China’s Jetour brand will launch locally in 2027 and the boxy T2 mid-size SUV we’re reviewing here will be a vital piece of its puzzle in the Australian market.
Jetour is one of Chery’s long list of brands, and while there may be some shared componentry and technology between them, the T2 is clearly different to anything else on sale here at the moment.
Let’s talk through this five-seat SUV and where it might fit in the market when it arrives Down Under next year.
How much does the Jetour T2 cost?
There are no pricing or specification details available for Australian versions of the Jetour T2 yet, but it’s a mid-size SUV – and that means it could come with a very wide range of prices.
We don’t expect the T2 to be a budget player, so if you’re thinking it might cost less than $40,000, we reckon you’ll be disappointed.
However, the company has stated it also intends to offer the smaller T1 here, so we’d expect pricing of around $50k, especially since Jetour hopes to establish itself as a slightly more premium player than mainstream auto brands from China.
Overseas versions of the T2 are comprehensively kitted out, and we can expect Aussie versions to come fully loaded too. See below for details on the standard equipment we expect to be offered.
What is the Jetour T2 like on the inside?
The T2’s cabin treatment doesn’t stray too far from the ‘rugged SUV’ playbook, but it looks and feels high-quality and high-tech, and there are a heap of nifty inclusions.
As with its bigger brother, the G700, there are some interior design cues that allude to off-road capability, including sizable grab handles between the front seats, and even a backlit breadcrumb trail map of China’s famed G318 highway, which stretches from Shanghai to the China-Nepal border.
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There are loads of storage areas through the front cabin, including door pockets with bottle holders, nifty little magnetised clasps in the armrests, a dock area for phones, a big covered centre area, and removable cupholders (making it far easier to clean them if you have a spill on the trail). There’s also a large storage area under the central bridge.
The typical twin-screen dashboard design houses all your main tech, media and climate controls, and sadly there aren’t as many physical buttons as you might like to see. However, there are some (AC on/off, demister) alongside a drive mode controller near the gear selector.
I didn’t have time to delve into the multimedia software but saw it in action during our test drive in China, and the touchscreen appeared to be high-resolution and quick to react, and there’s a great surround-view camera system.
All of the interior material finishes are great, especially if you like Alcantara/microsuede. It was all over the place inside the car I tested, including the headlining. The seat upholstery is fake leather, but the steering wheel has real leather trim.
In the second row, I managed to fit in behind my own 182cm/6’0” frame with space to spare. I had loads of headroom, legroom and space for my feet, with the boxy body offering more cabin space than the CX-5 or RAV4.
There are multiple storage options in the rear, including multi-pocket seatbacks, bottle holders in the doors, and a drop-down armrest with cupholders.
The T2 has a panoramic sunroof as standard in some markets, accompanied by a thick power-retractable cover.
Conveniently, the side-swinging tailgate opens the right way for our market, with the kerbside access making it less tedious than some others in the segment.
It has a boot-mounted spare wheel attachment point, though the vehicle I tested had the other option: a small cargo box covering a space-saver wheel.
The tailgate has a locking piston so you can stop it from swinging if you’re parked on a slope, plus a couple of cupholders and bag hooks for when you just want to sit at the back of the car and take in the view.
The cargo area is a great size, too. There is 580 litres of capacity, plus a number of tie-down points and cargo hooks, netted sections and an elasticated strap.
At 4785mm long including the spare wheel cover, the T2 is mid-way between the Toyota RAV4 and Kluger in overall length.
| Dimensions | Jetour T2 |
|---|---|
| Length |
4785mm (incl. spare wheel cover) |
| Width |
2006mm |
| Height |
1875mm |
| Wheelbase |
2800mm |
| Cargo capacity |
580L |
What’s under the bonnet?
The Jetour T2 is offered with a couple of powertrain choices internationally, including a petrol engine and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system dubbed i-DM. Globally, there are also front- and all-wheel drive configurations to choose from, but it was the flagship PHEV AWD version I drove, and it has some pretty astounding specifications.
| Specifications |
Jetour T2 i-DM AWD |
|---|---|
| Engine |
1.5L 4cyl turbo-petrol PHEV |
| Engine outputs |
105kW of power 215Nm of torque |
| Electric motor outputs |
340kW of power 700Nm of torque |
| System outputs |
441kW of power 915Nm of torque |
| Battery |
43.2kWh LFP |
| Transmission |
3-speed hybrid transmission |
| Drive type |
All-wheel drive |
| Weight |
2210kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) |
5.5 seconds |
| Fuel economy (claimed) |
0.8L/100km – charged battery 5.4L/100km – battery at or below 25 per cent |
| Electric driving range (PHEV) |
139km (NEDC) |
How does the Jetour T2 drive?
My drive was hardly extensive. In fact, calling this review a ‘quick drive’ might even be overselling the experience.
I had literally two minutes behind the wheel, and was a passenger for a few additional runs, but I can say that it feels different to most of the other mid-size SUVs.
It has a pretty sturdy and grounded feeling at all times, though there is some body roll to contend with in corners, and the steering isn’t what I’d describe as sporty, so I wouldn’t say the T2 is a masterclass in handling dynamics.
But it’s not really designed to be. This is not a low-slung, driver-focused SUV, but instead aims to offer upright practicality and, according to the brand, all-terrain capability that other competitors mightn’t match.
It is not like the GWM Tank 300 (it doesn’t have conventional diff locks or a proper 4×4 system with a low-range transfer case), and is probably better described as a rival for the likes of the Subaru Forester or Outback in terms of its apparent off-road capability.
Over a series of sharp bumps, similar to what you might find on rural roads and corrugated tracks, it remained controlled and compliant, if a touch firm feeling due to the road-biased wheel and tyre package fitted to our test vehicle.
As for acceleration, it took a second or so for the powertrain to combobulate, but once we were away it shot up to speed rapidly.
Under hard braking, there wasn’t too much nose dive, and the pedal feel was reasonably trustworthy.
Visibility from the driver’s seat is good, with a large glasshouse allowing good outward vision at a glance, but there’s also a terrific surround-view camera system, including a ‘see through’ view.
My very short drive suggested to me that the T2 will be different to other models in the already overcrowded mid-size SUV segment, but it should easily be able to hold its own when it comes to the drive experience.
What do you get?
Full details on standard spec levels are still a while away for the Australian market, but the T2 is likely to be extremely well-equipped based on the versions sold overseas.
2026 Jetour T2 equipment highlights (provisional):
- LED lighting
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Keyless entry
- Push-button start
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- Power-folding side mirrors
- 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- Dual-zone climate control
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Electric front seat adjustment
- Front seat memory settings
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- 12-speaker Sony sound system
Based on the size of the T2 and the standard kit it’s likely to come with, how much do you think it should cost? Have your say in the comments.
Is the Jetour T2 safe?
The T2 was awarded a five-star rating from ASEAN NCAP, but hasn’t been put through Euro NCAP or ANCAP testing as yet. Even so, it has a solid range of standard safety gear.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Traffic jam assist
- Lane keeping assist
- Surround-view camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Six airbags, incl. dual front, front side and full-length curtains
How much does the Jetour T2 cost to run?
It’s yet to be confirmed where Jetour will position itself from an ownership experience perspective.
However, in Australia its sister brand Chery offers a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty for its vehicles, and seven years of roadside assistance if you maintain your car within the brand’s service network. Chery also offers capped-price servicing for the first seven years.
Another Chery brand, Omoda Jaecoo, offers an extra year of warranty, for a total of eight years and unlimited kilometres, along with different servicing options.
CarExpert’s Take on the Jetour T2
I was quite taken by the Jetour T2 due to its striking exterior design, which certainly commands some road presence, and its clever and charming interior.
It seemed to drive okay during my brief experience, it’s right on the money in terms of powertrain tech, and it’s well packaged inside too.
Pricing will be key, but even if the Jetour T2 comes in a bit higher than mid-size SUVs from other brands in the Chery stable, it will likely feel like money well spent.
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