When form compliments function
Style is often expensive.
Designer brands abound prove how neoliberal capitalism has birthed a billion-dollar industry that revolves around things that are “in season” or “fashion trailblazers.” Indeed, the appearance of upward mobility is so desirable that there remains a healthy market for cheap knockoffs (Class A and the like) in various tiangges around the country.
And when you visit an appliance store, there is a veritable price chasm between a simple Japanese stereo and a surround-sound system designed in some exotic European studio. It’s much the same with cars – the desire for cold pragmatism (both from producers and consumers) is why so many vehicles nowadays look the same.
Happily, Jetour is one automotive brand that is bold enough to go beyond just building blobs on wheels. Cue the T2 Lightning i-DM sport-utility vehicle (SUV).
Rugged looks
This big Jetour easily meets the criteria of car-review clichés like “easy to spot” and “hard to miss.”
Its enormous, boxy form (aided by the huge fender flares and chunky door handles) is the antithesis of the gentle, flowing curves that dominate the stylistic tradition of the times. In fact, it’s almost a throwback to the early 1990s, when SUVs like the Mitsubishi Pajero, Isuzu Trooper and Toyota Land Cruiser were unashamedly large and sharply styled.
But what makes the T2 Lightning i-DM a product of the 21st century are the glamorous items like the hugely powerful LED headlights and foglights, the vertical LED taillights and the JETOUR lettering in the gloss-black front grill that amusingly lights up when the SUV is in Park.
Meanwhile, the matte Highway Gray paintjob is clearly a product of modern-day fascination with things that aren’t shiny, while the neon-green accents in the 20-inch alloy wheels and roof rails denote this SUV’s “green” credentials.
Many say that this big Jetour has a close resemblance to the current-generation Land Rover Discovery and Ford Bronco. Although many styling cues overlap, the Chinese automaker has successfully made its rendition of a rugged SUV distinct enough from its Western influences.
Hardy cabin
Aside from its unique appearance, the T2 Lightning i-DM’s boxiness means a positively palatial interior for five passengers.
Headroom, legroom and elbow room are superb, while its unibody construction means the floor isn’t exceedingly high (despite its impressive ground clearance). In addition, all passengers are treated to a premium cabin lined in black leather and soft-touch materials on everything from the dashboard to the chunky grab handles.
I must also heap considerable praise on the T2 Lightning i-DM’s dual-zone climate control system because it rivals Nissan in causing hypothermia even on the hottest days – an impressive feat given this SUV’s huge glass area (including the panoramic moonroof). The supportive front seats are also ventilated should you really want to feel like a frozen ham.
I also enjoyed the crisp and responsive 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster and the 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the latter offering a clear view of the 540-degree camera system. All this is mated to a 12-speaker Sony surround-sound system that offers good audio quality.
Indeed, my gripes are relatively few – the infotainment system is rather difficult to navigate, with the electric mirrors being needlessly frustrating to adjust. In addition, the cargo capacity with the rear seats up isn’t particularly impressive for such a large vehicle because of the battery pack under the floor.
However, I absolutely applaud Jetour for mounting a real space-saver spare wheel (with the option of a full-size spare) on the tailgate. This is something that I hope that all other brands do for their plug-in-hybrid vehicles (perhaps in similar vein to old Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4).
Supremely economical
The T2 Lightning i-DM gets its electrifying name from its unique powerplant.
This SUV packs a turbocharged 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine mated to an electric motor and a 26.7-kWh battery pack. Although Jetour Auto Philippines has not yet published official power figures, I feel that this SUV lacks oomph, with full-throttle acceleration being particularly lackluster for a turbo-hybrid vehicle.
However, this big Jetour has undeniably impressive fuel economy – it can easily do 14 to 17 kilometers per liter in the city or on the expressway, along with having a useful battery range of around 80 kilometers. And unlike BYDs, the battery in the Jetour can be charged even when the engine is idling (again, something all other carmakers should do).
Once you get the hang of the T2 Lightning i-DM’s immense size, it is a marvelously gentle giant on the move. The suspension is nicely tuned, such that this SUV doesn’t wobble or wallow over bumps, thus adding to the feeling of brawny invincibility.
Meanwhile, the light steering is a joy to use in parking, but could use more feel at higher speeds. I also liked the powerful brakes, which could use a bit more tweaking to allow for smoother modulation.
As expected of a premium car from The People’s Republic, the T2 Lightning i-DM packs a comprehensive active-safety suite that makes journeys safer and more convenient. This includes Integrated Cruise Assistance, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Advanced Emergency Braking and Lane Keeping Assist.
Looks matter
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the 2026 Jetour T2 Lightning i-DM for not only being a bold design statement, but also for being a damn good SUV.
At P2,488,000, this big Jetour is aimed squarely at buyers of similarly priced, electrified Japanese crossovers like the Honda CR-V e:HEV and the Toyota RAV4 HEV. But unlike the aforementioned rivals, this SUV is not only comfortable and supremely fuel-efficient, but also has the ground clearance and ruggedness to handle floods and rough terrain.
There are many great things that the car industry can (and should) learn from the Jetour T2 Lightning i-DM, from its spare wheel and clever i-DM powerplant to its industry-leading 6-year/1,000,000-kilometer general warranty (whichever comes first).
But this charming SUV proves that looks can be more than skin-deep – and need not hurt your wallet.
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