Trust issued: Jetour X70 Plus

One true sign of a distributor’s confidence on a nameplate is by making it a part of its brand's initial lineup. 

As many car buyers know, models within the initial local roster are not just for trial and error; it will likely dictate the marque's lasting impression in the market where it is being retailed.

Take the case of the X70 Plus — one of the first-ever models that represented Jetour in the country. 

Sure, there would be other nameplates that were and will be considered after it, but the said offering is one of the first few offerings that gave the brand its continuously growing presence locally.

But what made the company put its trust on this crossover? Here’s what we found out during a week-long test drive opportunity.

Dimension

The Jetour X70 Plus is 4,749 millimeters (mm) long; 1,900 mm wide; and 1,720 mm tall with a 2,720-mm wheelbase.

Its tall stance also makes it an ideal drive for urban dwellers as it can easily traverse floodwaters in the metropolis during the rainy season. Meanwhile, the vehicle’s width gives the occupants a commanding road presence.

Exterior

The crossover’s overall design speaks elegance and athleticism.

Up front, the Jetour X70 Plus wears a huge chromed octagonal grille with five horizontal lines. It is flanked with relatively-slim halogen headlamps with LED sequential turn signals. Below it are LED daytime running lights.

The vehicle rides on 20-inch alloy wheels that complement the additional chrome appointments on the windows and doors as well as the well-defined bodylines and wheel wells.

At the back are the interlinked tail lamps with sequential turn signals, strong contours and faux quad exhaust tips that hide the real pipe underneath.

Interior

The sport utility vehicle (SUV) showcases a future-ready cabin by welcoming occupants with a flat-bottom multi-functional steering wheel, collapsible second- and third-row seats, and a panoramic sunroof.

It also is outfitted with a rich amount of soft-touch leather covering the seats, door panels, and dashboard.

Further, Jetour X70 Plus can carry two weeks’ worth of groceries for a family of four inside its 94-liter compartment.

Since the interior is future-proof,  it lacks dials and buttons for its air-conditioning system — with all the controls placed in the touchscreen infotainment system.

In terms of space, the rear seats seem to only have the capacity to carry children as the legroom is a little small for teens and full-grown adults.  

A dedicated ventilation for the said portion has yet to be added on the said model too.

Powertrain

Under the Jetour X70 Plus’ hood is a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder, turbocharged gasoline engine that, on paper, can dish out as much as 156 horsepower and 230 Newton-meters of torque. Sending the power to wheels is the six-speed wet type dual clutch transmission.

Facilitating deceleration and full stops are the disc brakes for the front and rear.

Ensuring stability are the pair of McPherson struts and multi-link independent suspensions for the front and rear, respectively.             

After being driven for nearly 360 kilometers of mix highway and city streets, the SUV did a 12.6 kilometers per liter.

Amid the massive size, the mill can easily pull the vehicle even in Eco or Normal drive modes. If you want more instantaneous oomph, drivers can easily switch to Sport for a faster pace.

Technologies

The Jetour X70 Plus is not short on clever amenities as it is fitted with a tire pressure monitoring system, an auto-hold function, automatic folding side mirrors, reverse camera and rear radar, as well as keyless start and entry system.

Moreover, its host safety features include the anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, traction control, electronic stability program, hill start assist, and hill descent control.

Its pair of 10.25-inch digital displays are within a single housing making it aesthetically-pleasing. However, the infotainment system has yet to become Android Auto and Apple Carplay-compatible. However, it has Bluetooth and CarbitLink connectivity.

Pros, cons

In general, the Jetour X70 Plus is a worthy option to those shopping for a seven-seater midsize SUV within the sub-P1.5 million price tag.

The vehicle demands attention with its aggressive look and is not short on performance as the mill set-up is potent. Add to these the tech-heavy features and you got a vehicle worthy to be a part of Jetour Auto Philippines Incorporated's initial lineup.

However, we just hope that the infotainment system would soon have an upgrade as many vehicle buyers nowadays strongly consider an Android Auto and Apple Carplay version for it.

Available in grey, black, white, red, and Deep Blue, the Jetour X70 Plus is priced at P1.498 million.

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