2 legit: The T2 is as capable as it looks

Jetour T2 4WD

- By ERIC TIPAN

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.