Jetour Zongheng G700 Facelift Filed: Japanese-Style Off-Roader Goes Premium With 2.0T PHEV
Chery-owned Jetour Zongheng (捷途纵横) has filed a comprehensive exterior refresh for its flagship body-on-frame plug-in hybrid SUV — the G700 — with China’s MIIT. The new model abandons the rugged, blacked-out aesthetic of the outgoing G700 in favor of a softer, more on-road look that channels Japanese flagship off-roaders like the Toyota Land Cruiser and Mitsubishi Pajero. Under the skin, the G700 keeps its 2.0T plug-in hybrid system with CATL ternary-lithium battery, WLTC pure-electric range options of 116 km or 210 km, and a 180 km/h top speed.
The G700 currently sells in the ¥329,900–¥424,900 (~$45,500–$58,600) window, putting it head-to-head with the BYD Fangchengbao Bao 5 PHEV (¥289,800–¥359,800), Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV (¥330,000+) and the Li L9 EREV (¥409,800). Chery’s broader brand expansion strategy is detailed in Chery Omoda 5 EV Australia / New Zealand report.
Visual Refresh: Land Cruiser Vibes
The cleanest summary of the redesign comes from Autohome’s filing analysis: the G700 has shed its “hardcore” aesthetic and adopted “Japanese-style” off-roader cues. Specific changes captured in the filing:
- Front bumper: One-piece, body-color (replacing the heavy black plastic of the outgoing G700). The look is much closer to the Toyota Land Cruiser 250 or Pajero’s flat front fascia.
- Grille: Redesigned with chrome trim — a clear premium-positioning signal.
- Headlights: Blacked-out internals replacing the lighter chromed bezels.
- Roof: LiDAR mount retained (the G700 was one of the first Chinese off-roaders with LiDAR).
- Side: New wheel designs with more premium spoke patterns.
- Tail: Black-tinted tail lights, body-color rear bumper to match the front, and the “Jetour” badge removed from the tailgate (only “Zongheng” remains, reinforcing the sub-brand split).
Dimensions and Body
| Spec | Jetour Zongheng G700 Facelift |
|---|---|
| Length × Width × Height | 5,198 × 2,050 × 1,956 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,870 mm (unchanged) |
| Class | Mid-large body-on-frame SUV |
| Seating | 5- or 6-seat options |
| Sensor | Roof-mounted LiDAR retained |
2.0T PHEV Powertrain Unchanged
- Engine: 2.0T four-cylinder, 155 kW (208 hp)
- Battery: CATL ternary-lithium pack
- WLTC EV range: 116 km or 210 km depending on battery trim
- Top speed: 180 km/h
- Drive: Dedicated PHEV 4WD with locking differentials
The 210 km WLTC EV range is one of the longest in the body-on-frame off-roader category. Tank 500 Hi4-T’s 110 km and BYD Bao 5’s 125 km both lag behind, making the G700’s larger pack a real differentiator for daily commuting use.
Why the “Premium Pivot”?
Jetour Zongheng was launched in late 2024 as Chery’s “lifestyle off-road” sub-brand. The original G700 leaned hardcore — visually similar to the Tank 500. After 8 months of sales, internal data suggested 60%+ of G700 buyers were city-dwelling premium families, not serious off-roaders. The facelift is a deliberate repositioning toward this customer base, mirroring what BYD did with the Fangchengbao Bao 5 facelift in March 2026 and what GAC Aion did with the Hyper SSR EV refresh.
The strategy carries risk: removing the “hardcore” signal weakens the differentiation from the Volkswagen Tayron, Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 — premium SUVs that already dominate the ¥350K–¥500K family-SUV bracket. But it also opens the G700 to women buyers, who in Chinese off-road segment data make up only 11% of buyers but 28% of the broader premium-SUV market.
How the G700 Stacks Up
| Model | Length | Powertrain | EV range | Price (¥) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetour Zongheng G700 | 5,198 mm | 2.0T PHEV | 116/210 km WLTC | 329,900–424,900 |
| BYD Fangchengbao Bao 5 | 5,005 mm | 1.5T PHEV (DMO) | 125 km WLTC | 289,800–359,800 |
| Tank 500 Hi4-T | 5,078 mm | 2.0T PHEV | 110 km WLTC | 330,000–390,000 |
| Li L9 EREV | 5,218 mm | 1.5T REEV | 180 km CLTC | 409,800 |
Implications for Chery’s Strategy
The Zongheng sub-brand removal of “Jetour” badging on the tailgate is a clear signal that Chery wants Zongheng to operate as a stand-alone premium nameplate, similar to how Geely separated Zeekr from Geely Auto, or how Great Wall split off Wey. Watching whether Zongheng gets its own dealer network in 2026 will be the key next signal. For where Chery’s broader brand portfolio is selling overseas, see May 2026 China top 10 sales analysis.
FAQs
When does the Jetour Zongheng G700 facelift go on sale?
Chery has not announced a launch date. MIIT filings typically convert to launches within 2–4 months — so a Q3 2026 launch is realistic.
What is the difference between Jetour and Jetour Zongheng?
Jetour is Chery’s mainstream SUV brand. Jetour Zongheng (纵横) is a sub-brand launched in late 2024 to focus on body-on-frame lifestyle off-roaders. The tailgate badging change suggests Chery may eventually drop “Jetour” from Zongheng entirely.
Is the G700 sold outside China?
Not yet. Jetour exports the T2 and X95 to Russia and the Middle East, but the Zongheng sub-brand is currently China-only.
Why does Chery have so many sub-brands?
Chery operates Chery, Jetour, Exeed, Omoda, Lepas, iCar and Zongheng — totaling 7 sub-brands. The strategy mirrors Stellantis or VW Group: each sub-brand targets a specific buyer segment without diluting the parent’s pricing.
Editor’s note: Specifications drawn from MIIT filings as of 2026-06-11. RMB-to-USD conversions use $1 ≈ ¥7.25.
Reviewed by Han Liu, Editor, iEVChina
Source: Autohome.com.cn
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