Jetour X70 FL

The cabin of the 2024 Jetour X70 FL is a balance of practicality and premium bits. It's rather high-class, though not full-blown luxury. From the power-adjustable front seats, diamond-quilted carpets, leather upholstery, high centre armrest, cooled centre glovebox, and the generous use of gloss black finish, the 2024 Jetour X70 FL's cabin is a nice place to be in. The two-tone, black and tan combination looks rather attractive. Hard plastics have been widely used to keep production costs low. The gloss black surface is also prone to dirt and fingerprint smudge. The huge panoramic sunroof makes the cabin look more spacious. The dashboard is dominated by a central 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment unit paired with a six-speaker audio system. There's a 12.3-inch full colour instrument cluster. Display of both units are nice but should have been crispier. 

The 2024 Jetour X70 FL is recognizable from its massive front grille, flanked by sleek headlights. The headlights get attractive vertical daytime running lights (DRLs). The car gets a lot of chrome on the grille, windows, and door. Combined with the distinct beltline, the Jetour X70 FL shows off its commanding road presence. There's a nice set if L-shaped taillights and the car gets all-round LED lighting. The chrome exhaust outlets look nice. But these are decoys and the real exhaust pipe is located below. Flicking the turn signal or hazard lights turn on the sequential LED lights. The car runs on 20-inch, two-tone alloy wheels and the body-coloured cladding enhances the overall look. 

Like all three-row cars, the two front seats enjoy the maximum headroom and legroom. Both seats are adjustable and finding the most comfortable driving position is easy. The second row has sufficient space even when the front seats are pushed back the farthest. It comes with a central armrest. While all seats are nicely padded and offer great cushioning, getting into the third row is quite a challenge. The second row has no one-touch tumble function. The seat has to be folded down manually. There's not much space to access the last row. The seats also don't have much under-thigh support. But the car's semi-boxy design means there's no shortage of headroom. Boot space is decent, though not the best in class. The suspension is a bit on the stiff side.

The 2024 Jetour X70 FL is hauled by a turbocharged, four-cylinder, 1.5-litre petrol engine that produces 155PS/230Nm. The motor is mated to an 8-speed automatic. The transmission isn't exactly seamless. The lower ratios sometimes lag.  From the standstill to the first gear, the transmission tends to deliver some shift shock. But the engine has enough power to pull the three-row car even when it's fully packed. The car handles well but it could have been better. On city streets, handling is nice and the X70 FL merges well with traffic.

The 2024 Jetour X70 FL comes with a fairly exhaustive equipment list. There's a rearview camera but the display is rather dull. Other safety features include central locking, child seat latch, traction control, hill-start assist, electronic micromotion cruise control, parking sensors, and blind spot monitoring. The tyres have great road grip and stop the car instantly.

At a starting price of AED 73,000, the 2024 Jetour X70 FL is an affordable crossover SUV. It's a three-row, seven-passenger car that offers decent travelling comfort. But since Jetour is a new brand, the resale value of the X70 FL is still doubtful. It may not be a game-changer in its segment, but the car certainly has the potential to become a bestseller.