JAC T9

Fresh off the boat, the Chinese automaker, JAC Motors’ newest release, the highly anticipated JAC T9, officially launched in Malaysia.

A double cab pickup truck, it underpins JAC’s 3rd-gen Pickup Platform and two powertrain options (Internal Combustion Engine - ICE, Battery Electric Vehicle - BEV).

Fully imported (CBU - China), available via Evolvelectric Motors (local distributor) are two variants (T9 Diesel - MYR 119,888, T9 BEV - MYR 199,888).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) cover vehicle (five years/unlimited mileage), engine (eight years/unlimited mileage) and BEV battery (six years/200,000 KM) warranties.

Exterior colours (Passion Red, Dark Black, Metallic Grey, Brilliant Silver, Pearl White). Interior colour (Black, Dark Brown).

The T9 has a symmetrically angular dashboard, linked to a low-rising centre console (cooler box, drive mode switch, gear shifter/rotary selector - T9 Diesel/T9 BEV).

Soft-/hard-touched (dash, centre console, steering wheel, doors), it sees two single-tone (Black, Dark Brown) colour schemes with contrast trims (Silver).

Filling-in the spaces are central/driver displays (infotainment, instrument cluster), angular air-con vents (button controls) and ambient lighting (64-colour, rhythmic).

Inclusively, the layout has a robust outlook, with accessibilities ergonomically arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented).

Installed (T9 Diesel, T9 BEV) is a 7.0-Inch LCD digital driver display (instrument cluster).

Comfortable, the interior sees leatherette upholstery in two single-tone (Black, Dark Brown) colour schemes. Diamond stitched (T9 Diesel) and plain (T9 BEV).

The front gets electronic-powered (driver/passenger - multi-way, heating) bolstered seats. The rear gets a manual-operated (button - 100:100 full-fold) bolstered bench. 

Included are headrests (front, rear), armrests (front - centre console - cooler box, rear centre seat fold-out) and a sunroof (electric - tilt/slide, anti-pinch).

A five-seater, the double cab pickup truck offers generous cabin space, providing the occupants (front, rear) with ample interior mobility.

Sufficient head-, shoulder-, and leg-room.

Practical storage areas. E.g., side door/backseat pockets, centre console caverned/partitioned/cooler spaces, sizable flatbed (deck), and glove box.

Mounted is a two-spoke-flat-bottom steering wheel, wrapped in leatherette (single-tone - Black) with contrast trims (Silver).

Features are multi-function (Audio, MID, Bluetooth, Vehicle telematics) and column adjustments (tilt).

The drive is aided via an Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) system.

Provided are four cup (two - front, rear) and bottle (one - door panels) holders, strategically positioned around the cabin.

Equipped are one 12 V socket (front), one 220 V multi-type socket (rear), three USB ports (two - front, one - rear) and one wireless charger (front).

The boot (flatbed/deck) comes with a manual-operated tailgate (lock handle, automatic locking) and tailgate assist.

Deck (flatbed) measurements are 1,520 MM long, 1,590 MM wide and 470 MM tall.

Weighing in at 2,055 KG (T9 Diesel) and 2,360 KG (T9 BEV), the T9 stands at 5,330 MM long, 1,965 MM wide, 1,920 MM tall and with a wheelbase spanning 3,110 MM. 

Deck (flatbed) measurements are 1,520 MM long, 1,590 MM wide and 470 MM tall.

Athletic and blocky, its exterior parades the typical high-riding pick-up truck profile, emphasised by horizontally aligned and sharply cut contours.

The front-end sees a side sculpted bonnet, flared quarter panels and a covered bumper (3D JAC grille, bumper guard, tow hooks).

Accentuations are body trims/clad (Black - grille insert, window surrounds, side sills/grille surround, bumper guard, over fenders), side mirrors (Chrome), side steps (Black), roof rails (Grey - T9 Diesel) and JAC script (top grille - Red - T9 Diesel, Blue - T9 BEV).

Stocky and athletic, it continues the typical high-riding pick-up truck silhouette, emphasised by symmetrically aligned and straightly cut surfaces.

The rear-end sees an upright tailgate (lock handle, JAC script), flared quarter panels, deck sports bar and a cladded bumper (bumper step).

Accentuations are body trims/clad (Black - deck sports bar, window surrounds, side sills, lock handle/deck lining, bumper guard, over fenders), side steps (Black), roof rails (Grey - T9 Diesel), JAC script (tailgate - body-colour) and EV badge (tailgate - Blue - T9 BEV).

Sleek and slim, the headlamps are framed in a split (upper - DRL, lower - main) design, inward-tilted (upper) and boxed-up (lower). Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off/cornering, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), follow-me-home lights, Intelligent high beam Control (IHBC) and sequential turn signals (LED). Included is a set of fog lamps (LED).

Protruding and sleek, the tail lamps are framed rectangularly vertical with double vertical light strips. Installed are LED combination units.

Features are automatic On/Off, follow-me-home lights and sequential turn signals (LED). Included is a set of fog lamps (LED) and a high-mounted brake light (roof-integrated).

The side mirrors (single-tone - Chrome) are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust), featuring sequential turn signals (LED), Blind Spot Detection (BSD) indicators, and heating.

Equipped are ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Incorporated is an Integrated Power Brake (IPB) system.

Gripping the terrains is a set of 18-Inch bicolour (Silver-Black) aluminium-alloy rims, wrapped in 265/60 R18 (front, rear) Toyo Open Country H/T Z (T9 Diesel) and Chao Yang SU318a H/T (T9 BEV) tyres.

The T9 features the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Traffic Jam Assistant (TJA), Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Door Open Warning (DOW), Multi Collision Brake (MCB), Driver Monitoring System (DMS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (IACC), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), Speed Limit Assist (SLA), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC). 

Others include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA), Brake Override System (BOS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, Rear-Autonomous Emergency Braking (R-AEB), Panoramic View Monitor (PVM - 360-degree) and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Passive safety includes seven airbags (driver-passenger, front-centre, front-side curtains), seat belts (reminders, pretensioners, anchors), ISOFIX (two - outer-rear-seats), parking sensors (four - front-rear - T9 Diesel, four - rear - T9 BEV), parking camera (reverse, 360-degree), Passive Cruise Control (PCC), automatic anti-glare rear-view mirror (interior), impact beams (side doors), automatic door-locks (central-locking, speed-sensing) and anti-theft (security alarm, immobiliser, cabin sensor).

Equipped drive modes are (ECO, NORMAL, SPORT, SNOW). Included is a 4WD Transfer Dial (2WD-High - 2H, 4WD-High - 4H, 4WD-Low - 4L) system (T9 Diesel).

Installed is a 10.4-inch touchscreen centre display (vertical-mounted - infotainment). The system supports USB, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless).

Entertainment is channelled via a six-speaker sound system.

Nestled in the T9 are variant-specific powertrain setups (ICE, BEV).

First setup (T9 Diesel) is a 2.0-Litre in-line four-cylinder 16-valve common-rail direct-injection DOHC turbo diesel engine, producing 168 HP (125 KW) and 410 NM.

Second setup (T9 BEV) are two electric motors (front-rear-axle-mounted), generating a total system output of 220 KW (295 HP) and 516 NM.

Mated to the setups is an eight-speed (T9 Diesel) and a single-speed (Intelligent e-Shift - T9 BEV) automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted to all four wheels (part-time - T9 Diesel, full-time - T9 BEV), via an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system. 

Included (T9 Diesel) is a part-time 4WD BorgWarner transfer case and an Electronic Rear Differential Lock.

Fuel tank capacity is at 76-Litres (T9 Diesel). 

Powering the e-motors (T9 BEV) is a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP - 88.0 KWH) battery pack (CATL-sourced), enabling a driving range of 340 KM (WLTP).

Charging via AC (Type 2 - 11 KW) takes 8.5 hours for 0% to 100% State-of-Charge (SoC). Charging via DC (CCS2 - 88 KW) takes 45 minutes for a 15% to 80% SoC.

The T9 features these conveniences.

E.g., Keyless Entry System (Smart Entry engine Start/Stop button), automatic headlamps (automatic On/Off/cornering/high-beam), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), steering wheel (multi-function, column adjustment), dual-zone automatic climate control (rear-vents), electronic-powered (driver/passenger - multi-way, heating) bolstered seats, headrests (front, rear), armrests (front - centre console - cooler box, rear centre seat fold-out) and a sunroof (electric - tilt/slide, anti-pinch), illumination system (cabin, entry, deck), parking sensors (four - front-rear - T9 Diesel, four - rear - T9 BEV), parking camera (reverse, 360-degree), automatic anti-glare rear-view mirror (interior), side mirrors (heating, BSD), automatic door-locks (central-locking, speed-sensing), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, anti-theft (security alarm, immobiliser, cabin sensor), deck (flatbed) and side/rear steps (exterior).

Installed is a dual-zone automatic climate control system (T9 Diesel, T9 BEV) with rear-vents.

A robustly tuned suspension system, it provides an overall great confidence on the road. Suspension setup (double wishbones - front, multi-link leaf springs - rear).

Elsewhere, it is firm and safe, and the seats are supportive and well-bolstered, offering a comfortably sporty driving dynamic for all that all-terrain needs.

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. No abnormal wind issues at any speed.

The JAC T9 offers an all-rounder appeal with its commanding demeanour and robustly comfortable interior.

Performance-wise, its ICE and BEV powertrain setups offer a dynamic and an engaging drive, and the suite of ADAS is a bonus.

Ultimately, the T9 is satisfactory, a well-blended four-wheeler, combining design, performance and practicality.