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JSW Group, one of India’s largest conglomerates, is preparing to significantly expand its automotive ambitions. Having already established a presence through JSW-MG Motor India, its joint venture with China’s SAIC, the company is now gearing up to enter the market with an all-new brand of its own, JSW Motor.

Rather than taking the conventional route of developing products from the ground up, JSW is leveraging global partnerships to fast-track its entry into the industry. Its first product for India will be a large plug-in hybrid SUV based on the Chery Jetour T2, which is expected to be assembled at JSW’s upcoming facility in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and we hear it will be called the Combat.

With its rugged styling, imposing road presence and the promise of combining EV-like efficiency and long-distance touring ability, the SUV is expected to be positioned in the Rs 30-50 lakh segment and take on established players head-on.

Ahead of its India launch later this year, we got an early drive of the SUV to find out whether JSW Motor’s debut offering is ready for combat.

Jetour T2 Exterior Design and Engineering – 8/10

The Jetour T2 delivers on the SUV template to the T – flat bonnet, upright stance, raised ride height, chunky tyres, rugged body cladding, and, as the icing on the cake, a spare wheel mounted on the tailgate. It looks imposing and highly desirable, and while its silhouette bears a resemblance to the Defender, the T2 still manages to carve out a distinctive identity. JSW is likely to make a few changes to the headlamps, grille and bumpers to further differentiate the Combat, but the overall shape, clean surfacing and most of its defining design elements are expected to remain unchanged.

The massive 20-inch wheels suit the T2’s stance perfectly, and the clean bodywork, free of unnecessary cuts and creases, is particularly appealing. It also gets functional roof rails capable of carrying up to 100kg of luggage, while the side steps feel reassuringly sturdy and genuinely useful.

The T2’s space-saver spare wheel sits within a squircle-shaped cover, although accessing it involves a multi-step process that could prove frustrating if you ever need to change a tyre on a deserted road late at night.

In terms of dimensions, it is longer (including the spare wheel), wider and taller than the Toyota Fortuner. Ground clearance, too, is an impressive 190mm in laden condition. However, don’t let its rugged appearance fool you – the version destined for India will remain front-wheel drive.

Jetour T2 Interior Space, Comfort, and Features – 8/10

Climb aboard using the sturdy side step and handy grab handles, and the T2 immediately impresses with its sense of solidity. The cabin feels built to last, with numerous thoughtful design details lending it plenty of character. Nearly upright windows, a steeply raked windscreen and a dashboard pushed far forward create a tremendous sense of space, further amplified by the panoramic sunroof.

The dashboard itself has a distinctive design, with an illuminated pattern across the fascia adding a unique touch. Several layers are wrapped in dimpled leatherette padding, a theme that extends to the steering wheel and centre console.

Dominating the cabin is a massive 15.6-inch touchscreen that houses numerous vehicle functions, including mirror adjustment, climate control and seat ventilation/heating settings. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included, while the 12-speaker Sony audio system delivers impressive sound quality. Even the 540-degree camera system offers excellent image clarity. The downside is that the interface isn’t slick or responsive.

Ahead of the driver sits a 10.6-inch digital instrument cluster, a unit we’ve previously seen in some MG and BYD models. While it displays a wealth of information, the fonts and icons are rather small, making them difficult to read at a glance.

Material quality is generally impressive. The stalks and window switches feel robust and premium, while the jewel-like gear selector features an attractive diamond-cut effect. However, under harsh sunlight, it becomes highly reflective and can prove distracting. Reflections from the dashboard on the front windows are also noticeable.

Notably, its dual-zone climate control struggled to cool its large cabin quickly despite the heavily tinted windows. While our test vehicle was a China-specific version, we hope the version we’re going to get in India has an upgraded air-con compressor. Its seat ventilation didn’t seem very effective either, even at its maximum setting.

The sculpted front seats, finished in black leatherette with contrasting red stitching, look suitably sporty. They provide excellent support, though the cushioning feels slightly overstuffed, and the absence of lumbar adjustment is disappointing.

Practicality is a strong point. There are large door bins, two phone storage areas (one incorporating a wireless charger), cupholders, a deep-cooled centre console, a large glovebox and even a hidden storage tray beneath the front seat.

The rear seat is equally spacious. A wide bench and completely flat floor make it comfortable for three adults, while the boxy cabin ensures generous headroom and overall space. The seat base is positioned slightly low, but comfort levels remain good.

The side-hinged tailgate opens to reveal a cavernous 580-litre boot. Despite carrying the spare wheel, the tailgate itself requires surprisingly little effort to open. Thoughtful touches include a locking mechanism that prevents it from swinging shut unexpectedly, and there are cupholders, luggage hooks and even a bottle opener integrated into the inner panel. The boot area also features clever luggage nets and charging provisions, while a soft-close function further enhances convenience.

Besides the features already mentioned, it gets one-touch-down power windows, powered front seats with memory, LED lights all around, ambient lighting, a frameless inside mirror, autonomous emergency braking, lane-assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic alert, six airbags, hill-start assist, hill descent control and ESP, to name a few more.

Jetour T2 Performance, Refinement and Efficiency- 8/10

The T2 version we’re driving today is a plug-in hybrid, which combines a 156hp/220Nm 1.5-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol engine, a 43.24kWh LFP battery pack, and three electric motors. Together, the three motors produce 462hp and 700Nm of torque, with power sent to all four wheels. India will the plug-in tech, but in front-wheel-drive guise only, with two electric motors instead of three and a smaller 18.4kWh battery.

While the engineering sounds complex, the driving experience is refreshingly straightforward. The four-cylinder engine is refined, although when it operates primarily as a generator to charge the battery, a faint and distant hum does filter into the cabin.

The SUV can be driven either in pure EV mode or in hybrid mode. In EV mode, Jetour claims a range of up to 211km, and performance feels smooth and relaxed rather than outright brisk. Switch to hybrid mode, and the system automatically alternates between EV operation and combined petrol-electric drive, depending on throttle inputs, road conditions and battery charge levels, among other factors.

In this mode, performance feels remarkably effortless, with the T2 gathering speed with surprising urgency as speeds rise. Under full throttle, acceleration is initially measured up to around 40kph, after which there is a noticeable surge in performance as the powertrain delivers a much stronger pull.

Multiple drive modes are available, including Eco, Normal and Sport. In both Normal and Sport, we noticed the vehicle continuing to accelerate momentarily even after lifting off the throttle, which can feel unnerving. Throttle response in these modes is also a touch too aggressive. Eco mode offers a more natural and polished throttle calibration.

In our testing conducted in 40-degree heat, the T2 accelerated from 0-100kph in just 6.35 seconds in its sportiest setting – quick for its size. Flat out, it will reach a claimed top speed of 200kph.

The T2 also offers three levels of regenerative braking. Impressively, all three feel natural in operation, bringing the SUV down to a crawl smoothly and predictably. The brake pedal itself inspires confidence, with the transition between regenerative and friction braking being almost imperceptible.

Jetour T2 Ride Comfort and Handling – 6/10

The T2 rides on MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link independent rear suspension setup. Its suspension tuning leans towards comfort, but this results in a degree of bounce over speed breakers and undulating surfaces.

The chunky, high-profile tyres do an excellent job of smothering smaller imperfections, while the 201mm laden ground clearance provides ample confidence over rough roads. At higher speeds, however, the ride never feels quite as settled or composed. One positive is that it remains well controlled under heavy braking, resisting excessive pitch.

Dynamic prowess is clearly not the priority here. The tall body exhibits a fair amount of roll, noticeable during quick lane changes. Push harder through a series of bends, and this two-tonner T2 understeers quite readily. Combined with its light and somewhat disconnected steering, it is clear that this SUV prefers a more relaxed driving style.

Driven at a gentler pace, the T2 proves extremely easy to live with. The steering offers three weight settings, though it feels best in its lightest mode. Combined with excellent visibility and a smooth, responsive hybrid powertrain, it makes piloting this large SUV remarkably effortless.

Jetour T2 Should You Buy Now or Wait – 8/10

The Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid appears to have all the ingredients needed to establish the JSW brand in India and perhaps even challenge the Toyota Fortuner, despite offering only five seats. It is spacious and practical, it is expected to come loaded with technology and features, and its rugged styling gives it immense road presence and desirability.

The plug-in hybrid powertrain adds further unique appeal, offering the flexibility of pure EV driving and an impressive mileage figure with the hybrid tech. Better still, the system is smooth, refined and delivers strong performance.

Yes, it is not without flaws. The touchscreen experience and throttle calibration need refinement, the air-conditioning needs to be more effective, and the ride and handling would benefit from further fine-tuning for Indian conditions. These are areas we hope JSW addresses before launch.

On the whole then, the T2 is certainly ready for combat. Will it win, though, will also depend on JSW pulling off an aggressive pricing strategy and, importantly, backing it up with a reliable ownership and service experience too. That latter is why Toyota rules the roost. The battle lines, then, are drawn.