to maintain a brisk pace. However, due to the wet roads and the T2’s all-terrain tyres, there were moments when the engine struggled to effectively transfer power to the ground.
In terms of handling, the T2’s steering felt on the lighter side, which is expected for an SUV of this nature. It is certainly not a handling-focused vehicle. That said, the steering was relatively direct, making it easy to judge where the front wheels were pointing. Grip levels, however, were noticeably limited — again attributable to the all-terrain tyres. This occasionally caused the vehicle to slip slightly when entering corners. Fortunately, the all-wheel-drive system managed to sort things out, helping to stabilise and pull the vehicle through without drama.
Ride comfort was decent. The suspension handled body roll reasonably well, though it is clearly tuned with comfort as the priority. It absorbed bumps and road imperfections effectively, delivering a ride quality comparable to many other Chinese SUVs. The brakes felt neutral and progressive, making it easy to modulate stopping force smoothly. Judging brake pressure was intuitive, allowing for comfortable deceleration without unsettling passengers.
Despite the brief drive, the T2 left a positive impression. There are clear improvements over Jetour’s earlier efforts. As the T2 has yet to be officially launched, pricing remains unconfirmed. Based on information circulating online, the vehicle is expected to be priced at around RM170,000. Given the limited seat time, this session served only as a taster. A more comprehensive evaluation will have to wait until a full test drive becomes available after the official launch.
