Sharp pricing, high spec

Launch Report. Drive Impressions by Dave McLeod

JAC has launched its T9, available in a single model and priced just under $50k.
NZ’s newest 4WD ute is the JAC T9 ute, and it arrives with a single high spec model and a sharp sub-$50k price.
JAC General Manager, Andrew Craw, says the T9 arrives in New Zealand with a 5 Star ANCAP Safety Rating, 18 ADAS safety features, a genuine high-low 4WD system with diff lock and modes including Eco, Sport and Snow, and even a pie warmer.
“Targeted at the Kiwi tradie market it’s fair to say this JAC is stacked with features and extras so you’d be hard pressed to find another ute offering more bang for buck given all the tech and specs stacked in the T9 at its launch price of just $49,990 including GST.
“You can’t have a tradie’s ute without a pie warmer, and the hot/cool box within the console can be chilled or warmed from the AC and heater. None of these features are like teasing optional extras – everything’s been squeezed into this one top-of-the-line model up-front so it’s a simple full-spec, one price ute,” says Craw.
The T9’s global success and JAC’s long-standing reputation for reliable vehicles gave the brand confidence in its entry into the NZ market. However, representing the same values that earned them trust internationally wasn’t enough. As JAC NZ emphasised, they wanted to be certain that the T9 was more than just globally competitive, it had to truly meet the needs of Kiwi drivers, from tradies to adventurers.
JAC T9 buyers will be greeted with no confusing line-up of trims or specs, just one high-spec option, designed to tick all the boxes. The ute features a 2.0-litre, fourth-generation diesel engine, delivering 125kW of power and 410Nm of torque coupled to a ZF eight-speed auto.
It has a three-tonne towing capacity and one-tonne payload.
Other top-spec standard features include rock slider side steps, black sports bar, premium heated leather seats which are power adjustable, wireless mobile phone charging and a 220V power point in the back for charging power tool batteries.
While some may question a 2.0-litre engine in a segment traditionally dominated by larger displacements, JAC notes that this engine size is now the best-seller in the New Zealand ute market, representing about a third of all sales. The T9’s unit, refined over four generations, is backed by reputable components like a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox, Bosch electronics, a BorgWarner transfer case, Garrett turbocharger, and more. All of this ensures buyers are getting tried-and-true durability and performance that inspires confidence.
The latest high-tech safety features are also packaged in as standard. JAC prioritised advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), achieving a five-star ANCAP safety rating for 2024. The ute boasts 27 safety features, including seven airbags (such as a segment-leading front centre airbag between the driver and front passenger). Key safety technology includes blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, emergency lane-keeping, autonomous emergency braking (forward and reverse), traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and more.
After having some time behind the wheel, (alright it was a brief 30-minute taste) it’s clear that the JAC T9 delivers on its promise of excellent value and flexibility for Kiwi buyers. It’s a solid contender for anyone needing a workhorse ute that doesn’t compromise on interior comfort or advanced tech. On-road, the T9 handled itself admirably, with smooth gear changes from the ZF transmission and enough torque to handle hills and overtaking with ease.
There are a few quirks that need to be ironed out, particularly the ‘snatchy’ brakes and semi-overzealous driver monitoring/speed sign recognition, however, the former will be part of a software update and the latter can be adjusted via the smart infotainment screen.
For anyone comparing options in the dual-cab ute market, the JAC T9 not only enters the segment with confidence but may redefine what Kiwi ute buyers expect from an affordable price bracket.