Jetour T1 PHEV: The most promising SUV of 2026?
Jetour puts its best foot forward yet with the T1 Lightning i-DM
When Jetour first arrived in the Philippines, they captured everyone’s attention with the likes of the budget-friendly Ice Cream EV and the sleek & dynamic Dashing crossover. They then followed that up with the T2, which became hugely popular with customers who like the Defender-esque aesthetics and its AWD capability, even though it's not really for off-road.
But with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) growing in popularity, Jetour Auto Philippines Inc. (JAPI) switched things up and started offering electrified models. First came the Dashing Lightning, and was quickly followed by the 7-seater X70 Lightning and the T2 Lightning. All well and good, but Jetour believes they can add another PHEV to their growing lineup of electrified vehicles.
Jetour now has a newer crossover SUV that combines macho looks with a turbo plug-in hybrid powertrain that allows it to run on zero emissions over certain distances: the T1. It’s slightly smaller than the T2 but comes with the same 4x4-inspired aesthetics, along with a wide array of creature comforts to keep passengers comfy on a long road trip.
JAPI invited us on a two-day ride and drive of the T1 to Subic, and we were mightily impressed with the plug-in hybrid. But what exactly did we like about Jetour’s latest offering?
Macho SUV Looks
The Jetour T1 may not be a body-on-frame SUV, but the plug-in hybrid crossover looks every bit as one. Despite being slightly smaller than the T2, the T1 Lightning looks macho, handsome, and confident. In a sea of sleek & aerodynamic crossovers, the T1 Lightning immediately stands out thanks to its rugged-inspired charm.
From the cloverleaf-inspired LED headlights & taillights to its signature boxy exterior, as well as the generous use of black body cladding and muscular fenders, the T1 Lightning is brutish with a hint of sophistication. Heck, there are times when I look at the T1 Lightning, and I’m reminded of the Toyota FJ Cruiser’s boxy aesthetics.
At a time when car brands go for curvaceous designs, I have to give it to Jetour for bucking the trend and going for a more SUV-inspired look. The T1 Lightning may be an electrified vehicle, but you have to give props to Jetour for going with something more rugged.
The Jetour T2 already looks good, but I reckon the T1 looks a bit better in terms of overall appearance and proportions.
Quiet & Comfy
Despite its rugged looks, the T1 Lightning is perhaps one of the most refined vehicles Jetour has in its lineup. Since it’s one of the brand’s newest offerings, Jetour has had some time giving it better Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) deadening.
The T1 Lightning makes use of a double-glazed windshield along with thick sound insulation. The result is a quiet cabin that keeps outside noise to a minimum. Whether it’s loud motorcycles, obnoxious jeepneys, or the howling wind, the T1 ensures that the cabin remains quiet at any speed. This is impressive even though the T1 has a sunroof, which can affect cabin noise. Even the sound of the doors closing has a quality “clunk” to it, which is proof that Jetour is taking the extra steps when it comes to refinement.
Another thing that surprised us with the T1 Lightning is its ride quality. Compared to the T2, which has a slightly stiffer ride, the T1 Lightning wafts along and absorbs bumps with ease. Whether it’s pockmarked roads, rutted streets, or gravel-filled paths, the T1 Lightning makes short work of bumpy roads. This is surprising given that this particular Jetour comes with massive 19-inch alloy wheels.
Speaking of comfy, the T1 Lightning is also quite the smooth operator. Yes, its electric motor puts out 204 PS and 310 Nm, which is impressive. But the way it delivers the power to the road is what impressed me more. Even when set to Sport Mode, the electric motor sends power to the wheels not in one big jolt, but in a more linear fashion. While some might say it “kills the vibe,” I, for one, am happy the dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) doesn’t deliver all that power in one huge rush.
The smooth power delivery translates to a more predictable driving characteristic, which allows for better driver control under any kind of situation. It might have taken a while, but I’m happy to say Jetour is learning the ropes when it comes to making a comfortable vehicle that also delivers a refined driving experience.
Fuel/Energy Sipper
When we first started our journey from Jetour Quezon Avenue, we had 98% of battery, which meant I had around 110 km of electric range from the 26.7 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack. With that, I set the powertrain to EV mode. Sure, I had a full tank of gas, but I wanted to test just how far the T1 can run on electric power. Despite the T1’s relatively huge size, the electric motor was able to motivate the T1 with ease. It can also be quite spritely when you bury your foot on the accelerator when you’re overtaking.
In Normal mode, the T1 balanced efficiency with power thanks to regenerative braking, which helped the T1 recoup lost energy while cruising or under braking. Even with some traffic along Quezon Avenue and parts of the Skyway system, we were still able to reach NLEX Bocaue with 81% left on the battery. With more than enough juice left in the battery, I decided to keep the T1 on EV mode until we reached the Shell Station in Mexico, Pampanga, which is only several kilometers away before entering SCTEX.
Despite traveling nearly 73 km from Jetour Quezon Avenue, we were able to average 13.5 kWh per 100 km or just 4.0L per 100 km (or 25 km/L). Again, we only used battery power for this leg of the journey, and we still had 59 km left on just pure electric propulsion.
After a quick break and taking some pictures, we decided to press on and continue our drive to our lunch venue. We left the station on battery power, but once we arrived at SCTEX, I switched to hybrid mode to allow the 1.5L turbocharged engine to recharge the battery while on the go. Since we were already consuming a bit of fuel, we were expecting our fuel economy to drop significantly. To our surprise, however, the T1 Lightning was able to return a combined 5.3L per 100 km or 18.8 km/L when we arrived at Rali’s in Subic. Mind you, the distance between the Shell Mobility Station along NLEX to Rali’s is 79.2 km.
The Jetour T1 Lightning may not look like it, but its plug-in hybrid system just proved that this crossover SUV is capable of sipping fuel and energy efficiently. Jetour claims that the T1 Lightning can cover up to 1,200 km combined. But we reckon that it can easily do more than 1,300 km under ideal conditions.
Feature-packed quality
Like any good vehicle that comes from the PRC, one of the main selling points of electrified vehicles is the level of equipment you get for the value you’re paying for. The Jetour T1 Lightning doesn’t disappoint, as it comes loaded with plenty of in-car amenities. Immediately grabbing your attention is the massive 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system that’s complemented by a 9-speaker Sony sound system. It also has wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, which has become one of my favorite features to have on any new vehicle.
Speaking of wireless, the T1 also has a 50W wireless charging pad for smartphones, complete with a cooling fan. This is a nice feature to have since fast-charging pads are usually reserved for more high-end vehicles.
Dual-zone climate control comes as standard in the Jetour T1 Lightning, but did you know it also has ventilated seats? The driver and front passenger get the benefit of having such amenities, which is great when you want to keep yourself cool on hot days. The automaker even made sure the seats were ergonomically designed to keep both the driver and front passenger relaxed on long journeys. Personally, I do find the front seats comfortable, as they offer plenty of side, thigh, and shoulder support. However, I do wish they offered more lower back support, but maybe that’s just me being nitpicky.
What else do you get inside the T1 Lightning? Well, it also has power-adjustable front seats, full leather upholstery, rear privacy glass, smart keyless entry, a host of USB & Type-C charging ports, and front & rear center armrests.
Points For Improvement
While it seems I’m all praises for the T1 Lightning, I did notice that certain parts of the vehicle could do with some improvements. While I’m happy that the T1 has some physical buttons for the climate control and other cabin features, the rest of the in-car functions are buried in the touchscreen. While I do understand that having a touchscreen equals less wiring, the fact that I have to go to the screen and change from Hybrid to EV modes (and vice versa) means I sometimes have to avert my eyes from the road.
Simply changing the settings of ADAS is also routed to the touchscreen, which can be time-consuming before setting off. There’s also the matter of adjusting the side mirrors. Instead of having dedicated buttons on the driver’s side door, Jetour made it a bit more complicated. First, you go to the touchscreen and press the side mirror button, and then the system will tell you to adjust the mirrors via the audio/cruise control buttons on the steering wheel. This adds unnecessary complexity to a rather simple system that can be done with a simple toggle switch or dedicated buttons on the dashboard.
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The Jetour T1 Lightning i-DM PHEV may have arrived late in the plug-in hybrid arena, but Jetour made sure it came out swinging. Not only is it fuel & energy efficient, but the T1 Lightning is also well-built inside & out and will impress when it comes to features and driving dynamics. Combined with its soft ride and ease of putting the power down to the pavement, the T1 Lightning is one impressive PHEV indeed.
With a special introductory price tag of PHP 1.798 million (PHP 1.898M million regular price), some might say it’s slightly more expensive than, let’s say, the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i. But as mentioned earlier, the Jetour T1 Lightning is a cut above thanks to the level of detail and equipment Jetour gave to the electrified crossover.
The plug-in hybrid segment in the country continues to grow and be populated by all kinds of vehicles. But in this cutthroat segment, one has to come correct, and the Jetour T1 Lightning i-DM looks to have all the right moves in all the right places. The only question now is, will customers respond?
