Jetour Dashing vs Jetour VT9 in Malaysia: Does an extra RM2,550 mean buying more seats or more features?

Whether a seven-seater is an absolute must-have comes down to a mere RM2,550 in the Jetour showroom. Between the flagship five-seater Dashing Prime and the entry-level seven-seater VT9 Comfort, the price gap is remarkably narrow.

Just over RM2,000 might merely cover a decent set of coil mats and an aftermarket dashcam, yet the trade-offs each model presents for that sum pull in completely opposite directions.

The VT9 offers two extra third-row seats and a larger footprint, whereas the Dashing Prime retains six airbags, blind spot monitoring, and a panoramic glass roof. Ultimately, it boils down to one question: do you genuinely need that third row?

Seating and Boot Space

The VT9 is a proper seven-seater configured in a 2+3+2 layout. At 4,724 mm in length, it is 134 mm longer and 35 mm taller than the 4,590 mm Dashing Prime. Its rearmost row offers sufficient room for children or adults on short emergency trips across town.

However, with all seven seats deployed, the VT9's boot space shrinks down to just 89 litres. That is roughly enough for two large backpacks or a few grocery bags; even a folded baby stroller would struggle to fit. In contrast, the five-seater Dashing Prime serves up 486 litres of luggage capacity—over five times what a fully laden VT9 manages.

If carrying seven people is a regular affair, the VT9's meagre 89-litre boot is an unavoidable compromise. But if that third row sits vacant for most of the year, the Dashing Prime gives you 486 litres of usable boot space day in and day out, whereas the VT9's folded third row simply becomes dead weight beneath the boot floor.

Safety

The Dashing Prime packs six airbags, including full-length front and rear curtain airbags. The VT9 Comfort makes do with just four: dual front and front side airbags, completely omitting side curtain protection.

Curtain airbags are critical for safeguarding occupant heads during side impacts or rollover collisions, a crucial layer of passive safety missing in the VT9 Comfort. For a family vehicle meant to ferry passengers in the rearmost seats, this omission should not be taken lightly.

The active safety disparity is equally pronounced. The Dashing Prime comes standard with Blind Spot Detection (BSD) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), whereas the VT9 Comfort lacks both blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning.

In real-world driving, blind spot monitoring proves invaluable during peak-hour city lane changes and highway merges—far more useful than a brief ten-minute showroom test drive suggests.

Both models come standard with a 360-degree surround-view camera and 19-inch alloy wheels. Buyers should note that the VT9 Comfort is not downgraded to a basic reverse camera here; both vehicles are on equal ground regarding camera tech.

On the lane-keeping front, the Dashing Prime offers warnings only without steering intervention, whereas the VT9 Comfort omits the feature entirely. In the context of this RM2,550 price gap, this upper hand in safety kit is easily the Dashing Prime's trump card.

Powertrain and Dimensions

Under the bonnet, both SUVs share the identical 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, delivering 154 hp and 230 Nm of torque through a six-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT) driving the front wheels. Output figures, gear ratios, and shift mapping are completely identical.

Any perceptible driving differences stem purely from vehicle dimensions.

The VT9 is longer and taller, meaning its extra row and bulkier body demand more care when executing tight U-turns or hunting for parking bays in cramped shopping mall basements.

The Dashing Prime sits 134 mm shorter and rides lower, making it noticeably more nimble for daily urban commuting.

Both offer adequate pull for urban and highway driving, though a fully laden VT9 with seven passengers aboard will naturally feel more strained tackling uphill stretches compared to an unladen Dashing Prime. That is simple physics at play rather than a mechanical shortcoming.

Equipment and Convenience

Beyond airbags and driver aids, the Dashing Prime also throws in a panoramic glass roof, powered front passenger seat, a six-speaker sound system, auto wipers, and auto high beam.

The VT9 Comfort scales back to four speakers, a powered driver's seat paired with a manual front passenger seat, while missing out on both the panoramic glass roof and automatic wipers.

While these convenience features may not make or break a purchase, they noticeably elevate everyday usability.

The panoramic glass roof provides an airier cabin feel, the powered front passenger seat adds an upmarket touch, and six speakers deliver distinctly richer audio than a basic four-speaker setup.

The VT9 Comfort is decently specified in its own right, but lined up next to the Dashing Prime at virtually identical money, its equipment level sits a clear notch below.

Warranty and Aftersales

Both contenders come backed by a 7-year or 150,000 km manufacturer warranty, an extensive 10-year or 1,000,000 km engine warranty, and 5 free scheduled services covering parts and labour.

While the VT9 previously enjoyed an early-bird booking rebate of RM2,000, both vehicles stand on equal footing under standard aftersales terms.

The Verdict

The VT9 Comfort makes absolute sense if third-row capability is a genuine, frequent necessity for family duties and you can overlook having just four airbags and no blind spot monitoring.

Spending an extra RM2,550 secures you two extra seats and a larger SUV, with the trade-off being an 89-litre boot when fully packed and a leaner active safety suite.

The Dashing Prime is the smarter pick for households that rarely need more than five seats, value six airbags with blind spot monitoring, and want a generous 486-litre boot every day.

You not only pocket RM2,550 in savings, but you also bypass the bulkier body and tighter parking margins that come with a seven-seater. The compromise? Zero third-row seating.

Picking between these two boils down to one straightforward factor: how many seats your daily routine truly demands.

Spec Comparison