We drive the Jetour T2: 'One of my top cars of 2025'

The much-anticipated Jetour T2 has arrived in South Africa, hot on the heels of the T1.

Joburgers will have been seeing this car ferrying G20 delegates around in Sandton.

Melinda Ferguson took the top-of-the-range T2 Odyssey for a road test on gravel, and declares that this is going to rank in her top five cars of the year.

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The T2 is available in three models - the two-wheel-drive (2WD) Aspire, and two four-wheel-drive options (4WD) with  the Xplora and the Odyssey.

Competitors in this midsize SUV market would be the likes of the Toyota RAV, the VW Tiguan and the Audi Q3 as other 'soft off-roaders', Ferguson says.

The motoring journo highlights the 'beautiful' design, noting that Chery took over top Porsche designer, Hakan Saracoglu, in 2013.

Jetour promises a stylish exterior and exquisite spacious interior, and Ferguson says they deliver.

And while the T2 is not a 'proper' off-roader, she notes that it has a range of drive modes like gravel, mud and snow.

"I was absolutely bowled over... I drove over very rutted, potholed gravel roads and it is a fabulous car. On a very windy day it was solid - I've been driving other cars that are much more expensive, and much less solid."

Ferguson also loved the user-friendly tech and safety features.

"This car ticks all my boxes. It's safe on gravel, has roof racks and a tyre pressure monitor... It's spacious and comfortable and has some pretty cool tech with a 540-degree camera system and rear parking sensors..."

She does note that the Jetour T2 is relatively thirsty on petrol - she got 11 litres to 100 kilometres.

The 2WD Aspire is fitted with a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, delivering 125 kW and 270 Nm of torque. 

The more powerful 4WD Xplora and Odyssey both have 2-litre engines, providing 180 kW and 375 Nm.

Pricing starts at R569 900 for the entry-level Aspire. The Xplora comes in at R639 900, and the top-of-the-range Odyssey at R679 900.

Ferguson gives the Jetour T2 a stellar rating of nine out of ten.

To listen to Melinda Ferguson in conversation with Sara-Jayne Makwala King on CapeTalk's Weekend Breakfast, click on the audio link below: