By the time the latter half of 2025 dawdles into view, South Africans will have a new automotive oddity to ponder: the Jetour T2. Yes, another Chinese SUV, you say, rolling your eyes into next week. But wait—this one’s got a trick up its sleeve. It’s as if some clever chap in a far-off factory squinted at a Land Rover Defender and thought, “I could cobble that together for a fraction of the cost.” And, lo and behold, here we are.
The Jetour T2—sometimes called the “Traveller” elsewhere—will trundle onto South African soil around the fourth quarter of 2025, assuming the ships don’t take a scenic detour via Antarctica. It’s the third offering from Jetour, a Chery spin-off that’s been quietly making waves since 2018. Following the Dashing and X70 Plus, this boxy beast aims to jostle with the GWM Tank 300 crowd and perhaps give Toyota Fortuner drivers something to grumble about over their boerewors.
What Is It, Exactly?
Let’s begin with the looks, because they’re impossible to ignore. The T2 stretches 4,785 mm long, 2,006 mm wide, and 1,880 mm tall, with a 2,800 mm wheelbase—big enough to suggest it’s ready for the veld, not just the mall parking lot. It boasts a 220 mm ground clearance, with approach and departure angles of 28 and 30 degrees, respectively. Picture a boxy silhouette, an upright grille, and a spare wheel slapped on the tailgate like a proud trophy. It’s not shy, but then neither’s a vuvuzela at a rugby match.
Underneath, there’s a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine pumping out 187 kW and 390 Nm of torque—enough to feel mildly heroic on a gravel road, though I’d wager it’ll pant a bit hauling up Van Reenen’s Pass with a trailer. Power flows through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox to either the front wheels or all four, depending on the spec. A plug-in hybrid might pop up in 2026, but for now, it’s a straightforward petrol job—none of that electric malarkey yet.
Inside the Cabin: Tech and a Dash of Eccentricity
Clamber inside, and it’s clear the designers have been bingeing on futuristic telly. A 15.6-inch infotainment screen looms over the dashboard—large enough to screen Mad Max while you’re stuck in a traffic jam on the M1. There’s a digital driver’s display, ambient lighting that cycles through 12 colours (because who doesn’t want their SUV to resemble a karaoke lounge?), and a 12-channel sound system that might just mask the creaks after a few years of SA’s finest potholes.
The interior’s got a rugged charm—leather seats, a panoramic sunroof for gazing at the Milky Way when you’re lost in the Drakensberg, and tech like a 360-degree camera and blind-spot monitoring to dodge the minibus taxis. No low-range transfer case, mind you, which might make the purists tut. Instead, you get seven driving modes—Eco, Sport, Mud, and so forth—plus some clever torque shuffling. Will it conquer a muddy track? I’ll reserve judgement until it’s faced a proper SA thunderstorm.
The South African Context
Why should we care? Well, Jetour’s reportedly planning to shift 30,000 units in SA over the next three years, and the T2’s a big part of that. Pricing’s a bit of a guess—likely R600,000 to R700,000, judging by trends elsewhere—which slots it neatly into our bakkie-and-SUV-obsessed market. It’s rugged enough to fuel our national fantasy of weekend bush escapades, and with fuel sipping around 8-9 L/100 km, it might not bankrupt you at the pump.
South Africa’s roads—part highway, part obstacle course—will be its proving ground. Can it handle the dust of the Northern Cape or the chaos of the N2? It’s sold bucketloads globally since its debut, so there’s some promise there. But we’ll see if it’s a genuine contender or just a flashy knock-off once it’s here.
Verdict: A Worthy Contender or a Copycat?
The 2025 Jetour T2 is a bit like a tribute act doing Pink Floyd—it’s not the real thing, but it’s got enough flair to keep the crowd interested. Cheaper than a Defender, fresher than a Fortuner, and less likely to empty your wallet than a fully kitted Tank 300, it’s got potential. With 40 dealerships and a hefty parts warehouse planned for Midrand, Jetour’s betting big on SA.
Would I buy one? Not without a test drive—preferably somewhere with more sheep than stoplights. For now, it’s a curious addition to our automotive tapestry, arriving just in time to shake up 2025. Keep an eye on DriveZA.net for the full scoop when it lands. Until then, keep your toolkit close and your scepticism closer.
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