Jetour T1 vs GAC GS4 AWD: Which Turbocharged Crossover Should You Choose?

Both of these crossovers promise thrilling performance with their 2.0-liter turbocharged engines delivering over 230 horsepower. But do the all-wheel-drive GAC GS4 and Jetour T1 actually live up to the hype? We put them head-to-head to find out.

The rugged Jetour T1 and the sleek GAC GS4 square off in a battle of contrasting crossover philosophies.

Exterior Design: Rugged vs Sleek

The Jetour T1 and GAC GS4 take completely different design approaches, making them an unlikely pair for comparison.

Jetour T1 Design Highlights:

Rugged, muscular appearance
Robust unpainted bumpers
Integrated running boards
Traditional door handles
Heavier, more substantial doors with a solid feel

The Jetour T1’s muscular stance, unpainted bumpers, and integrated running boards signal serious off-road intent before you’ve even turned the key.

GAC GS4 Design Highlights:

Lower, sportier profile
Sleek, swept-back roofline
Bold rear spoiler
Flush door handles (stylish but problematic)

The GAC’s flush door handles deserve special mention—and not in a good way. They’re awkward to use and can snag on backpack straps or loose clothing. Fortunately, Chinese regulators are reportedly moving to ban these handles due to safety concerns during accidents.

The GAC GS4’s flush door handles look the part, but their tendency to snag clothing and raise accident safety concerns may outlast their aesthetic appeal.

Interior Quality and Ergonomics

Jetour T1 Interior

The T1’s cabin delivers a commanding SUV experience with:

Higher seating position with excellent forward visibility
Ambient lighting throughout the cabin
Premium materials and build quality
Wide hood visible from the driver’s seat
Massive gear selector lever

The Jetour T1’s elevated cockpit greets its driver with ambient lighting, a wide hood in view, and a gear selector that means business.

However, the T1 has some ergonomic quirks. The octagonal steering wheel takes getting used to, and the instrument cluster uses frustratingly small text—especially problematic when adjusting adaptive cruise control settings.

The large central touchscreen compensates with excellent readability and extensive customization options:

Ambient lighting controls
Instrument cluster design themes
Door opening behavior settings
Climate system preferences
Voice assistant configuration for all four seats

The T1’s generously sized central touchscreen offers deep customisation, though it doubles as the gatekeeper for functions that probably deserve a dedicated button.

Unfortunately, essential functions like mirror adjustment, headlight leveling, and seat heating/ventilation are buried in menus. Physical climate controls exist but operate inconsistently—the automatic mode constantly fluctuates fan speed for no apparent reason.

The T1’s physical climate controls look reassuringly tactile, but their tendency to hunt for the right fan speed in auto mode undermines that confidence.

Nice Touches in the Jetour T1:

Large illuminated vanity mirrors
Air-conditioned center armrest storage
Dashboard shelf with passenger grab handle

From the cooled armrest storage to the illuminated vanity mirrors, the T1 peppers its cabin with thoughtful details that reward closer inspection.

GAC GS4 Interior

The GS4 takes a simpler, more conventional approach. Its standout feature is the steering wheel—only slightly flattened at the bottom with perfect palm swells and perforated leather in the grip zones. The steering wheel buttons are also well-designed and intuitive.

The GS4’s near-perfect steering wheel, with its subtle bottom flat and perforated leather grip zones, is a rare highlight in an otherwise conventional interior.

GAC GS4 Interior Drawbacks:

Poor translation quality throughout the infotainment system
Tiny font sizes on displays
All heating and climate functions require touchscreen navigation
Single-zone climate control only
Electronics struggle with windshield defogging
No dedicated heated windshield button (heat wires only activate in full defrost mode)

The GS4’s infotainment system is let down by cramped text and language localisation that clearly wasn’t a top priority during development.

Rear Seat Space and Cargo Capacity

The Jetour T1 wins convincingly in both rear passenger space and cargo volume. However, both vehicles share some cost-cutting measures:

No cargo cover included
Basic sidewall materials in the cargo area
Power tailgates that don’t open high enough for taller drivers

The Jetour T1 takes a convincing lead in rear passenger room and boot volume, though both vehicles arrive at the finish line without a cargo cover.

Performance and Acceleration

Jetour T1 (245 HP)

Despite its power advantage, the T1’s acceleration disappoints. Launch behavior occurs in two stages—first a hesitant half-meter roll, then actual acceleration begins. The 0-100 km/h sprint takes 9.3 seconds—underwhelming for a 245-horsepower engine.

The transmission prioritizes smooth, gradual shifts over sporty response. This appears designed to protect the automatic transmission’s friction elements, but it significantly dampens the driving experience.

Despite 245 horsepower on tap, the T1’s two-stage launch hesitation and leisurely gearshifts turn the 0–100 sprint into a gentle stroll.

GAC GS4 (231 HP)

The GS4 accelerates noticeably quicker despite having less power on paper. Its automatic transmission shifts more decisively, and the car offers a unique feature: five-level accelerator pedal sensitivity adjustment. This allows drivers to choose between responsive highway behavior or dampened inputs for urban traffic.

The GS4 makes the most of its 231 horses with snappier shifts and a five-level throttle sensitivity system that lets drivers tailor the experience to their surroundings.

Braking and Handling

Braking Performance

The GAC GS4 demonstrates superior braking confidence and experiences less nose-dive under heavy braking. The Jetour T1’s overly sensitive brake pedal feels inconsistent with its rugged off-road image.

The GS4 hauls itself to a stop with composure and minimal nose-dive, while the T1’s twitchy brake pedal feels oddly at odds with its tough-truck character.

On-Road Handling

GAC GS4 Advantages:

Firmer, more composed suspension
55-profile tires provide less sidewall flex
Better turn-in response
More engaging steering feel (in “Comfort” mode)

The GS4’s steering modes require careful selection—”Light” mode is too disconnected, while “Sport” mode feels artificially heavy. Even at the limit, the GS4 tends toward safe understeer and doesn’t respond well to lift-off oversteer techniques. The stability control system cannot be fully disabled—only traction control deactivates, and only below 83 km/h.

Jetour T1 On-Road Behavior:

The T1 simply isn’t designed for aggressive cornering. Steering response is soft with low sensitivity, and grip limits arrive early. Interestingly, “Sport” mode is the most appropriate setting for all driving—it provides acceptable throttle response and creates some semblance of steering feedback.

On winding roads, the GS4’s firmer suspension and better-sorted steering give it a clear edge, though pushing beyond the limit quickly reveals an unshakeable preference for understeer.

Off-Road Capability

Here’s where the Jetour T1 truly shines and the comparison flips completely.

Jetour T1 Off-Road Strengths:

Long-travel, high-capacity suspension
60-profile tires absorb rough terrain
Comfortable at 80 km/h on roads where the GAC shakes apart at 50 km/h
Robust bumpers positioned for maximum approach and departure angles (nearly 1.5x better than GAC)
Integrated side steps protect the body
Superior traction and stability on loose surfaces

Remove the tarmac and the T1 transforms entirely, soaking up rough terrain with long-travel suspension that leaves the GS4 rattling at speeds it handles effortlessly.

Advanced Off-Road Features:

Mud and Sand driving modes
Comprehensive off-road telemetry display showing:
Roll and pitch angles
Rear differential lock status
Rear axle engagement status
Automatic locking for rear differential and AWD coupling (electronic control based on driving mode and inputs)
Handles steep slippery climbs and diagonal wheel lift effortlessly
60cm water fording capability with depth-sensing radar
“Transparent chassis” camera view

The T1’s dedicated terrain modes, rear differential lock, and water-fording capability up to 60 centimetres make it a genuinely capable tool for drivers who venture beyond the school run.

The dampened throttle response that feels lazy on pavement becomes an asset off-road, preventing wheel spin and jerky inputs.

Minor Off-Road Compromise: The T1’s turning circle is nearly one meter larger than the GAC’s, requiring more maneuvering on narrow trails.

Technology and Visibility

Camera Systems

Both vehicles come standard with 360-degree surround-view cameras. The Jetour T1 adds:

Transparent chassis view mode
Water depth-sensing radar (up to 60cm)

The transparent chassis view is one of several camera tricks the T1 uses to keep its driver informed of what’s lurking beneath and around the vehicle.

Visibility

The Jetour T1 offers better overall visibility thanks to:

Higher seating position
Larger glass area
Both vehicles feature bright LED headlights with automatic high/low beam switching

Both crossovers bring automatic high-beam switching and strong LED lighting to the table, though the T1’s loftier seating position gives its driver a natural visibility advantage.

Heated Features

Both crossovers include heated steering wheels, heated windshields, and heated front and rear seats. However:

Jetour T1 heats more intensely
Jetour rear seat heaters use physical buttons
GAC rear seat heaters require touchscreen navigation

The T1’s more intense seat and steering wheel heating edges out the GS4, and rear passengers benefit from physical buttons rather than a touchscreen detour.

Audio System Quality

Surprisingly, the GAC GS4 delivers significantly better sound quality from its six unnamed speakers compared to the Jetour T1’s nine Sony-branded speakers. This helped boost the GAC’s infotainment score despite its poorly translated menus.

In an unexpected twist, the GS4’s six unnamed drivers outperform the T1’s branded nine-speaker Sony setup, proving spec sheets don’t always tell the whole story.

Build Quality and Corrosion Protection

A key differentiator: the Jetour T1 features a fully galvanized body. Testing the GAC GS4 revealed zinc coating only on the inner surface of the tailgate—a significant concern for long-term rust protection.

Pricing and Value

Current pricing positions these crossovers competitively:

GAC GS4 AWD:

Base trim: 42.9K USD
Top trim: 44.7K USD

The T1’s fully galvanised body offers meaningful long-term peace of mind that the GS4, with zinc coating only on the inner tailgate, cannot match.

Jetour T1:

Comfort: 44,9K UDS
Luxury: 47K USD

The GAC GS4 AWD range opens at a competitive price point, appealing to buyers who want genuine all-wheel-drive capability without stretching to the T1’s premium.

Both vehicles launched to strong demand, with initial September shipments selling quickly. The appeal is clear: all-wheel-drive crossovers with 2.0-liter turbos and traditional automatic transmissions attract more interest than the flood of front-wheel-drive 1.5-liter turbo models with dual-clutch transmissions.

Upcoming disposal fee increases for vehicles over 160 HP will likely raise prices further, making current pricing particularly attractive.

The Verdict: Which Should You Buy?

Choose the Jetour T1 if you prioritize:

Off-road capability and durability
Interior quality and materials
Higher seating position and visibility
Long-term corrosion protection (full galvanization)
Comfort on rough roads
Practical interior storage solutions

The Jetour T1’s Luxury trim commands a noticeable premium, but the spec sheet — and the galvanised underbody — make a reasonable case for the extra outlay.

Choose the GAC GS4 if you prioritize:

On-road dynamics and handling
Faster acceleration
Better audio quality
Tighter turning circle for urban driving
Lower purchase price

When the dust settles, the T1’s broader competence, superior build quality, and genuine off-road credentials earn it the overall verdict despite the GS4’s sharper road manners.

Overall Winner: Jetour T1

Despite the GAC’s sharper on-road manners, the Jetour T1 earns more expert points overall thanks to superior comfort, build quality, and off-road prowess. Combined with its fully galvanized body, the T1 presents a stronger long-term value proposition.

Whatever their differences, both crossovers share the same modern affliction: computers that have quietly taken the steering wheel while the driver watches on.

That said, both vehicles suffer from a modern automotive malady: electronics that prioritize safety over engagement. Despite their impressive power figures, neither delivers the visceral driving experience that older turbocharged crossovers once offered. The computers have decided how you should accelerate, brake, shift, and corner—leaving drivers as passengers in their own vehicles.

If only these electronic nannies worked more delicately, we might still find genuine driving pleasure rather than simply traveling from point A to point B accompanied by streaming music.

Photo: Oleg Rastegaev
This is a translation. You can read the original article here: Что выбрать: Jetour T1 или полноприводный GAC GS4? Наш тест

By Sofia Laurent

Published January 01, 2026 • 11m to read