What to expect from South Africa’s newest Chinese carmaker in 2025

Jetour has officially launched in South Africa with two new cars, but the country’s newest Chinese brand is only just getting started.

Come next year, motorists can look forward to another three models from the luxury automaker, including two flagship units and an all-new 4×4.

What to expect in 2025

For now, the Jetour line-up consists of the Dashing and X70 Plus SUVs, which are both available in two trim levels for a total of four iterations.

The two nameplates comprise the base Momentum and the mid-range Deluxe, but the manufacturer is planning to add a new flagship Deluxe Pro option in 2025.

The company has not gone into any detail about when these luxurious units will launch nor their specifications, but a look at the brand’s international website shows that both the Dashing and X70 are sold with a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

For context, the Momentum and Deluxe are fitted with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plant good for 115kW and 230Nm.

This is the same block found in the Omoda C5, as many of Jetour’s powertrains are sourced from the Chery Automotive Group.

Unsurprisingly then, the 1.6-litre mill is the same one used in the Omoda C5 GT and the Jaecoo J7, which produces 145kW and 290Nm.

The 1.5-litre Jetour models make use of a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while the 1.6-litre is treated to a seven-speed box.

It’s quite possible that the more powerful engine will be added to the Deluxe Pro versions of the Dashing and X70 Plus, especially since Jetour will be competing against its Chinese brethren going forward.

As for their equipment, the two SUVs are already generously kitted out but the flagship looks like it will add a few more nice-to-haves like heated and ventilated seats, adaptive cruise control, and sports-themed items like a unique steering wheel and alloy rims.

The other model coming in 2025 is an entirely new entry called the T2, which will cater to South Africa’s 4×4 enthusiasts.

It clocks in at 4,785mm in length, 2,006mm in width, and 1,870mm in height, making it comparable to something like the Jeep Wrangler.

The T2 also boasts a ground clearance of 220mm and an intelligent “XWD” (X Wheel Drive) system that can switch between two-wheel-drive (2WD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) on the fly.

A seven-speed dual-clutch box negotiates inputs to the wheels, and the SUV brings seven driving modes comprising Economy, Normal, Sport, Snow, Mud, Rock, and X Smart.

As for its power source, the T2 uses a 1.5-litre turbo-block with 135kW and 290Nm.

Standard features on the off-roader include LED headlights, 18-inch alloys rims, a leather multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 15.6-inch infotainment screen, six speakers, dual-zone climate control, and heated seats.

It also comes with assistance items like cruise control, tyre-pressure monitoring, traction control, electronic stability control, rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera.