24/08/2025

theSunday Special XIV ON SUNDAY AUG 24, 2025

Infotainment control.

Electronic gear shifter.

Panoramic surrond camera.

Wide angle panoramic sunroof.

Push to start/stop button.

Rear airconditioning vents.

Smooth and capable, with a hint of turbo Lag

manoeuvring in tight spaces a breeze.

ing between menus. While it gets the job done and covers all essential features, the lack of snappiness might frustrate tech-savvy users who are used to faster systems. Behind the steering wheel sits a 10.25 inch digital driver display. It gives you all the necessary info, such as speed, revs and trip data, but it feels a bit unfinished. Some text isn’t capitalised properly, which makes it seem like the design team didn’t sweat the small stuff. Functionally, it works fine, but visually, it could be more polished. Jetour hasn’t skimped on equipment. You get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof, a 360° camera, remote engine start, rain sensing windshield wipers, CN95 Cabin Air Filter, ambient lighting and a powered front passenger seat! For an SUV priced significantly lower than many of its rivals, that’s an impressive list. The 6-speaker audio system is not mind-blowing, but is pretty decent, and there are multiple USB ports plus a 50W wireless charging pad. Air-con perform ance is solid, with vents for the rear pas sengers as well. However, Jetour explains that during hard acceleration, the car prioritises send ing all its energy to the engine, to maximise power for a quick getaway. As a result, the power for the air-condi tioning’s cooling function temporarily shuts off, meaning you will get a brief blast of warm air for a few seconds. We find this a little weird, inconvenient and unneces sary. Moving on, there is plenty of space, both front and back. The rear seats are generously sized and recline slightly for comfort, and the boot offers 486 litres of space, enough for a week’s worth of groceries or a family week end getaway. If more space is needed, fold the rear seats down and you will get 977 litres of space.

seamless, upscale appearance and reduce aerodynamic drag, adding a touch of finesse to the SUV’s design. Now, about those flush, pop-out door handles. They’re sleek. They’re modern. They scream “luxury car.” But they can also be… let’s say, slightly inconvenient. Case in point: I was doing a video shoot of the car at my usual lakeside spot in SS12. Out of nowhere, this stray dog comes charging at me. I bolt towards the car, adrenaline pump ing, only to realise the handles hadn’t popped out yet. Heart pounding, I fumble for the key, unlock it, and wait for the handles to glide out before diving into safety. Pop-out door handles look great, but at that moment, I would have traded them for old-fashion grab handles in a heartbeat. Still, in calmer situations, they do add a touch of class to the overall design. Besides that, the Dashing makes a strong statement on the road, looking far more expensive than its price would sug gest. It sits on 19-inch alloys that fill the arches nicely, and the overall stance is con fident without being over the top. In short, it looks like something you would proudly park in front of a cafe on a Saturday afternoon. Spacious, comfortable, premium Step inside, and you’re greeted with a cabin that punches well above its price tag. Soft-touch material cover much of the dashboard, there’s tasteful stitching on the seats, and the overall layout feels premium. Storage solutions are thoughtfully pro vided, with multiple compartments for personal items, cup holders, and a rea sonably large glove box. The centrepiece is the 10.25-inch info tainment touchscreen, which controls eve rything from navigation to climate set tings. The graphics are clean, and packed with features, but there’s a slight lag when swip

Safety features for peace of mind Jetour has equipped the Dashing with an impressive array of safety technologies for its price point. These include six airbags, ABS with EBD, traction and stability control, hill start assist, and a 360° camera system for easy parking, cruise control, lane change warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Safety features may vary depending on the variant. Regardless, the safety package is competitive, offering strong reassurance for family buyers. A stylish newcomer worth considering The Jetour Dashing brings a lot to the table: bold styling, a comfortable and well equipped cabin, family-friendly practical ity, and a price tag that’s hard to argue with. Yes, it has its quirks, the turbo lag, the infotainment’s occasional slowness, and those fancy door handles, but none of them are deal-breakers for most buyers. If you are willing to live with a few minor imperfections in exchange for standout design and generous features, the Jetour Dashing is one of the most interest ing new SUV options in Malaysia right now. It’s a statement car from a brand that is clearly aiming to make waves, and based on this first impression, Jetour is off to a promising start. Specifications Engine: 1.5-litre, turbocharged, inline-4, petrol Power: 156PS Torque: 230Nm @ 1750rpm Transmission: 6-speed dual-clutch Price (as tested): RM116,800 We like: Design and spaciousness. We don’t like: Pop-out door handles and the air-conditioning’s power cut off.

Powering the Dashing is a 1.5-litre tur bocharged inline-four petrol engine that produces 156PS and 230Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed dual-clutch trans mission that sends power to the front wheels. On paper, it delivers a healthy output for everyday driving and the occasional spir ited runs. On the road, acceleration is smooth and the SUV feels confident at highway speeds, making overtaking manoeuvres straight forward once the turbo spools up. However, there’s a noticeable pause when accelerating hard from a standstill, particularly when shooting out of junc tions. This turbo lag means you need to plan your moves a little more carefully in tight traffic situations. Once the boost kicks in, though, the Dashing picks up speed rapidly and deliv ers a satisfying surge. Another interesting thing we noticed is that there are only Eco and Sports drive modes. The steering wheel offers comfort and sports drive modes. We wished that there was a normal or comfort drive mode for the power delivery because in Eco, you do not get the full power, and in Sports mode, you get too much power, so there has to be an in between. Ride comfort is tuned for urban and highway use. The suspension (MacPherson Strut for the front and Multilink for the rear) absorbs bumps and potholes well, keeping the cabin composed even on rougher roads. The steering is light and accurate; how ever, the turning radius could be slightly better. The Dashing works well as a family car. Door openings are wide, making it easy to get child seats in and out. The ride height offers good visibility, and the reversing camera plus parking sensors make