First Drive: 2026 Jetour T2 SUV – Rugged Yet Refined!

It is no secret that Jetour Malaysia is planning to expand its product portfolio, with the rugged Jetour T2 SUV set to become the next in line to debut for the Wuhu-based automaker.

And after a series of previews and teasers, this off-road-capable SUV is poised to make its local debut soon, where it will become the first Jetour T-Series model to arrive in Malaysia.

Here’s our first driving impression of the upcoming rugged SUV from Jetour Malaysia, the Jetour T2…

Ahead of its long-awaited debut, we were recently invited by Jetour Malaysia to test out the T2 SUV in a half-day drive from Kuala Lumpur up to Resort World Awana Genting and back, in a bid to showcase the ability of this off-road SUV in more ‘normal’ driving situations that we reckon many future T2 owners will experience.

With that all being said, here’s our first impression of the rugged, off-road-capable Jetour T2 SUV…

THE CAR

Bar our previous preview reports, here’s a quick tour about the specs and bits primed into the Malaysian-spec T2 SUV. Positioned as the brand’s midsize, off-road-capable SUV, the T2 is also known as the Jetour Traveller in China, with the Malaysian model coming exclusively with a two-row, five-seater configuration.

Powertrain-wise, the local-spec T2 is available in a single pure combustion powertrain option, namely a 2.0-litre 4-cyl TGDi petrol engine rated at 241 hp (180 kW) and 375 Nm. Said engine is then mated to a 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox and Jetour’s proprietary XWD real-time four-wheel-drive system that grants more than seven driving modes to drivers.

Unlike many other off-road 4x4 SUVs, the T2 underpins Jetour’s own Kunlun unibody architecture, which was developed by its parent company, Chery Group. That said, the aforementioned XWD system does feature a dedicated rear differential lock and an intelligent torque distribution system to make it truly off-road-capable.

As for its design, the T2 adopts a very rugged yet modernised boxy SUV design with familiar design cues inspired by other popular off-road SUVs. Some key highlights include full LED lighting units on both ends, some metal underbody claddings, built-in side steps, roof rails, a rear-mounted spare wheel cover, and 19-inch alloy wheels shod in all-terrain (AT) tyres.

Dimension-wise, the T2 spans 4,785 mm long, 2,006 mm wide, and 1,870 mm tall with a 2,800 mm wheelbase, thus making it on par with its next local Chinese rival, the ladder frame-based GWM Tank 300.

Despite its rugged setup, the T2 gets a pretty premium and spacious cabin laced with modern amenities, with the biggest highlight being the 15.6-inch main infotainment unit that supports both wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Some other comfort amenities primed here include powered and ventilated front seats with memory function, a digital instrument cluster, a large panoramic sunroof, multi-colour ambient lights, premium leatherette upholstery, dedicated rear A/C vents, multiple USB charging ports, a 12-speaker Sony audio system, a slew of physical controls, and many more.

Space is also quite decent for the T2, with the rear seats can comfortably house up to three adults, with the almost-flat flooring also helping to boost passenger comfort here. As for the boot space, it measures 580 litres as standard, featuring a side-opening tailgate that comes with a soft-close function and dedicated storage spaces.

On paper, it appears that the Jetour T2 has been specced competitively to not only outshine its aforementioned Chinese rival but also to make it a very viable lifestyle-oriented off-road SUV that is surprisingly practical.

That said, how does this supposed off-road-ready SUV tackle the average Malaysian daily driving?

THE DRIVE

For our half-day drive with the T2, the route began from Bamboo Hills in Kuala Lumpur to Resort World Awana Genting via the KL-Karak Expressway and the twisting Genting Highlands hillclimb road.

Having started the drive in the passenger seat, our first immediate impression was how refined and comfortable the T2 rides were, where you didn’t get the wobbly and bumpy sensations often associated with ladder-frame 4x4 SUVs. At average highway speeds, the T2 feels quiet and pretty settled, with minimal bumps and road noise detected—the latter is quite impressive considering the SUV rides on rugged AT tyres.

Once we entered the twisty hillclimb section of our drive, the T2 reacted in a pretty good and smooth manner, at least for a tall-riding SUV’s standard. The 2.0-litre TGDi engine provides enough power and grunt to carry the T2 around the Genting twisties with ease, and this was done even in the ‘Normal’ driving mode.

In terms of handling, the T2 was surprisingly quite decent—again, for a tall-riding SUV’s standard. Despite its relatively tall ride with rugged AT tyres, the T2 feels quite at home on paved roads. Its size was also not too bulky to make you feel like you’re driving a large 4x4 SUV, while parking this car is made easier thanks to its boxy shape and the comprehensive 360-degree camera system primed on its infotainment system.

While our half-day driving stint was simply too short for us to gauge both the T2’s fuel economy and safety features, the on-paper figures given by Jetour were indeed quite believable. The Chinese automaker claims the T2 can do as low as 7.9 litres per 100 km in a combined driving mode, while the recent 5-star score given by ASEAN NCAP should be enough to convince you about the safety level of this tall-riding SUV.

That said, we still think that Malaysian buyers would be more keen to see the T2 arriving in its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) form, which not only offers more power than the current 2.0L TGDi model but also a much better fuel economy rate. As for the off-road abilities of the T2 SUV, perhaps we can experience them on another day and time…

CONCLUSION

Handsomely styled with rugged bits, a well-equipped cabin with ample comfort amenities and practicality, plus surprisingly decent on-road driving dynamics with good comfort, the upcoming Jetour T2 ticks all the right boxes to not only become an ultimate lifestyle-oriented SUV but also a daily-drivable one too.

With a tentative price tag of just RM178,888, the T2 SUV is priced much lower than its closest Chinese competitor mentioned earlier, while being on par with other less off-roady and more conventional midsize SUVs currently on sale in Malaysia.

That being said, it remains to be seen what the final launch price of the new T2 will be, and fortunately it won’t be long before we get to know that, as well as the rest of the special launch promotions and warranty packages to be offered by Jetour Malaysia.

All in all, in case you’re in the market for an off-road-capable SUV with rugged styling and decent practicality for you and your family, you should definitely put the Jetour T2 SUV on top of your consideration list.