Earlier this year, I had my first taste of the Jetour T2 XWD. It was a thoroughly impressive vehicle, so much so that it went on to make history by becoming the first Chinese car to win the prestigious South African Car of the Year title. Nic Campbell, Vice President of Jetour South Africa, was understandably delighted. Speaking during the journey to the top spot, he noted: “From being announced as a finalist, we at Jetour South Africa have felt an immense sense of pride, not only in the T2 but in our brand. Being recognised on such a large scale in a relatively short amount of time as a brand, and within an even shorter space of time since the launch of the T Series, has inspired us even more. The T2 is undoubtedly a South African favourite, and to win the title of South African Car of the Year instils massive pride in our organisation.”
Asked about what he thought impressed the judges, his reply was simple: “All-round performance, solid build, technology, and good looks.” Having sold over 4,000 T2 models already, I think he is a man who sleeps very well at night.
A Familiar Face, A New Powertrain
To expand the range even further, Jetour recently announced Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) versions for both its T1 and T2 models. We got to spend some time in the latest T2 i-DM, and if you love the looks of the T2 but aren’t too fussed about serious off-roading, this new variant might just be the one for you.
Park the XWD all-wheel-drive T2 and the i-DM next to each other, and you will have to look closely at the PHEV badge on the D-pillar to tell them apart. Inside, the trim and specifications are pretty much identical until you switch the car on. A whole host of new displays immediately let you know that this car isn’t just powered by a petrol engine. It does feature a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol unit, but the main drive of the i-DM comes from its dual electric motor setup and 3-speed hybrid transmission driving the front wheels.
Hybrid Power Explained
The car comes equipped with an 18.4 kWh battery, which is relatively small considering the sheer size of the T2. However, the battery alone is good for around 90 km of electric-only range, after which the engine kicks in to act as a generator. It charges the battery on the go, generating the power needed to keep the electric motors spinning. While you can plug the T2 into a normal household socket, a better option is to use a DC fast charger. Using the fast charger, charging from 30% to 80% takes around 30 minutes. Charging at home will take it from 30% to 100% in approximately 3 hours. Driving in EV mode and utilising the petrol engine efficiently can yield a claimed 1.3 L/100km! That is indeed a highly optimistic figure, but if you do short trips daily and leave it to charge overnight, it is totally achievable.
On the Road
Despite its rugged, go-anywhere looks, the i-DM is best described as a “soft-roader” since it lacks the AWD system of its petrol-only sibling. We took the car out on Youth Day in search of a decent breakfast. On the way there, I spotted a great photo opportunity and had no reservations about driving into a recently cut field. Thanks to its generous 190 mm ground clearance, it handled the terrain easily, but a nice gravel road or light trail will probably be the limit for most owners. You won’t be doing serious rock-crawling or tackling steep, slippery inclines here. In fact, the rotary dial on the centre console offers just four modes: Normal, Sport, Snow, and Eco.
Inside, the i-DM retains the premium cabin of the standard T2, offering a commanding driving position and plenty of legroom. Even rear passengers have absolutely nothing to complain about. Everything about the T2 feels solid and well put together. It features a colossal digital display in the centre from which you can control most of the car’s features. Thankfully, Jetour retained physical buttons for vital functions, like the dual-zone climate control system. There is a wireless charging pad on the centre console, and if you open the car door, a voice reminds you to take your phone with you. It’s almost as if the car knows exactly how forgetful I can be!
Driving the T2 is quite an event. You operate the car mostly in EV mode, accompanied by the mandatory pedestrian warning sounds at low speeds. The intelligent hybrid system automatically manages power delivery to optimise both fuel economy and performance. When popping to the shops, the vehicle runs entirely on electric power. When the battery drops to a pre-set level, the petrol engine fires up seamlessly. It doesn’t drive the wheels directly, though. Instead, it acts as a generator to power the electric motor and top up the battery. I only noticed the transition because of a graphic on the digital instrument cluster. Should it be required, like heavy acceleration, both the petrol engine and electric motor work simultaneously to deliver up to 265 kW and 610 Nm of torque to the front wheels.
Is the i-DM the Right Choice?
I was initially sceptical of putting such a small engine in a vehicle this large, but the electric motor makes driving the T2 feel completely effortless. You can also tow with the T2. It is officially rated for 750 kg unbraked and 1,600 kg braked, making it perfectly capable of hauling the family holiday trailer. One more thing that made me wonder about this configuration is the price. At R779 900, it still undercuts its major competition in the market, but that is R100 000 more than the AWD, petrol version we drove earlier.
So, the question remains: do you plan to go proper off-roading? If so, stick to the XWD T2 with its 2.0-litre petrol engine. But if you are going to use it for your daily commute, the occasional weekend road trip, and the odd gravel road, I can highly recommend the i-DM version. If you have charging capabilities at home, you could easily go weeks without ever visiting a petrol station, all while driving a car that turns heads wherever it goes.
Chinese automotive brands have made massive inroads into the South African market. Asked about this shift, Nic Campbell noted: “I think the adoption of Chinese motor brands worldwide is growing daily, not just here in South Africa. The global automotive industry is in a new era, and all manufacturers are looking to produce the latest and greatest. I think what Jetour as a brand does exceptionally well is listen to our customers’ wants and needs and tailor specific models to those needs. Globally, Jetour has run over 80 different focused customer events with over 2,100 participants to get a better understanding of what consumers want.”
Jetour offers a 7-year / 200,000 km vehicle warranty, a 10-year / 1 million km engine warranty and an 8-year / 160,000 km battery warranty. You also get a 7-year / 75,000 km service plan.
For more information, visit: www.jetour.co.za
