WeeklySA_AdminJETOUR T2 Xplora XWD: A blend of rugged elegance and power a la Defender but with all the hallmarks to disturb the market offered at a mouthwatering price
By Ali Mphaki
The Chinese are rewriting the script has become more than a cliché. They’ve thrown the whole book out of the window!
As they succinctly put it in local parlance in places like Mamelodi, Seshego, Soweto, and some such darkie abodes;
MaChina afihlile!
This sentiment laced with delectable endearments was brought home as we crisscrossed the length and breadth of Gauteng cruising in our test Jetour T2 which we kept for a week or so recently.
In its wake, eyes popped, necks craned, and heads nodded.
Offered in three derivatives, namely Aspire, Xplora and flagship Odyssey, ours was the mid-range Jetour T2 Xplora XWD, Onyx Black in colour, undoubtedly the best hue in the range. Other colours on offer are Glacier White, Lunar Silver, Titan Silver, and Aqua Green.
In case you missed it, the Jetour T2 launched on South African soil October 2025 courtesy of the Chery brand, even though Jetour operates as a separate entity.
The T2 follows closely on the Jetour T1 launched …which sees the Chinese manufacturer’s increasing its local lineup to …..
First to strike you about the T2 is its bold, boxy and rugged design featuring automatic LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, fog lights, electrically folding heated side mirrors, and roof rails.
At 4785 mm long, 2006 mm wide, and 1870 mm in height it has presence. It wears size 19-inch alloy wheels.
And if there’s a Reverse Yo Mhlaba, the rear of the Jetour should rate among top contenders.
This is where you find Ray style vertical LED taillights, a full-size mounted spare wheel in backpack-style cover and a high-mounted rear light.
We liked the side-hinged tailgate which can be opened via an electric latch or manually.
Rather than lifting it opens horizontally towards the curb side providing easy access to the 580-L boot.
Charming are two pop out cup holders (3kg weight) and a bottle opener on the door panel.
A 12V socket, shopping bag hooks, and under-floor storage, all conspire to make for a practical boot space with an adventurous streak.
A factory-fitted tow bar completes its modern off-road SUV rear look.
At night, the T2 is at its most seductive. When the front door(s) open, a circular Jetour Traveler animation (the model is known as Jetour Traveler in China) is projected on the ground leading you to a 5-seater interior brimming with premium fit and finish.
Using passenger grab handles to ingress, the electrically adjustable driver and passenger soft-leather ventilated seats with memory function welcome you on board an illuminated interior with soft touch materials on doors and dashboard.
Dominating the minimalistic dash is a large 15-inch infotainment system with CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless cellphone charger, USB Type-A and Type-C ports, push button start and keyless entry, and dual zone control (standard across the range).
A panoramic sunroof gives the T2 an airy and spacious feel. We liked the aircraft-like gear lever and rectangular-ish steering wheel with buttons.
There is also an array of safety and convenience features like blind spot monitoring, rear parking sensors and a 560-degree camera, rear collision warning, auto hold assist, and rollover mitigation hill descent control.
Six airbags further ensure both drive and passenger safety.
With a 2.0-T four-cylinder 7-speed dual auto clutch engine under the bonnet, the T2 aided by its high ground clearance offers a comfortable but jiggly ride on tarmac. Noticeable also is its low speed throttle response, a hesitation or lag upon acceleration followed by a sudden burst of speed.
We didn’t take our T2 off road but were impressed by its fuel consumption which gave us more than 600 kilometres of city mostly in eco-mode driving in a single 70-litre tank.
Pricing is set from R639 909 to R689 900 for the Jetour 2.0T Xplora XWD.
