JAC’s new T9 double cab does a lot for a relatively little.
The Chinese bakkie entered the South African market in late 2023, sporting a very aggressive design and amenities that are hard to come by at this price point.
JAC delivered the rear-wheel-drive T9 Super Lux to TopAuto for a week which sells for R599,900, meaning it squares up against the like of the mid-spec Ford Ranger 2.0SiT XL, Toyota Hilux 2.4GD-6 Raider, and Isuzu D-Max 1.9TD LS.
It’s in good company indeed, but significantly outshined by its rivals it is not.
T9 out of 10
At a length of 5,330mm, width of 1,965mm, and height of 1,920mm, the T9 is bigger than the Hilux but smaller than the Ranger and has an imposing presence on the road courtesy of its large maw and skinny LED lights.
The shoulder line is low making it easy to reach into the load box but this does render the rear of the bakkie a bit less aggressive than the front in terms of its visuals.
The axles are shod with 18-inch alloy rims sheathed in highway terrain tyres and planted on top of the load box is a JAC-branded roll bar which together complement the brawny aesthetic JAC was going for.
The large exterior dimensions translate to an expansive cabin that easily seats five, with the front passengers getting electric seats that allow them to find a comfy seating position in a cinch.
Despite the abundance of room, though, the steering wheel sat lower than in most bakkies so hitting your knees while turning is a regular occurrence.
The interior is more luxurious than what you might expect in this price class, too.
The seats are wrapped in premium-feeling leather and the chunky steering wheel has convenient resting points for your hands as well as a plastic silver 12 o’clock marker that can get scalding in the African sun if the bakkie stands outside in the parking lot for a good while.
In front of the driver is a 7-inch digital instrument binnacle with a futuristic blue or Aztec yellow theme which displays driving data clearly and legibly, and positioned a short reach away is a portrait-style 10.4-inch touchscreen.
The big display acts as the main point of interaction for smartphone mirroring apps such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as the vehicle settings and climate control functions, though thankfully, physical aircon controls arranged in a neat row beneath it still allow you to easily adjust temperatures and fan speed without having to faff about on a screen while you’re driving.
You do have to swipe down from the top of the infotainment system to adjust music volume as there’s unfortunately no tactile button or dial for that unless you’re the driver, in which case you can adjust volume and skip songs directly from the steering wheel.
Keyless entry and start, soft leather doors, attractive piano black and chrome finishes, a wireless charger, a 360-degree camera, and a sunroof add a few nice finishing touches to the T9 in Super Lux trim – just know you’ll have to carry around a microfibre cloth in the glovebox if you’re fanatical about smudges and prints in your car.
The JAC provides a competitive 125kW and 410Nm from its 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel mill which is exclusively paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The press unit pushed drive to the rear wheels and provided Sport, Normal, Eco, and Snow modes, but you can get a four-wheel-drive flavour with low range and a rear diff lock for just R10,000 more, or R60,000 if you want the exact same luxuries.
The powertrain exhibits some turbo lag from the get-go but when it kicks in, grunt is delivered expeditiously with cogs changing smoothly, and it is unquestionably among the more frugal in its class.
JAC’s claim of 7.8l/100km is nearly spot on as I registered an average fuel consumption of 7.9l/100km in mixed driving conditions including highway, rural, and urban.
It has an accommodating ride, too. You can fault it on plushness no more than you can many of the much pricier double cabs with higher sales numbers.
Ground clearance isn’t the best for a bakkie at 210mm and neither are the approach and departure angles of 27 and 23 degrees, respectively, something to keep in mind for the more avid off-roaders out there.
It does, however, keep up with segment leaders with a load capacity of one tonne and maximum towing capability of 3,500kg.
Verdict
All things considered, the JAC T9 is an impressive bakkie even if you don’t think about pricing, and even more so when you do.
JAC’s relatively long history in the local commercial vehicle sector and well-established network instill a sense of trust in the vehicle as well, as you can be more certain that the automaker won’t just up and leave South Africa in a few months if the going gets tougher.
If you’re looking for a R600,000 lifestyle-focused double cab, you may be doing yourself a big favour by adding the T9 to your test drive list.
JAC T9 Super Lux
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