After SUV models became popular in the past two years, boxy vehicles quickly followed and became the favorite of many young families. The advantage of this type of vehicle is that it not only has the spaciousness of an SUV, but also has decent off-road capability. For example, a family can be more at ease when camping outdoors or taking long trips. However, boxy vehicles on the market usually have a five-seat layout, which is still a bit insufficient for today's larger families. Recently, Chery has keenly noticed this consumer demand and launched a lengthened version of its Jetour Traveler. Therefore, we will use the Jetour Traveler 2025 Lengthened Edition 2.0TD XWD 7-Seat Conquer+ (referred to in this article as the Jetour Traveler) as an example to analyze this vehicle together.
Safety is one of the most important performance aspects of an automobile, and the 25-model Jetour Traveler has also put great effort into safety. High-strength steel accounts for more than 80% of the entire vehicle, and it adopts a cage-type body structure, like a solid fortress, providing firm protection for the occupants. The array-type high-density roof, with 6 crossbeams densely arranged, effectively improves load-bearing capacity, disperses impact force, and the roof's compressive strength reaches 147kN, protecting occupant safety. The roof's dynamic load capacity is as high as 150Kg, meeting more storage needs. In terms of active safety configuration, it is equipped with combined assisted driving, including functions such as FCW forward collision warning, LDW lane departure warning, and AEB automatic emergency braking. These functions are like your personal bodyguard, always paying attention to the situation around the vehicle. Once a potential danger is detected, it will promptly remind you, and when necessary, automatically take braking measures to avoid accidents. Once, when I was driving on the highway, I was a bit distracted. The vehicle suddenly sounded an alarm, reminding me that I had deviated from the lane. This brought me back to my senses and avoided a potentially dangerous situation. In addition, the vehicle is also equipped with multiple airbags, providing all-round protection for drivers and passengers. Child safety has also been considered thoughtfully. The second-row seats are equipped with ISOFIX interfaces and child safety locks, and there are also hidden cup holders and toy hooks at the doors. When traveling with children, both their safety and comfort can be ensured.
In terms of power, the 25-model Jetour Traveler is equipped with a 2.0T engine, with a maximum output of 254 horsepower and a peak torque of 390 N·m, matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and also equipped with a multi-plate clutch structure timely four-wheel drive system. Just looking at these data, you can tell that its power should not be underestimated. In actual driving experience, the power reserve of this 2.0T engine is very sufficient. Starting acceleration gives a strong sense of pushback, and power is available on demand when overtaking. Especially on highway sections or when rapid acceleration is needed, as long as you press the accelerator, power will be output continuously, and the vehicle responds very quickly. That exhilarating driving feeling really makes it hard to stop. The shifting logic of the 8AT transmission is also very smart, with smooth upshifts and downshifts, and almost no jerkiness can be felt during driving. Whether weaving through city roads or driving on suburban mountain roads, it can handle it with ease. Moreover, the Jetour Traveler comes standard across the entire lineup with a timely four-wheel drive system. This four-wheel drive system mainly uses two-wheel drive during daily driving, and when encountering slippery, muddy, or situations requiring escape from difficulty, it can automatically switch to four-wheel drive mode, improving the vehicle's passability and safety. In actual experience, the intervention speed of the four-wheel drive system is very fast, and the driver can hardly feel the switching process. Once, I drove to the suburbs and encountered a muddy path. The car passed through it very easily, without getting stuck at all. This four-wheel drive system really gave me a lot of confidence.
In terms of chassis, the Jetour Traveler adopts a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear multi-link independent suspension. This combination is relatively common among SUVs of the same class. However, the chassis tuning of the Jetour Traveler has its own characteristics, and it balances comfort and handling very well. When driving on city roads, the suspension filters road bumps quite effectively, and speed bumps and small potholes can be absorbed effectively, so passengers in the vehicle will not feel obvious discomfort. Even when driving on old urban streets with poor road conditions, its comfort can still be felt, as steady as sitting on an air cushion. When encountering unpaved roads or light off-roading, the chassis has a strong sense of integrity, the body will not have excessive swaying, and the suspension support is also relatively good. Once, I drove it to the mountains for fun and traveled along a rugged mountain road. The chassis performed very well and was able to handle various complex road conditions well, allowing me to enjoy the fun of off-roading without worrying that the people in the vehicle would feel uncomfortable.
The interior adopts a "T"-shaped layout, paired with a 15.6-inch floating central control screen, with clear display and rich information. It is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, offering smooth operation, a more user-friendly UI/UE interface, freely changeable map wallpapers, and rapid full-scenario voice interaction response. It supports CarPlay/HiCar dual-platform connectivity, OTA remote upgrades, and other functions. Together with the 10.25-inch full LCD instrument panel, it builds a digital cockpit full of technological feel. At the same time, a laser-engraved metal trim panel is added to the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat, with the G318 route map on it, adding fun and cultural atmosphere to the vehicle, which is very friendly for friends who like self-driving travel. The electronic gear shifter is exquisitely designed and convenient to operate. Behind it is a driving mode selection knob, which can easily switch among 7 driving modes including Economy, Standard, Sport, Snow, Mud, Sand, and Rock, as well as an "X" one-button off-road mode, which can automatically perform intelligent switching for all road conditions. It is equipped with a 16-speaker audio system, dual-zone air conditioning combined with a vehicle-mounted fragrance system to create a comfortable interior environment, and it also has a 50W mobile phone wireless fast charging function, making it convenient for passengers to charge their phones.
In terms of intelligent driving, the Jetour Traveler is equipped with an L2.5-level intelligent driving assistance system, including front and rear collision warning, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, DOW door opening warning, traffic sign recognition, blind spot assist, lane centering keep, active braking, front and rear parking radar, full-speed adaptive cruise, and parking assist (only available on high-end trims). It is equipped with 540° transparent chassis technology, achieving 360° no-blind-spot monitoring through 4 ultra-wide-angle cameras + 12 ultrasonic radars. At the same time, there is also a DMS fatigue driving monitoring system, which uses infrared cameras and biometric technology to identify the driver's fatigue state and issue warnings.
In terms of space, the golden combination of the Jetour Traveler's 5034mm body length and 2800mm wheelbase maximizes family practicality while maintaining the off-road strength of a 220mm ground clearance and a 28° approach angle. A 175cm-tall tester sitting in the third row still has one fist of knee room from the front seat. Although long-distance riding is slightly cramped, it is completely sufficient for short-distance emergencies. In terms of comfort configuration, the entire lineup comes standard with faux leather seats, and the driver's seat supports 8-way power adjustment + massage function, which can effectively relieve waist and back fatigue during long-distance travel. The 16-speaker audio system has been tuned by a well-known acoustics team, and the independent subwoofer in the trunk can release shocking low frequencies in camping mode. Combined with the 64-inch panoramic sunroof, an open-air concert under the stars is readily available. The combination of front multi-layer soundproof glass + rear privacy glass keeps highway wind noise within 60 decibels. Combined with active noise cancellation technology, the interior quietness is comparable to that of a luxury sedan. What is commendable is that the addition of 50W wireless fast charging and 110V/220V power sockets completely solves the anxiety of outdoor power use.
The interior layout has been upgraded from 5 seats to a 2+3+2 seven-seat layout. The second-row seats can be folded in a 40:60 ratio, and the third row can be folded 50:50. The trunk volume soars directly from 533L in the 5-seat version to 705L. If both the second and third rows of seats are fully folded, the space can reach 1653L, instantly turning into a 1.9-meter-long camping bed. Paired with an optional roof rack and trailer hitch, moving-house-style camping is not a problem at all. The new car also thoughtfully adds third-row air vents and rear independent air conditioning control, allowing the whole family to enjoy comfortable temperatures from head to toe. The design of the electric soft-close tailgate and hidden storage compartments in the trunk solves the trouble of a rugged SUV being able to carry a lot but not being easy to organize. For self-driving enthusiasts, the 1653L oversized flat space can not only be used as a bed, but can also be modified into a mobile kitchen or a fishing gear compartment, truly achieving multiple uses for one vehicle, allowing you to play however you want.
Returning to the exterior, in the front face of the Jetour Traveler, the combination of the JETOUR light and shadow grille and the illuminated logo creates extremely high recognition at night. It not only retains the rugged temperament of an off-road vehicle, but also enhances refinement through chrome decorative details. The side of the body is the core area of change for the lengthened version. The lengthening treatment from the C-pillar to the D-pillar (total vehicle length reaching 5034 mm) makes the overall proportions appear more slender. The floating roof and straight window lines create a visual effect similar to the Land Rover Defender 130. The classic combination of the side-opening tailgate and externally mounted spare tire at the rear continues the functionalist aesthetics of off-road vehicles. After lengthening, the vehicle's approach angle is 28 degrees, departure angle is 23 degrees, minimum ground clearance is 220 mm, and wading depth is 700 mm. For users, this design is more like "an off-road vehicle compromised for family travel" rather than "a tool vehicle optimized for extreme crossings."
The design of the Jetour Traveler does not sacrifice harmony in pursuit of space. Compared with the regular version, the rear license plate frame moved to the left and the side-opening electric soft-close tailgate design appear more personalized. In particular, the retention of the externally mounted spare tire cover not only continues the off-road genes, but also avoids the cheap feeling of a "stretched" model. However, lengthening has a certain impact on passability. For example, in steep slope or long slope scenarios, operation needs to be more cautious. In addition, details such as body-color exterior rearview mirrors and 20-inch matte black wheels improve refinement, but the rivet-free wheel design may make some off-road enthusiasts feel it is "not hardcore enough." Overall, the design of the lengthened version leans more toward urbanized and family practicality, rather than the pure tool attribute of extreme off-road scenarios.
Writing at the end:
Seven-seat boxy vehicles are already rare in the current market, so the Jetour Traveler has a very unique competitive advantage. However, this car does not "take advantage of being favored." Its pricing remains affordable. For example, the model used in this article has a discounted price of only 169,900 yuan in the Chengdu area (please consult your local dealer for details), which is within the acceptable range for most families. Moreover, four-wheel drive with a lock, combined with crawl control, wading sensing system, and a sturdy body structure, indeed gives this car the credentials for hardcore off-roading. At the same time, the entertainment and comfort equipment inside the car are also quite complete, enough to call it a good car that is "capable in the city and in the wild." Friends who are interested may as well go to a store for a test experience.
