Jetour Dashing

Stepping into the cabin of the Jetour Dashing was like entering a contemporary lounge and not into an ordinary SUV. The smooth-touch surfaces and clean lines of the dashboard enveloped me in a silent luxury. There were no distracting buttons or cluttered switchgear to distract the driver. The panoramic sunroof intensified the feeling of space; it was a refreshing change to the closed-in, button-filled cockpits I have experienced in other cars.

My fingers instantly touched the floating 15.6-inch touchscreen (12.8-inch in the 1.5T model), which towered above the center stack like a tablet. Its smooth surface responded immediately to my touch as I scroll through menus to navigate, audio and climate settings. I liked that Jetour did not subject me to endless submenus, and that such important functions as temperature adjustment and volume adjustments had physical rotary controls beneath the screen, allowing me to make a quick and eyes-on-the-road adjustment when I had to make school-run detours in Jebel Ali.

The steering wheel, which was wrapped in leather, was large and comfortable. The multi-functional controls allowed me to switch between adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assist without having to move my thumbs. The Luxury trim has front seats that are sporty bolstered with heated and ventilated features. An hour of morning traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road made me understand that seat ventilation is one of the important things: my lower back remained pleasantly cool even when the outside temperature had reached over 42°C. The lumbar support was electronically adjustable, allowing me to sit in the right position for the long ride home.

As I moved to the second row, I slipped behind my own driving seat and was astonished by the knee room; even when I was reclining, my legs never felt cramped. The 5 USB-C charging ports and special air vents ensured that all the devices were charged. The rear cabin was cool and comfortable. The release levers were also intuitively placed and needed little force when we folded the 60:40 third row to add additional cargo space. 

The ambient lighting followed the doors in faint lines, and was soft in effect which felt more of a boutique-hotel than a budget SUV. Even the lighted door-sill plates were more than decorative flourishes; on one early-morning loading trip at Al Qudra, they gave sufficient light to see gear without having to reach to the overhead lamp.

Other notable features of the Dashing includes hidden sensing door handles, boneless wipers, keyless entry system, remote start engine, 4-way steering wheel adjustment, 40W wireless phone charger, and 8-speakers system.

In short, the interiors of the Dashing were the most balanced: a calm, minimalist design that did not compromise on convenient technology. All controls were meaningful, all surfaces were well-designed, and the cabin atmosphere created a soothing concentration, one of the best cabin experiences I have had in this segment.

Jetour has kept safety into special consideration for the Dashing. The vehicle is equipped with ABS and EBD traction control and rollover mitigation system that intervenes when someone pushes into a sharp roundabout at higher speed. 

The advanced emergency braking system helps detect pedestrians and slow moving vehicles. The adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist reduced my stress during PR gridlock, managing throttle breaks and staring inputs up to 60 km/h.

Other than the above, its safety net includes blinds for detection and rear cross traffic alerts, six airbags, 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and ISOFIX child seat anchor, offering peace of mind whether I drove alone or with family and friends.

Front-End

The Jetour Dashing made the first impression when I touched the key fob–two identical remotes, one black and one with red accents. To my surprise, those were a bit heavy to hold. I pressed the remote start button and the systems of the Dashing sprang to life across the parking lot, with its LED daytime running lights blinking like a wink, and it said, “I am ready.” A gentle click of the doors, I ran my fingers along the violent “Flying Wing” grille. Up close, the hexagonal design and embedded chrome accents on the front end provided a bold appearance- one that instantly drew comparison with the Lamborghini Urus sculpted fascia to my mind in my mind the sculpted fascia of the Lamborghini Urus and the smooth lines of the Lexus RX.

As I pulled out onto Sheikh Zayed Road, I could see how the LED low- and high-beam clusters cut through city haze with an impressive level of clarity. The front parking sensors and the forward camera are well-integrated into the vents of the bumper, providing both functionality and appearance. Whenever I switched to low and full beam the light pattern was the same, lighting up the road before me.

Side Profile

The side profile was really glowing as I stepped into the streets of Jumeirah. The 20-inch black-and-silver alloy wheels of the Dashing fit the arches like a glove, keeping the sporty look of the car equally in place. I could see the power-folding mirrors swivel inward with a pleasing whirr when I closed the car. Their in-built projectors displayed the Jetour logo on the ground, giving the cinematic effect that I would never grow tired of. Smooth concealed door handles appeared at the command of a button, and chrome window trim followed a continuous line of A-pillar to C-pillar, adding a high-end feel that I liked when picking up a friend at his villa in Al Quoz.

Rear-End

Lastly, it was the back-end that closed the deal. The LED taillights, which were full-width, like the high-end exotic silhouettes, shone clearly in the twilight sky. One button press got me the power liftgate open and displayed a huge cargo area. The two exhaust outlets on the GCC-spec model added a more sporty look which was lacking in the single exhaust Chinese-spec. Either parked under the glittering skyline of Dubai or covered with desert sand, the exterior of the Jetour Dashing catches the eye and commands its presence on the roads.

Performance: Two Turbocharged Identities

I tried my hands on both the engine options: 1.6 TGDI and 1.5 TCI engines. The first type of engine is equipped with 197 HP and 275 Nm of torque. This was inspiring acceleration as it gave me confidence whenever I needed to merge onto fast-paced highways. In sports mode, the seven speed DC held gears, longer and throttle response, sharpening making overturns effortless, easy. That said, the engine never felt stressed, even when it was fully packed with passengers and luggage. 

On the other hand, the 1.5 TCI had a more relaxed character with 156 HP and 210 Nm. Though 0-100 km/h, about 11 seconds, the torquey mid-range meant every day pulling power never lagged. The quieter cabin experience delivered a smooth cruising experience on long stretched highways while it was delivering a solid 12 km/L average fuel efficiency.

Both the above powertrains are available in three driving modes-economic comfort and sports, perfect for people who prefer different driving modes on different days.

Range & Efficiency in Real Conditions (approx)

Pricing & Ownership Value

The Jetour Dashing is priced way above its weight: AED 98,900 on the 1.5T Standard, AED 109,000 on the 1.6T Luxury, and as high as AED 115,900 with the Premier Black Edition package. 

In comparison, seven-seat SUVs of the same size usually begin at more than AED 120,000 without adaptive cruise, panoramic sunroofs, or multi-language voice control. 

There’s also a 10-year/1 million km powertrain warranty and 3-year/40,000 km service contract, and the Dashing provides a value proposition that is difficult to resist. My weekly fuel expenses were only AED 180 and regular service in Dubai and Abu Dhabi generally fits into a two-hour service schedule.

The Jetour Dashing may have been an inexpensive alternative after a week behind the wheel, but it is a really interesting mid-size SUV. Its sporty facade attracted admiring looks at the luxury SUV malls in Dubai, and the simple, but technologically advanced interior ensured that I was comfortable and connected during the extensive desert trips. 

The performance was customized to my requirements--aggressive in the 1.6T, practical in the 1.5T--and the sophisticated safety package never dropped a beat in the urban or rural backroad melee. The Dashing, with its combination of style, substance and affordable pricing, is a smart option to the UAE drivers in search of luxury in every ride without the luxury price tag.

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