Buy bagels: the popular crossover received an "automatic"
It seems that the Jetour T2 off-road styling with its fake plastic eyelets was taken too seriously by some of the owners. The journalists are also to blame, who argued in almost every review that the crossover must necessarily be able to climb a steep and slippery climb. Otherwise, how to explain why, in addition to the robotic transmission, the T2 began to be equipped with a classic "automatic". Izvestia drove a new version of the crossover along the roads of the Krasnoyarsk Territory.
Why people are afraid of "robots"
The Jetour T2 seven-speed crossover "robot" has perhaps the best settings on the Russian market. For cars that were sold in Russia, this transmission works without surprises, at least for now. At first glance, there are some advantages, but there is one disadvantage — the "robot" overheats off-road if you stall for a long time and move slowly. You can suddenly be left without traction until the box cools down and comes to its senses.
The disadvantage, frankly, is not obvious, given how many cars on the Russian market are equipped with "robots" and how many Jetour T2 owners go on serious off-road driving. In China, even fewer car owners drive off the asphalt — there are no complaints about "robots" and they value this type of transmission for its economy.
Jetour T2 dimensions: 4785×2006×1880 mm, wheelbase — 2800 mm
There is still "robophobia" in our country, provoked, by the way, by Volkswagen products. The Germans solved the problem of DSG transmissions, but the sediment remained. And, by the way, along with the "robots", VAG products began to be equipped with classic Aisin "automata".
Now the Chinese manufacturer skillfully uses this "robophobia" to enrich itself: here's a car with a default "robot". If you want a classic hydromechanical transmission, pay extra. First, this technique was tested in Russia on Soueast crossovers, and now on related Jeturas.
Ground clearance T2 — 220 mm, engine and differential are protected by steel protection
Moreover, the Chery concern, which owns Jetour and Soueast, set up the production of "automatic machines" independently. As they say, based on the Japanese Aisin box. In Japan, they buy solenoids for this transmission, in Germany they buy friction clutches, and the Chinese do everything else themselves. The T2 had a version with this box on the local market initially, and now it has reached our country.
He wants to be a Land Rover
The top—end configuration, in which a new "automatic" with eight steps is available, is called Discovery - a completely indiscreet hint that the T2 really wants to become a kind of Chinese Land Rover. The price difference between a top—of-the-line machine with a "robot" and a top-of-the-line machine with a "machine gun" is 200 thousand rubles. The surcharge includes not only the type of transmission, but also additional options. The rear seats are now heated not only by pillows, but also by the backs, the driver's seat has a massage and a box for things under the pillow.
The passenger seat has a retractable footrest — on a long trip you can relax reclining. However, you can't pull it out much — the lid of the glove compartment, against which the feet rest, prevents it. This is rather an attribute of the flagship version, as well as the transparent "crystal" on the transmission selector.
The angles of the entrance and exit are 28 degrees. The depth of the ford to be overcome is 700 mm.
These are not all innovations. A 220 V household outlet appeared in the trunk. The rearview mirror is now auto-darkened. The climate system received a fine particle filter of PM2.5.
Instead of a square box with a roll-up, a more familiar full-size spare tire was hung on the luggage door. The rear-view camera is mounted in the spare tire, and it will have to be disconnected before removing the wheel. In any case, the wheel replacement process has become easier. Previously, in order to get the roll, it was necessary to disassemble the trunk, as well as with the dismantling of the camera, unscrew the bolts, and pull it off the fasteners. And then think about where to put the punctured tire.
The interior of the Discovery version can be brown or black with red elements.
Finally, all vehicles are equipped with a certified tow bar and are capable of towing trailers weighing up to 1.6 tons.
Which is better: "robot" or "automaton"?
If you look at the numbers, the difference between a "robot" and an "automaton" is tiny, a car with a hydromechanical transmission is slower in acceleration to "hundreds" by only two tenths of a second and more voracious by 0.4 liters in a mixed cycle. The maximum speed is exactly the same. In fact, the difference is greater and is already felt in the city. The "automatic" works smoothly, allowing you to crawl in traffic without bumps.
But in the jerky driving mode, its slowness is noticeable — it reacts with delays to pressing the accelerator. A sharper "robot" has an obvious advantage here. As with overtaking on the highway, in a car with an automatic transmission, pauses in transmission reactions must be taken into account, sport mode does not change the situation much.
The T2 with a 2-liter engine (245 hp and 375 Nm) accelerates from zero to "hundred" in 8.9 seconds. The stated maximum speed is 190 km/h.
The Soueast crossovers had approximately the same gearbox settings, in addition, the T2 with a hydromechanical transmission is heavier and weighs more than 2 tons.
Once you get off the asphalt, the situation changes in favor of the "automatic" — you feel more confident in the forest ruts. Climbing a melted track up a hill is easy and effortless for the car, without having to turn on any special all-wheel drive modes. T2, having stopped on the rise, easily starts again. The fact is that the gear ratio of the "automatic" is greater than that of the "robot", in addition, the "donut", that is, the torque converter, increases the torque at the start. A confident start is also achieved thanks to the operation of the all-wheel drive system: judging by the diagram on the dashboard, it blocks not only the clutch in the rear wheel drive, but also the inter-wheel lock.
The declared urban consumption of a crossover with an automatic is 12.3 liters of gasoline per 100 km. The declared consumption is 8.2 liters, and in the mixed cycle — 9.7 liters.
Off-road adventures do not have such a detrimental effect on the "automaton" resource as on the "robot" resource, while the fuel consumption of the new version of Discovery increases noticeably off-road. Interestingly, the oil change interval for the "automatic" is prescribed more often than for the robotic box.: not every 60 thousand km, but every 50 thousand.
Nostalgia and price
Apparently, the installation of the new transmission also affected the driving performance of the car — the T2 comb began to pass a little harder. At the same time, the T2 suspension is still one of the most comfortable on a bad road.
At the same time, I was puzzled by the creaks in this suspension and the crickets on the body when running a little over six thousand kilometers. However, the organizers decided to drive the cars to Krasnoyarsk on their own, and it was not an easy ride.
Jetour T2 Discovery should appeal to those who talk nostalgically about the good old days. There are fewer oddities like the puzzling spare trunk, and more simple and proven solutions. I wish I could replace the square steering wheel with a round one, add physical buttons, and the dream of a hunter-angler is ready. The surcharge for the "machine" does not seem impressive, considering that the top version was loaded with options. At the same time, we are talking about the recommended price tag of almost 4.5 million rubles. Machines with "robots" also have advantages, and it's not just the price.
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