You know that feeling when you slide behind the wheel of something completely new? It’s equal parts curiosity and excitement.
After a week of darting through Joburg traffic, juggling a packed diary and ending it off with a cheeky little road trip to Hartbeespoort Dam with friends, I can tell you this: the Jetour X70 Plus seriously surprised me.
First Impressions: Not Just a Pretty Face
Let’s start with the obvious. The X70 Plus is a very good-looking car with a bold front grille, sleek LED headlights and elegant chrome touches. It gives off the kind of presence you’d expect from something far pricier.
As you step inside, the “wow” factor continues. Plush leather seats, ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof that basically begs for a Jozi golden hour selfie. The cabin feels premium, spacious and surprisingly refined.
City Life: Everyday Driving, Elevated
I spent most of my week testing the X70 Plus in the thick of it with morning commutes, meetings, errands and a few cheeky detours. And you know what? It handled city life like a pro.
The 1.5L turbocharged engine won’t throw you back in your seat, but it’s more than enough to keep you moving with confidence. Smooth acceleration, easy handling and a surprisingly comfortable ride – even on some of Joburg’s more “textured” roads.
The light steering made parking in tight spots a dream. Add in the 360-degree cameras and front + rear sensors and you’ve basically got a parking cheat code. It glided into mall bays without breaking a sweat.
All the Toys: Tech That Actually Works
Here’s where the X70 Plus really punches above its weight. Dual-zone climate control, multiple USB ports, wireless charging, keyless everything and a clean, responsive touchscreen.
On the safety front, it ticks the right boxes: lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, electronic stability control… it’s all there, giving you that extra layer of confidence behind the wheel.
Weekend Mode: Harties, Here We Come
Now for the real test: the weekend escape. Bags packed, playlist sorted, sunroof open… let’s go!
Packing was painless. The boot space is solid and once you drop the rear seats, you’re working with serious storage.
On the highway, the Jetour X70 Plus impressed me. It cruised comfortably at 120 km/h, with minimal noise and zero strain. The turbo engine gave us that extra push when we needed to overtake and even fully loaded, it never felt sluggish.
Plus, with that panoramic roof and scenic drive through Magalies, the whole experience felt comfortable, calm and dare I say it – pretty damn luxe.
A Little Off-Roading (Just for Fun)
We took a slight detour off the tar to catch a view over the dam on a gravelly path with just enough bumps to test the Jetour’s composure.
This isn’t a hardcore off-roader and it’s not trying to be but with 210mm of ground clearance, it handled light off-roading surprisingly well.
Fuel, Function & Those Little Things
I averaged 8.7L/100km over the week which is more than reasonable for a petrol SUV of this size. It’s not built to be hyper-efficient, but it also won’t break the bank.
If I had to nitpick, the infotainment system could be a touch quicker and rear visibility is not amazing without the cameras. But honestly, those are small gripes in a car that delivers this much bang for your buck.
Final Thoughts: The Underdog You’ll Want to Root For
The Jetour X70 Plus doesn’t shout for attention – it earns it. It’s not pretending to be a high-performance SUV or an off-road monster. What it is though is a stylish, well-equipped and capable all-rounder that made my daily grind easier and my weekend escape smoother.
For city dwellers who live busy lives but crave a little adventure, this is a car that ticks boxes you didn’t even realise you had. It looks good, drives well and comes packed with features that make everyday driving feel like something special.
Would I get myself one? In a heartbeat.