The name of JETOUR traveler, do you also have the impulse to drive it to chase poetry and the distance, and start a journey that belongs only to yourself? Nowadays, people’s work and study pressure has doubled, and although there are many ways to relieve pressure, none of them are as refreshing as a spontaneous trip. This demand has led to the popularity of self-driving and camping, and also driven the development of the sub-market of light off-road SUV models. With their handsome and tough appearance, versatile performance, they are a good choice for commuting or occasional indulgence on weekends.
With the hot market of the domestic car segment, the variety of products is becoming more and more abundant. Just like the Journeyer we are experiencing today, handsome appearance, good off-road performance, and a variety of ecological scenes and surrounding products designed for travel and camping, making this car truly become the first choice for young people to travel. Today, we are driving the Journeyer to the Ulan Butong in Inner Mongolia, to experience a snow and ice crossing and feel the SUV’s positioning for travel and off-road. What are the commendable aspects of its actual use?
Equipped with BorgWarner four-wheel drive and multiple off-road modes Although the JETOUR Traveler is positioned as a travel off-road SUV, it is not inferior to the current mainstream off-road SUV models in terms of configuration. First of all, in terms of power, the car is equipped with the Kunpeng Power 2.0TGDI turbocharged engine, which has a maximum power of 187kW and a peak torque of 390N.m. In terms of on-paper data, it already belongs to the first tier of this power model. The JETOUR Traveler offers two transmissions, 7DCT and 8AT, both of which have good power transmission and smooth shifting performance in earlier highway driving experiences. In the four-wheel drive version, it is also equipped with the XWD automatic intelligent four-wheel drive system, and also provides a hardcore configuration of “intelligent torque manager + intelligent limited slip differential lock”.
In driving mode matching, in addition to the regular sport, standard, and economy modes, the four-wheel drive model also provides snow, mud, rock, and X intelligent modes, increasing the passability and making the JETOUR traveler more fun. Especially the X intelligent mode, which has been used in today’s cross-country routes, this mode can adjust the vehicle’s dynamic walking dynamics in real time according to the changes in terrain, power output changes, and wheel torque distribution, “fool” operation allows novices to play with a professional attitude.
The test drive started with a seemingly easy off-road route, which is the favorite activity for off-road enthusiasts in winter. The seemingly easy route became very slippery due to the cover of ice and snow, and the hidden gullies and rocks underneath became unknown challenges. The steep slopes, usually easy to handle, were also covered with thick snow, leaving only two tracks to guide the way. Such road conditions are still very challenging for the overall performance of the vehicle. The starting route of the crossing is not difficult, basically hard land and scattered pieces of ice. At this point, you can adjust the driving mode to X intelligent mode, just step on the gas and let the JMC Traveler take care of the rest. The throttle calibration of this car is moderate, not too light or too heavy, and the engine power output is also very linear, allowing you to control the power output well and avoid excessive power causing tire slippage and vehicle bounce, while also increasing the tire’s grip to a certain extent.
This kind of crossing has certain requirements for the ground clearance and approach angle of the vehicle, because if you go along the ruts, the deeper the rut, the more likely it is to cause the road surface to rise in the middle, making it easy to scratch the chassis. The approach angle of the Jetour Traveler is 28°, the departure angle is 30°, the minimum ground clearance is 220mm, and it comes with a metal engine underguard. In this crossing, there is no big issue with passability, only when the middle bump is particularly high will it scratch the chassis. However, you still need to be aware that the Jetour Traveler is after all a light off-road vehicle, and the performance is still somewhat lacking.
The JMC Traveler 4WD is equipped with the new generation BorgWarner four-wheel drive system and provides a rear limited slip differential, making it easy to pass through small cross shafts or steep slopes. The transparent chassis function can assist the driver in seeing the surrounding situation during low-speed crawling or vehicle climbing, which is very important for an off-road vehicle.
During the journey, we encountered a steep slope of about 40 degrees. At this time, the hill descent function was activated, gently applying the brakes to control the braking force, and easily passed through. It is important not to brake too hard or steer erratically, as this can easily cause the vehicle’s center of gravity to shift and roll over. It must be said that the braking of the JETOUR X70 may be insufficient in the first half, but there is no problem with the braking force in the middle and later stages. In fact, this setting is not a bad thing for off-road driving. While driving, we may encounter snow-covered ruts and steep slopes. As mentioned earlier, the JETOUR X70’s power performance is very strong, so the basic approach to such situations is to stabilize the steering wheel, step on the gas pedal, and the vehicle can generally get out of trouble. When encountering steep slopes, it is possible to drive up the hill, and it is still very enjoyable all the way down.
After being compressed by passing vehicles, the snow on the road feels bumpy to walk on, especially when passing over corrugated roads. Fortunately, the JETOUR Traveler has put effort into adjusting the suspension. Whether at high or low speeds, the vehicle maintains good body control when passing over small bumps in the road. The suspension’s rebound damping setting is also comfortable, allowing for smooth passage at a steady speed.
Jeep Traveler provides a “Off-Road Dial” option in the central instrument panel for drivers to better understand the current situation and adjust off-road settings more conveniently. This feature looks very professional.
After the crossing, I drove the Jetour X70 on the ice and snow track for the speed competition. Just like its performance during the crossing, the Jetour X70 performed very stable overall. The intervention of the vehicle stability system was timely and responsive, and the electronic control intervention and response speed varied in different driving modes. With many driving mode options, it’s very fun to play in the snow.
Stationary drifting is a seemingly simple but extremely difficult subject to master. First, disable the vehicle stability system, then, at a certain speed, sharply turn the steering wheel to the left or right, and step on the accelerator to accelerate. The vehicle will then form a sideways sliding posture. At this point, proper control of power output and steering angle will allow for graceful drifting. It is recommended to use the sport mode, as in this mode, the vehicle’s engine response will be more aggressive, and the revs will climb very quickly, suitable for intense driving.
After the ice and snow event, we also tested the performance of this car on paved roads. The power is impressive, the acceleration is smooth, and the 7DCT gearbox shifts seamlessly during acceleration and re-acceleration.
The rugged and stylish exterior design of the Journeyer is complemented by a good interior texture. The design concept of the Journeyer’s exterior adopts the current rugged off-road SUV design, with strong and tensioned lines, while also showcasing the carefree and bold personality of young users. In terms of appearance, the Journeyer also incorporates many fashionable elements to increase its trendiness, such as the fluorescent green trailer hook and luggage rack color scheme, giving the car a youthful and energetic vibe.
The front design of the Jetour traveler is relatively flat, with two handles above the cabin for decoration. The front grille is outlined with horizontal and vertical lines, and the “JETOUR” logo can be lit up. On the rugged bumper below, there are two LED decorative lights on each side, which can be used as width indicator lights at night.
The all-new LED headlights are arranged horizontally, creating a multi-beam matrix that is not only stylish but also highly recognizable. The high beam width of the LED headlights reaches 38.1m, with a range of 200m, meeting the driving needs in rainy and foggy weather. The lighting of the JETOUR Traveler supports the switch lock welcome function and also provides three lighting modes.
The side profile of the car still gives a rugged feeling, with black plastic wheel arches that are cost-effective to maintain and replace if scratched. The wheel arches also feature wheel arch lights for added nighttime driving safety. The dimensions of the car are 4785/2006/1880 mm (length/width/height) with a wheelbase of 2800mm, giving it a substantial presence. The JETOUR Traveler comes in a variety of colors including lime green, midnight black, danxia orange, snow mountain silver, misty blue, and highway gray, with the highway gray requiring an additional charge. Luggage racks and step boards are also included.
The square rear of the car looks very clean, with waterfall-style tail lights on both sides echoing the front headlights. The “small backpack” in the back holds a non-full-size spare tire, while the high-end version with 8AT gearbox uses an exposed full-size spare tire. Which do you prefer?
The side-opening tailgate seems to be the standard design for hardcore off-road SUVs, and the Jetour Traveler also uses a side-opening tailgate this time, with a locking device on the hydraulic rod to prevent the tailgate from closing outside when the vehicle is parked on a slope. Inside the trunk, we can see multiple anchor points and an external power supply, which provide convenience for outdoor travel and camping. It is worth mentioning that there are also two cup holders designed on the tailgate panel, which is indeed a novel and targeted design.
The design of the interior of the Chery Traveler complements the exterior, giving it a very tough style. Exposed metal screws can be seen on the door handles, and even metal materials are used to highlight the interior’s hardcore nature in front of the passenger seat. In addition to the hardcore style, the workmanship and materials of the Chery Traveler’s interior are also top-notch. The center console is wrapped in a large area of leather, and the headliner is made of suede material, with a hint of sportiness. Chrome trim is used in places such as air vents and door handles, enhancing the overall sense of luxury in the interior.
The spacious central armrest area is comfortable to rest your arms on, with electronic gear shift, wireless phone charging panel, and some regular function buttons arranged above. It should be noted that the labels of these buttons are not always clear, which may cause confusion for new users of this car.
The 15.6-inch floating central control screen is built with a Qualcomm 8155 chip, and it has a richer configuration. It not only integrates common functions such as navigation, voice recognition control, and audio-visual entertainment, but also has configurations such as AI intelligent butler and FOTA smart upgrade. In actual experience, the smoothness of the central control screen’s various functions is very high, and the accuracy of voice recognition control and the response speed of voice-controlled vehicle functions are also very good. The design of using navigation as the homepage is also very user-friendly in use.
The 2.0TD 7DCT four-wheel drive Crosstrek PRO+ we test drove offers heated seats, heated and ventilated steering wheel, smart air conditioning, fragrance system, SONY sound system, and panoramic sunroof. These features are sufficient for a daily commute and occasional adventures.
Summary: The JETOUR X70 not only provides a comfortable and smooth driving experience, but also demonstrates capabilities that exceed its positioning in today’s ice and snow crossing experience, especially in its ability to pass through complex road conditions and its ability to escape from difficult situations. This allows the vehicle to adapt to more outdoor scenarios, increasing the enjoyment of driving for consumers. If performance, appearance, and quality are important, choosing the JETOUR X70 is definitely not wrong.