In the past two years, major car companies launched many boxy SUVs. These models meet diverse user needs in the SUV market. Many popular boxy SUVs combine practicality with stylish looks. They represent an evolution in urban SUVs. The Jietu Traveler became the sales champion among boxy SUVs for three consecutive quarters. From January to August, it sold 70,200 units, far ahead of the second-place model with 20,000 units. This success gives the Jietu brand a clear advantage in the boxy SUV segment. After the launch of the Shanhai T2, it inherited this advantage and set a sales record for hybrid boxy models. Starting in May, it increased sales by 1,000 units each month. Since its launch, total sales have approached 20,000 units.
The Jietu brand’s boxy car strategy has proven effective. The market has embraced it. In other areas, Jietu also delivers well. The Shanhai T2 excels in performance and features. The Kunpeng Super Hybrid C-DM platform offers a balance between performance and energy consumption. It also carries a legacy. The Shanhai T1, which we test drove, shares this platform. It is a sibling model to the Shanhai T2 but targets a slightly different audience. The Shanhai T1 focuses on family use and emphasizes high cost-effectiveness.
The Shan Hai T1 shares the same platform as the Shan Hai T2. Both models have a boxy design. However, the styles differ slightly. The Shan Hai T2 features more straight lines and sharp edges. Its metal corners are very rigid. In contrast, the Shan Hai T1 has a softer appearance. Still, compared to other city SUVs, the Shan Hai T1 remains quite robust.
The Shan Hai T1 is a compact SUV. Its dimensions are 4706mm in length, 1967mm in width, and 1845mm in height. The wheelbase measures 2810mm. Despite its compact classification, the vehicle appears large and substantial.
The Mountain and Sea T1 offers six exterior colors: Snow Mountain Silver, Polar Night Black, Glacier White, Sand Gold, Bromo Blue, and Green Mountain Emerald. The test drive model features the color Wangsha Gold. The paint contains a high concentration of metallic elements. It displays different color textures in various environments.
The front of the Shan Hai T1 follows the family design style. The headlights feature a four-leaf clover shape. They combine near and far light sources. The width of the low beam reaches 36.2 meters. The width of the high beam measures 24.7 meters. The high beam illuminates up to 185 meters. This provides ample range and distance at night, ensuring safer driving.
The front design of the Shan Hai T1 features smoother lines compared to the T2. The engine hood rises gradually at the front. The bottom edge of the headlights uses diagonal lines, unlike the T2’s boxy shape.
The front grille of the Shan Hai T1 lacks the Jietu letters found on the T2. Instead, it features two LED light strips. The official name is “horizon light strips.” At idle, they pulse at a fixed frequency. The welcome lights activate during unlocking, adding a ceremonial touch. The front bumper of the Shan Hai T1 has a rugged design. Compared to the T2, it simplifies to a single-layer structure. It does not include the off-road position lights that the T2 has, aside from the front fog lights. Overall, the design maintains a consistent family style.
The T1 chassis of the Mountain Sea has good off-road capability. The front approach angle is 28 degrees. The rear departure angle is 29 degrees. The breakover angle is 19 degrees. The ground clearance reaches 200 mm. It also has a wading depth of 600 mm. These parameters match those of the Prado and similar models.
The Shanhai T1 features impressive body rigidity. Its boxy shape suits family use. It boasts a tensile strength of 1500 MPa. This is equivalent to the pressure of two adult African elephants standing on a coin. High-strength steel makes up 80% of the structure, while ultra-high-strength steel accounts for 55%. The roof uses laser welding and can support 300 kg. This allows for the installation of bicycles or external luggage racks. The Shanhai T1 also incorporates a one-piece laser-welded inner and outer thermoformed dual door ring. Its floor features a “six horizontal and four vertical” mesh layout. The front cabin has a “double triangle” design. Overall, the rigidity is remarkable for a family-oriented SUV.
The side of the T1 body matches the T2 closely. Only the area after the C-pillar differs. The difference lies in the lines and colors. The D-pillar of the T1 shares the same color as the body.
The Shanhai T1 has a roof rack. It features black protective panels on the sides. It also includes fixed side steps for easy entry and exit.
The Shan Hai T1 features 19-inch silver and black two-tone five-spoke wheels. The design looks impressive and matches the vehicle’s positioning.
The rear of the Shan Hai T1 showcases its unique style. The blacked-out square “four-leaf clover” taillights create a simple look. The T1 lacks a spare tire “backpack,” making it lighter overall. Yet, it retains a rugged design. The Shan Hai T1 can tow up to 1.6 tons, allowing it to pull bicycles, motorcycles, small boats, and RVs for outdoor adventures.
The interior of the Shan Hai T1 matches the overall layout of the Shan Hai T2. It only differs slightly in the passenger glove box, the side air vents, and the T-island area of the central console.
The central console combines a liquid crystal display with a 15.6-inch high-definition screen. Drivers can change the dashboard style and mode as needed. They can adjust the air conditioning on the screen or use the physical buttons below the central screen. This allows for easy adjustment without looking.
The T1 uses a lot of soft materials inside. The interior feels comfortable. It has an extended handle in front of the passenger seat. The T2 does not have this feature.
The Shan Hai T1 car features the 8155 cockpit chip. Overall control feels smooth. Energy management and charge/discharge management are easily accessible. Each has its own card for quick access. The car system supports voice interaction. It uses four-zone voice control. Passengers can wake and control their zones without interference.
The Shan Hai T1 car system supports app expansion. Mainstream apps like iQIYI and Caiyun Weather work well. It also has reserved software and hardware for a car refrigerator. The trunk has a designated space for it. You can buy it from Jietu’s official store. It’s plug-and-play.
The Shan Hai T1 features a nap mode and a large bed mode. Users can activate these modes with voice commands or the large screen. Once activated, the system adjusts the seats, windows, sunroof, parking air conditioning, and ambient lights to create a restful environment. The parking air conditioning lasts 8.5 hours in -20 degrees Celsius and 25 hours in 30 degrees Celsius. It also includes an AQS air quality monitoring function to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
The interior features exquisite craftsmanship. The electronic gear lever resembles crystal. It feels full in hand. The gear lever embeds the Jietu logo. It is very refined, like a piece of art.
The Shanhai T1 excels in quietness. It uses 79 soundproof materials. It is the only model in its class with four-door double-layer laminated glass. Notably, the T1’s windows block 99% of UV rays. This achieves SPF 100 protection. Drivers in high-altitude or sunny areas need not fear UV exposure.
The Shanhai T1 features a flat-bottom multifunction steering wheel. It offers 50-watt wireless phone charging. It includes automatic wipers and automatic headlights.
The mountain-sea T1 excels in space. The rear seats fold down. This creates a flat bed area of 2 meters deep. It makes camping easy. It also helps transport large items.
Both front and rear rows use Shuyun seats. They support the waist, back, and hips. The design follows ergonomic principles. The seats feature a nine-layer structure. The surface uses PU cloud skin leather. It includes natural protein treatments like silk and soybean. The seats contain no formaldehyde. They are safe for direct skin contact with children under three years old.
The rear seat backrest adjusts easily. The rear seat cushion suits tall users well. It supports the knees comfortably. The flat design of the rear floor allows size 44 feet to fit without discomfort.
The Shan Hai T1 uses Chery’s Kunpeng C-DM hybrid technology. It features a 1.5TD hybrid engine with a maximum thermal efficiency of 44.5%. The vehicle pairs this engine with a first-gear DHT transmission and a 26.7kWh power battery. It achieves a pure electric range of 150km under CLTC standards. The official fuel consumption in hybrid mode reaches 5.89L per 100km.
During the test drive, the Shan Hai T1 showed excellent smoothness. It operated quietly under 70 km/h using pure electric power. The acceleration felt light. Fuel consumption also decreased during this time.
After gradually pressing the accelerator, I expected the engine to engage quickly. However, under the premise of forced power preservation and a SOC of 20%, the vehicle remained in pure electric drive. The acceleration felt strong. The Shan Hai T1 features a front-wheel motor with a maximum efficiency of 98%. It uses a dual V-shaped high-efficiency motor. The motor has low energy loss. On a nearly 200-kilometer journey, its instantaneous energy consumption stayed around 5L. Given the hilly terrain in Xinjiang, this energy consumption is quite satisfying.
At speeds above 100 km/h, electric consumption increases quickly. The engine starts to recharge the battery and prepares for direct drive. While driving at high speeds, the engine’s recharging lags behind the energy release. Soon, the engine directly engages in direct drive. However, once the engine takes over completely, the acceleration remains strong. The 1.5TD hybrid engine meets high-speed acceleration needs effectively.
The engine drives smoothly. However, the 1DHT struggles at higher speeds. Still, it maintains a high speed. The journey remains pleasant.
The Shan Hai T1 offers four driving modes. Each mode changes the driving experience. For example, the steering wheel damping and brake sensitivity differ. In sport mode, the steering feels heavier. The damping of the linked steering mechanism increases. The tires transmit road conditions to the steering wheel more directly.
In comfort and economy mode, acceleration remains smooth. The switch between electric and gas is seamless. However, the steering feels much lighter than in sport mode. This lightness offers convenience for female drivers and on low-speed roads.
The test drive focused on high-speed and national road conditions. The 山海 T1 uses a front MacPherson and rear multi-link independent suspension. The tuning leans towards comfort. The overall feel is strong. The front and rear suspensions provide uniform support over speed bumps and rough surfaces. However, at higher speeds, the suspension feels slightly unresponsive to impacts. Increasing the damping and travel might improve it. Overall, it performs very well.
The Shan Hai T1 is an entry-level “boxy” SUV. It has a competitive estimated price of around 150,000 to 200,000 yuan (28100$). It continues the platform’s proven reliability and high performance seen in models like the Jietu Traveler and Shan Hai T2. It offers excellent features that meet diverse family needs. For first-time SUV buyers, the Shan Hai T1 is an ideal choice. Its spacious interior, practicality, and smart features cater to daily family use. The Shan Hai T1 is set to attract more consumers and achieve strong market sales after its launch.