Few visitors have heard of Jetour. It is a Chinese 4x4 with the square, upright shape of a classic off-roader, and it has become one of the more interesting cars at the cheaper end of our SUV list. Here is what it is actually like to rent one in Dubai.
What it is
Under the square body is a five-seat SUV running a 2.0 turbo petrol, a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox and drive to all four wheels. The look is the selling point: flat bonnet, upright windscreen and big square wheel arches. In a Marina car park it gets more second glances than cars that cost three times as much.
The equipment
The cabin is better equipped than the price suggests. A large central screen runs your phone wirelessly, cameras around the car give a bird's-eye view for parking, and the cruise control keeps its distance from the car in front. The glass roof lets in light, and the front seats blow cool air, which is the feature you will thank in August.
On the road
On the motorway the T2 is calm and hushed, and the adaptive cruise makes long runs on Sheikh Zayed Road or out to Abu Dhabi easy. Like most dual-clutch gearboxes, it is at its best once moving rather than creeping in a queue, which matters little outside rush hour. Sitting high, with that overhead camera view, you can thread it into a narrow bay more easily than its shape suggests.
The four-wheel drive gives good grip on a wet road in a winter storm. It does not change where the car can go, though. Like every rental, the T2 is insured for tarmac and nothing else.
T2 or Jeep Wrangler?
The Wrangler is the more serious off-road design and the better-known badge, with removable roof panels and a long history. The T2 is the better everyday road car: softer, quieter, and better equipped inside. Since neither can leave the tarmac on a rental, comfort usually decides it, and that favours the T2.
T2 or Nissan Patrol?
The Patrol is larger, with seven seats and a much bigger engine, and it costs more per day. If you need the third row, take the Patrol. If you are four or five people and want the look without the size, the T2 makes more sense.
Who it suits
- A family of four or five who want an SUV with character, not a plain crossover.
- Anyone renting for a few weeks, where the lower daily rate adds up.
- Drivers aged 21 to 24: the T2 is open to drivers from 21, unlike the bigger luxury 4x4s.
Where it falls short
It is not a luxury car, and the interior materials are good rather than special. Outside China and the Gulf, the badge is still unfamiliar. And with five seats, it will not replace a seven-seater for a large group.
If those do not matter, it is one of the best-value cars we rent. See the Jetour T2 car page for the current rate, or compare it with the rest of our SUVs.
