Don’t let the badge turn you away. The T2 four-wheel-drive SUV from Chinese marque, Jetour, was as impressive during my seven-day test drive as it was during a one-day walk-around several months ago. Sure, there will be (minor) points for improvement. What model doesn’t have any? But for a first-gen nameplate, it is undoubtedly a rousing debut.

Okay, the design is a curious amalgam of a Land Cruiser and a Defender — that is undeniable. Even onlookers with little knowledge of current models and designs recognize it as a lookalike of something they’ve seen before on our streets. Interestingly, that is what makes people double-take. I’ve noticed more people craning to get a look-see — while it was parked or as I was driving — than when I test drive any popular mid-size SUVs.

The boxy body features a shapely hood and sides, while the flat surfaces are limited to the roof and tail. It has full-LED lighting, including the matrix headlights and the daytime running lamps that follow the exterior’s square theme. Without a logo, the brand name is spelled across the grille more prominently than other models in the lineup. The spare tire and its cover are mounted on the rear door, which makes it a bit heavy, but the slim design of the taillights creates a wide opening for easy ingress/egress. It has roof rails, wraparound body cladding, and a fin antenna.

Even with a 220-mm ground clearance, which is at par with off-road capable rivals, it doesn’t feel like I was stepping up to the T2, yet it still comes standard with a stepboard. The bumpers appear formidable, but they’re plastic. Steel would have completed the look, but weight and efficiency considerations are top priority.

I don’t know how long the novelty will last, but for now, the T2 bears an eye-catching and head-turning aesthetic that instantly makes it a great buy. The Bora Blue is one of only four colors, but at least it has an attractive set of 21-inch wheels.

While I appreciate the dedication to design as much as the next beholder, having a square smart keyfob isn’t pocket-friendly because it occupies too much space. Thankfully, it locks/unlocks the vehicle without delay after pressing the button on the door handle.

The cabin doesn’t feel as roomy for a mid-size SUV, even with a minimalist cockpit. Jetour put most of the controls in the menu system of the class-leading 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, so the dashboard is clean, but adjusting the side mirrors and even the aircon takes longer than normal.

Fortunately, there are plenty of things to love about the T2’s cabin. It has an elegant padded dashboard with soft-release covers, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a panoramic sunroof, a spacious device holder with a charging pad, wireless CarPlay, octagonal multi-function steering wheel, ambient lighting, ventilated front leather seats with memory (driver and front passenger), roomy legroom across both rows, USB front and second-row connectivity, and, best of all, a Sony 12-speaker system.

Jetour could do without the heating function on the front seats and get better floor mats in the second row because what it has slips and slides around, which may cause injury to passengers.

Under the hood of the 1.8-ton T2 is a small displacement turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that sends 254-PS and 390-Nm of torque to the real-time four-wheel drive (with a limited-slip center differential and rear electronic limited-slip differential) via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The powertrain feels jittery at low speed/RPM, and there is a significant turbo lag, but other than that, it has enough to rapidly accelerate, maintain high speed, and feel light in the city. It returned 12.4-km/l in mixed driving conditions.

The electric power steering isn’t too light and provides a decent amount of feedback for a sporty driving feel, which made me want more drive time. Ride comfort is better than I expected. The MacPherson strut-multilink combo is stiff enough to withstand the roughness of PH streets but offers cushiness comparable to crossovers and sedans. Noise, vibration, and harshness dampening are impressive for a first-gen model and can help justify its P2.498-million price tag.

Advanced driver-assist systems are standard in the T2 and aren’t as refined as what competitors offer, but it isn’t as bad either. Engineers probably need to dial down the sensitivity of certain features, such as Lane Change Assist, to reduce distraction.

Jetour Philippines has 10 models in its local lineup, but the T2 was responsible for nearly one-third of its 2024 sales. Now, I’m not surprised, and neither should you.