JAC T8

The cabin layout of the JAC T8 might not feel segment-best, for it looks too simple and has inconsistent quality with panel gaps and low-quality materials appointed in most of the places. However, the layout of the dashboard looks pleasant, with the dual-cab cabin of the JAC T8 having enough space for five people at maximum.

With a dual-tone black and brown part-leather upholstery, the cabin of the JAC T8 looks decent with a three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel, which is tilt adjustable, and a dual-pod analogue instrument console with an LCD MID in between. The centre console, which houses a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system and controls for the manual AC below it, has thick silver surrounds, while the top of the centre part of the dashboard has sleek AC vents positioned under the curved edge.

The lower centre console and co-passenger side of the dashboard also have a prominent silver finish, which is an attempt to make the cabin feel premium. Apart from these highlights, the cabin of the JAC T8 is decently equipped with essentials like power windows, a 6-speaker audio system and reading lamps, with the touchscreen infotainment system also compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

For a midsize pickup truck, the JAC T8 looks spot-on with its large dimensions, which give it a striking road presence. Add in the intimidating front profile of the JAC T8, and the pickup looks modern and appealing. However, the garish red-coloured JAC logo in the middle of the front profile might look a bit loud to some.

At the front, the JAC T8 has a trapezoidal front grille, which is entirely made of a satin silver finish, and has thick surrounds and horizontal slats within it. With a huge red-coloured JAC logo in the middle, the grille has boxy-shaped headlamp clusters flanking its side edges, which come with LED projectors and daytime running LED strips below them. The front bumper here has sleek trapezoidal-shaped fog lamps on its lower edges.

The side profile of the JAC T8 looks conventional, though like any other midsize truck, it has significant ground clearance and large tyres, wrapped here over 18-inch alloy wheels. The two prime highlights of the side profile of the JAC T8 are the thick blacked-out cladding over the rounded wheel arches and a prominent crease flowing through the door panels.

The JAC T8 also gets dark chrome outside door handles, side steps and LED turn indicators integrated into the outside rearview mirrors. At the back, the JAC T8 has vertically aligned tail lamps, which try to look appealing with their LED inserts. Apart from that, the rest of the deck lid at the back has a simplistic design with a large JAC decal embossed in the middle.

Underneath the simple-looking design of the JAC T8, the pickup truck has a conventional structure with a body-on-frame chassis and a traditional suspension combination of independent double wishbone at the front and non-independent leaf springs at the rear. The ride quality feels bouncy at times but is decent for rough terrains. The JAC T8 has an impressive payload capacity of 900 kg for its deck bay at the back.

In the home market in China, the JAC T8 is available with three powertrain options. The Philippines car market gets only one of those three powertrain choices, which is a 2.0-litre inline-four diesel engine, which is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. The engine can produce a maximum power output of 138 PS and a maximum torque output of 320 Nm.

Like the list of comfort and convenience features, the safety features offered in the JAC T8 also feel minimalist, with the JAC T8 packing in essentials like dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, hill start assist, brake assist, traction control, vehicle dynamics control, electronic stability control, reverse camera and tyre pressure monitoring system.

The JAC T8 might not be as premium and reliable as its Japanese rivals, which have more trustworthy legacies backing their reputation. However, at its price, it comes across as a decent proposition with an impressive payload capacity and essential features on board.