First Impressions: Jetour T2 - rugged looks, premium cabin, and a drive that sells the idea

KUALA LUMPUR: Spending three to four hours with a brand new SUV is usually not enough to form a proper verdict. But sometimes a short drive tells you exactly what a car wants to be. The Jetour T2 made its intentions very clear almost immediately.

The weather helped, in a strange way. It rained heavily for most of the session, the kind of rain that turns roads shiny and exposes every weakness in ride comfort, traction and braking feel.

Also Read: Jetour Malaysia launches new logo, heralding a new chapter

Instead of a polished launch route, the T2 had to deal with wet highways, misty climbs and slick corners heading up Genting. That turned out to be a pretty good stress test for a first impression.

And before even stepping inside, there is no denying the obvious. This is one seriously handsome SUV.

Rugged, boxy, and unapologetically bold

The Jetour T2 leans hard into the modern boxy SUV trend, and it does it confidently. It looks like something designed to live outdoors, even if most examples will spend their lives in malls and city traffic.

The proportions are what make it work. It has the visual width and planted stance of a D-segment SUV, but its length sits closer to a C-segment footprint. That balance gives it presence without feeling oversized.

From the front, the styling is aggressive in a playful way. There are tow-hook styled elements integrated into the bumper that look like proper recovery points.

Up close, you realise they are plastic and decorative rather than functional metal hooks, but visually they sell the idea of toughness. It is styling theatre, but it works. The squared-off silhouette, upright glasshouse and chunky wheel arches all contribute to a design that looks intentionally rugged rather than pretending to be sporty.

Full LED lighting and 19-inch wheels complete the stance, and the colour options, including Khaki White, Aviation Silver and Carbon Black, suit the T2’s outdoorsy character. It is the kind of SUV that attracts glances in traffic without trying too hard.

Note: Some photos in this article show a matte grey Jetour T2. This colour will not be offered in Malaysia and the unit was supplied solely for this test drive.

A cabin that feels like a step forward

Jetour’s earlier Malaysian models have been about value, but stepping into the T2 feels like the brand has moved up a class. The interior is noticeably more mature in execution.

Material quality is the first surprise. Soft-touch surfaces appear where you expect them, the big airplane gear lever feels solid, and nothing immediately feels flimsy.

The dashboard is dominated by a large 15.6-inch infotainment display that looks crisp and modern. The resolution is high, graphics are sharp, and the interface does not look like an afterthought. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included, and the Sony 12-speaker audio system adds a premium touch that is immediately noticeable.

The seating is another highlight. Leatherette upholstery, front memory and ventilated seats, and a panoramic sunroof give the T2 an upscale feel that matches its price positioning.

But the real star is the rear seat experience. The bench is wide, supportive and extremely comfortable, and the recline angle is generous. Complemented by a flat floor, sitting in the back feels relaxed in a way many SUVs forget to prioritise. During the drive, the rear ride quality stood out as calm and well controlled, which is exactly what passengers want.

The T2 rides on a monocoque chassis rather than a traditional ladder frame, and you can feel that decision in the way it behaves. It absorbs imperfections with a smoothness that prioritises comfort over toughness. Some off-roaders sacrifice ride quality for durability, but the T2 is clearly tuned for daily usability.

Built for adventure, at least on paper

We did not get a chance to push the T2 off-road, the route was firmly tarmac focused, but Jetour has equipped it with the right ingredients to support its adventure image.

It comes fitted with all-terrain Giti tyres, an intelligent XWD system, and 7 plus X drive modes that adjust traction and drivetrain behaviour depending on conditions. There is also an automatic X mode designed to optimise grip without the driver having to think about it.

Jetour claims a 700 mm wading depth, and interestingly, a quick look under the bonnet shows the air intake positioned high at the top of the engine bay. That placement supports the claim and suggests the figure is not purely marketing fantasy. For buyers who like the idea of river crossings and muddy trails, the hardware seems serious enough to inspire confidence, at least for Klang valley flash floods anyways.

Engine and drivetrain

Power comes from a 2.0-litre TGDi turbocharged engine producing 245 PS and 375 Nm, paired with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. On paper, you might expect a boxy SUV of this size to feel heavy or strained, especially since it runs predominantly as a front-wheel-driven vehicle in normal conditions.

In practice, the T2 feels stronger than expected. There is plenty of usable torque, and the engine pulls cleanly even uphill. The dual clutch transmission deserves credit for its smoothness and eagerness to drop gears to give you more power.

There is no annoying low-speed shudder or clutch judder from what we can tell of our short driving trip, just seamless shifts that make city driving easy. For a DCT, it behaves more like a refined automatic than a temperamental performance gearbox.

Jetour quotes a combined fuel consumption figure of 7.9 L per 100 km, which is respectable considering the T2’s size and output.

Driving character

From the driver’s seat, the T2 feels tall, and you are always aware of its height. Through corners, there is some body wallow, which is expected for a vehicle built around comfort and ground clearance. The steering is light and not particularly communicative in normal mode. Switching to Sport adds weight, making it feel more substantial in your hands, but it still prioritises ease over precision.

It is not a sharp or sporty steering system, and that is fine. The T2 is not pretending to be a hot SUV. Its strength lies in being composed and comfortable. Even in wet conditions, grip felt secure and predictable, and the vehicle never felt unsettled.

There are paddle shifters on the steering wheel, though we did not get enough time to properly explore manual control. The brakes are the one area that stood out as needing improvement. The pedal feel is slightly spongy, lacking the immediate bite that inspires confidence in a large SUV. It is not unsafe, just less reassuring than the rest of the driving experience.

Safety and technology

The T2 backs up its lifestyle image with strong safety credentials. It carries a five-star ASEAN NCAP rating with an overall score of 86.5 points. The structure uses 80 percent high-strength steel and boasts 31,000 Nm per degree torsional stiffness, supported by six airbags and a comprehensive Level 2 ADAS suite.

That includes autonomous emergency braking, integrated cruise assist, lane assist interference, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and intelligent high beam control. A panoramic view monitoring system and tyre pressure monitoring system add everyday usability, especially in tight urban spaces.

The bigger picture

At a tentative price around RM178,888, expectations are naturally higher than Jetour’s entry models. The T2 feels like an attempt to reposition the brand as a lifestyle SUV maker rather than just a value player. And after a few hours in challenging weather, the impression is clear.

This is the most complete feeling Jetour currently on offer. It is spacious, comfortable, well equipped and visually distinctive. It explains why the model has been a strong seller in the Middle East, where buyers value size, comfort and road presence.

The Jetour T2 may look like an off-road toy, but its real strength is perhaps how well it can work as a daily SUV as well as tourer. It delivers comfort, space and attitude in equal measure. After only a short time behind the wheel, it leaves a simple conclusion.

This is a car you want to take on long journeys.

Also Read: JETOUR T2 estimated priced from RM178,888 in Malaysia — bookings open ahead of Q1 2026 launch