KLIMS 2026: Jetour VT9 Gives the Brand a Practical Seven-Seat SUV Base

The Family SUV, Not the Showpiece

At KLIMS 2026, the Jetour VT9 should be understood differently from the T2 and T2 i-DM. The T2 carries the boxy outdoor image, while the T2 i-DM gives Jetour an electrified talking point. The VT9 has a quieter but more commercial job. It is the model that places Jetour into Malaysia's everyday seven-seat family SUV conversation.

In Malaysia, the VT9 is effectively the Jetour X70 Plus under a different local name, avoiding confusion with the Proton X70. That naming choice is practical. A new brand cannot afford to make its product ladder difficult to understand. Together with the Dashing, the VT9 forms Jetour's early volume base: Dashing for five-seat urban SUV buyers, VT9 for families that need a third row.

Two Variants Under RM125k

The Jetour VT9 was launched in Malaysia in May 2025 with two variants: Comfort and Prime. Prices for Peninsular Malaysia are RM119,350 and RM124,350 respectively, both on-the-road before insurance. This positions the VT9 in a useful space. It is more accessible than many established three-row SUVs, but still above entry-level MPVs and budget seven-seaters.

The more important point is local assembly. The VT9 is assembled at Berjaya Assembly in Johor, giving Jetour a stronger long-term argument than a purely imported model would offer. For buyers still learning the brand, CKD status matters because it speaks to parts supply, cost control and service continuity. It does not remove all risk, but it gives the brand a more visible local commitment.

Size and Seating Are the Main Arguments

The VT9 measures 4,724 mm long, 1,900 mm wide and 1,720 mm tall, with a 2,720 mm wheelbase and 144 mm of ground clearance. It is clearly positioned above the five-seat Dashing in cabin volume and family utility. The seven-seat layout is the main reason the model exists, targeting households that need occasional full passenger capacity for school runs, balik kampung journeys and extended-family use.

Boot space reflects the reality of most three-row SUVs. With all seven seats up, luggage capacity is 89 litres, enough mainly for small bags or daily items. Fold the second and third rows and the maximum cargo volume expands to 1,680 litres. The VT9 therefore works best as a flexible five-plus-two family SUV, not as a vehicle expected to carry seven people and heavy luggage at the same time.

1.5 Turbo, Six-Speed Wet DCT

Power comes from a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 156 PS and 230 Nm, paired with a six-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission. The numbers are not aggressive, and the VT9 is not trying to be a sporty SUV. Its task is to provide enough response for city use, highway cruising and family loads while keeping the price within reach.

This separates it from Jetour's more image-led models. The VT9 does not sell off-road toughness like the T2, and it does not rely on electrification like the T2 i-DM. It is a conventional family SUV built around space, equipment and value. The questions that will matter over time are simple: how it performs when fully loaded, how smooth the gearbox feels in daily traffic, and whether reliability holds up through ownership.

Comfort Already Covers the Essentials

The Comfort variant is not a bare entry grade. It includes full LED lighting, cruise control, a 360-degree camera, tyre-pressure monitoring, four airbags, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a cooled front centre armrest box, a manually adjustable D-shaped steering wheel, paddle shifters, 50W wireless charging, 19-inch wheels with 235/55 tyres, a six-way powered driver's seat, four speakers, blue ambient lighting and a powered tailgate.

The Prime adds a panoramic sunroof, six speakers, six airbags, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change warning, door-opening warning, driver-seat memory, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and Jetour-logo puddle lamps for the front and rear doors. Both variants use a 10.25-inch twin-screen setup with voice command, plus four USB-A ports. Current published information does not list autonomous emergency braking or adaptive cruise control, so the VT9's safety advantage is mainly around visibility assistance and side/rear monitoring on the Prime, rather than a full ADAS suite.

Why VT9 Matters for Jetour

The VT9's KLIMS role is not to be the most dramatic Jetour on display. It is there to make the brand feel complete. Dashing gives Jetour a youthful five-seat SUV, T2 gives it an outdoor image, T2 i-DM adds electrification, and VT9 addresses the family buyer most likely to generate steady sales.

The competition will be difficult. Proton X90, Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and other seven-seat SUVs already speak to Malaysian families with more familiar brand stories. VT9 cannot rely on price and equipment alone. It needs consistent CKD supply, warranty follow-through, service coverage and owner confidence. If Jetour can deliver those, the VT9 could become its most practical model in Malaysia: not the one that dominates social media, but the one that brings families into the showroom.