2025 JAC T9 Review

Everyone else in the Autocar team seems to have had a chance to check out the JAC T9. We first drove it at the launch, reviewed it, and put it up against the usual suspects like the Triton and the Cannon.

Normally we wouldn’t give something yet another bite, but with a family trip beckoning I figured I would use the T9 to do something useful. And no I am not talking about heading to the timber section of the local Bunnings. I am talking about what utes do darn well in New Zealand: getting people, gear, and the occasional muddy child into the bush and back again.

Our challenge this time was to find the centre of the North Island – or at least one of them as there are a few – but this version is in the middle of the Pureora Forest Park, tucked into the hills between Taumaranui and Te Kuiti.

The drive starts on smooth tarmac but quickly turns to loose gravel and patchy ruts; your typical weekend track then. These aren’t hardcore off-road trails, just the kind of routes Kiwis in 4WDs tackle without thinking twice. Whether it’s a remote DOC campsite or a quiet corner of the forest, these places are everywhere if you know where to look.

The T9 feels right at home. Its 2.0-litre turbodiesel (producing 125kW and 410Nm), paired with an eight-speed auto and selectable four-wheel drive, is a solid match for the terrain. In 2H, it rolls along comfortably. Switch to 4H and the suspension and ladder-frame chassis cope with the rough stuff nicely. It’s not the fastest ute around, and a little turbo lag is noticeable on the open road but on slow, uneven trails, the power delivery is steady and easy to manage.

With the family on board, gear in the tray and a four-year-old in the back asking endless questions about puddles and tadpoles, the T9 just gets on with the job. After half an hour of picking our way through forestry tracks we come to the end of the road, and the start of the track to the centre of the North Island.

From here it’s a short walk to the actual spot. There’s a simple monument, and a charmingly low-tech explanation about how it was determined: a cardboard map of New Zealand, balanced on a point until it held steady. Quirky, sure—but it works.

It’s peaceful here. No reception, no traffic. Just birdsong, bush, and a well-earned break from everything else. Maeve, our pint-sized adventurer, bolts from the ute to stomp through mud and quiz us on wildlife. Soon we’re following her down a bush trail, spotting fungi and wood pigeons along the way.

It’s easy to forget how close these places are. A couple of hours from town and you’re surrounded by native forest, with nothing but the sound of your own footsteps and the occasional tui. You don’t need an expedition vehicle to get here, just something that can handle a bit of dirt, carry the gear and make the journey comfortable.

At just under $50k, the JAC T9 doesn’t pretend to be fancy. But for this kind of trip, it doesn’t need to be. It’s solid, roomy and built for exactly this sort of escape. Whether you’re towing a trailer (up to 3200kg), loading up camping gear, or just heading for a remote swimming hole, it ticks plenty of boxes.

Utes are part of the Kiwi DNA for a reason. They’re not always show ponies, they’re tools. And every now and then, they help make a memory like this one.

Plug-in Power – The JAC T9 PHEV

For those looking to blend the practicality of a ute with the efficiency of electrification, the upcoming JAC T9 PHEV could be a game-changer. Having made its local debut at Fieldays, the T9 PHEV, also known as the T9 Hunter, features a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with dual electric motors. This set-up delivers a combined output of 385kW and a massive 1000Nm of torque, putting it at the top of the segment for power and pulling ability.

It runs a 31.2kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery, delivering a claimed electric-only range of 100km which is enough for many daily commutes or silent runs into the bush. Despite its hybrid credentials, the T9 PHEV retains serious workhorse capability, with a braked towing capacity of 3500kg. Claimed fuel consumption is as low as 3.3L/100km, depending on how often it’s plugged in and driven in EV mode. It is not confirmed for NZ yet, but with those crazy power figures, we hope it gets the nod.  

JAC T9
$49,990  /  8.4L/100km  /  193g/km
0-100 km/h 12.4s
Engine  1999cc / IL54T/DI
Max power  125kW@3600rpm
Max torque  410Nm@1500-2500rpm
Transmission  8-speed auto 4×4
Weight (claimed)  2055kg