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Jetour, the adventure-focused sub-brand of Chinese automaker Chery, has priced its T2 plug-in hybrid SUV in Malaysia — an important right-hand-drive market for the brand — as of May 11, 2026. The boxy T2 PHEV pairs a 1.5-liter turbo engine with two electric motors for a combined 355 hp and 450 lb-ft, while a BYD Blade battery promises 62 miles of EV-only driving. The move positions Jetour as a fresh challenger in the rugged SUV space dominated by the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, and raises the question of whether it could eventually reach U.S. buyers.
The T2 PHEV is the new electrified version of the T2 SUV, which already offers gasoline power in markets where Jetour has begun its rollout. Its footprint sits a step above mainstream mid-size crossovers such as the Toyota RAV4, slotting closer to two-row family models like the Hyundai Santa Fe. In Australia, where the brand will launch in 2027, the T2 has also been positioned against the incoming Ford Bronco Basecamp — a sign that Jetour sees itself as a genuine alternative to the retro-styled off-roaders Western buyers already know.
Design-wise, the T2 leans hard into overlander territory. Full-length roof racks signal serious gear-hauling intent, while the upright front grille and a headlight arrangement split into four quarters give the nose a distinctive, no-nonsense face. It is a look that would not seem out of place at a trailhead next to a modified Wrangler.
The plug-in system pairs a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine (100 kW, 220 Nm — 134 hp and 162 lb-ft) with two electric motors (165 kW, 390 Nm — 221 hp and 288 lb-ft). Combined system output is 265 kW (355 hp) and 610 Nm (450 lb-ft). Four driving modes allow drivers to switch between EV-only and hybrid operation.
Here's the complication: the T2 PHEV is front-wheel drive only. The gasoline T2 offers an AWD variant; the plug-in does not. For a vehicle styled to go places, that is a head-scratcher — and in the U.S. market, where adventure-SUV buyers treat all-wheel drive as table stakes, it would be the first question out of any showroom conversation.
Energy storage is handled by an 18.4-kWh BYD Blade lithium-iron-phosphate pack — a chemistry family BYD has championed globally for its durability, long cycle life, and lower thermal risk. Jetour quotes more than 100 km (62 miles) of EV-only range and a combined figure of 1,200 km (745 miles), both measured on the NEDC cycle, which tends to inflate results relative to the EPA's stricter protocol. Under U.S. testing, an honest estimate for electric-only range lands in the mid-to-high 30-mile bracket. The T2 does support DC fast charging from 30 to 80 percent in 27 minutes, which is a respectable figure for a plug-in hybrid.
Inside, the T2 PHEV features a 15.6-inch central touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital driver display, a 50-watt wireless phone charger, and a 12-speaker Sony audio system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard.
A 3.3-kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) function lets the SUV export power to external devices. That means camping appliances, a tailgate gathering, or portable tools can run off the car's battery — a practical feature that aligns with the model's outdoor positioning and one that U.S. buyers will recognize from rival hybrid pickups and SUVs.
Jetour is Chery's adventure-focused sub-brand, but it is being structured to operate independently from the parent group in key markets. Malaysia's pricing — a right-hand-drive market — comes ahead of the confirmed 2027 Australian launch and offers a strong hint about which markets Jetour considers priority.
America is a far more complicated target. Chinese-built EVs currently face a 100 percent Section 301 tariff upon entry to the United States, which would make any direct-import business model uneconomical. A realistic push into North America would require local manufacturing — likely in Mexico or the U.S. — or a strategic partnership with a Western automaker. Chery has shown a willingness to build global capacity, with assembly footprints in markets such as Spain and Brazil, but no concrete U.S. commitment for Jetour has been announced.
There is also the steering-wheel question. The T2's early rollout prioritizes right-hand-drive markets; a U.S. launch would require a left-hand-drive version. Large automakers handle such conversions routinely, but it is still engineering work that must be funded and scheduled. Meanwhile, the smaller T1 — a gasoline-only sibling recently launched in Malaysia — would likely struggle under stricter emissions regimes. That helps explain why Jetour is pushing the PHEV as its flag-bearer for regulated markets.
A U.S. arrival would drop the T2 into one of the most hotly contested niches in the industry. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe produces 375 hp with genuine four-wheel drive but manages only about 21 miles of EV range. The Toyota RAV4 Prime brings 302 hp, AWD, and an EPA-rated 42 miles of EV range. Scout Motors is ramping up its retro-styled Traveler, offered in both full-EV and range-extended forms. And the Ford Bronco remains gasoline-only in its U.S. lineup for now.
On paper, the T2 PHEV's headline numbers — 355 hp, a claimed 62-mile EV range, and 27-minute DC fast charging — hold up well. Standard equipment is generous, and the V2L capability adds real-life utility. But the front-wheel-drive layout would make it an outlier in a segment where capability is the primary selling point, and enthusiasts would need a compelling price to overlook it. Jetour has yet to signal any U.S. pricing.
Jetour says more details on the T2 and its global product roadmap will arrive later in 2026. For American buyers, the T2 PHEV is an early glimpse of Chery's ambitions beyond Asia — and a reminder that Chinese brands are expanding faster than many legacy automakers. Whether Jetour eventually parks one in a U.S. driveway will depend less on the vehicle itself than on trade policy, manufacturing strategy, and the patience to build a brand from scratch in North America.
