JAC Motors, which is short for Jianghuai Automobile Co, has dotted down in Australia with its diesel-powerd T9 ute. It may be coming here as well. However, the ute might not arrive in New Zealand packing a diesel powertrain. Rather a PHEV looks more likely, though nothing is confirmed as yet. The plug-in evidently has an electric-only range of around 100km.
Meantime, ANCAP has just awarded the JAC T9 diesel double-cab ute a five-star safety rating. The T9 evidently scored full points for protection of the driver in the full width frontal, side impact, far side impact, and whiplash tests. Adequate results were recorded for protection of the driver’s chest in the oblique pole and frontal offset barrier tests. Protection of the driver and front passenger’s lower legs was also assessed as adequate in similar barrier tests.
In the full width frontal test, protection of the rear passenger’s chest was assessed as marginal.
However, full points were awarded to the JAC T9 for its protection of child occupants in the frontal offset and side impact tests. The JAC T9 didn’t fare so well in the ‘crash compatibility’ test with a relatively high 6.22 point penalty out of 8.00 points. By contrast, Triton posted a 3.16 point penalty score.
The T9 has a broad range of active safety features fitted as standard on both diesel models. The AEB system can detect and react to other vehicles, motorbikes, pedestrians and cyclists. It passed the AEB tests when confronted by a motorcycle, adult and child pedestrians when reversing, and AEB head-on tests with other vehicles.
“JAC has clearly committed to bringing high levels of safety performance to the Australian market with the T9. It should be commended for achieving these strong results with its first offering,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.
The ANCAP five-star safety rating for the JAC T9 applies to 2.0 litre diesel variants sold in Australia.
