JAC T9 Hunter

Model Overview

The JAC T9 (Hunter) is the flagship pick-up truck from JAC Motors, with its domestic Chinese iteration, the "Hantu", having made its debut at the 2020 Beijing Auto Show. Positioned as a "mid-to-large intelligent lifestyle pick-up", it seeks to move away from the utilitarian workhorse persona of conventional pick-ups towards a more upmarket, passenger-car-like, and tech-laden execution. Developed as a strategic global model, the T9 takes on the "Hunter" moniker in export markets to emphasise its rugged character, and has been successfully exported to over 130 countries and regions—including Russia, Australia, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, and Pakistan—serving as a prime showcase of Chinese pick-up marques venturing onto the world stage.

Design Language

The exterior styling of the JAC T9 (Hunter) marries rugged aesthetics with utilitarian purpose, delivering commanding road presence. Its most distinctive highlight is the front fascia, defined by a bold trapezoidal grille inspired by the ancient Chinese "Ding" vessel, filled with a black honeycomb pattern and finished with prominent red JAC lettering for an imposing stance. Flanking the grille are split-level headlamp clusters with dynamic "Hunter Eye" sequential turn indicators and fog lamps, striking a balance between modern tech appeal and ruggedness. Down the sides, muscular body lines are accentuated by black wheel arch cladding, two-tone alloy wheels, and heavy-duty side steps that amplify its athletic profile. The rear sports a clean finish, pairing vertical tail lamps with a substantial rear bumper, complete with a sports bar and cargo tie-down points that underline its practicality as a pick-up.

Dimensionally, the JAC T9 (Hunter) measures 5,330 mm long, 1,965 mm wide, and 1,920 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,110 mm, while selected overseas extended-wheelbase variants stretch up to 3,400 mm. Standing and spanning over 1.9 metres in both height and width, it boasts a visual footprint that easily rivals segment stalwarts like the Toyota Hilux.

Inside, the T9 takes full inspiration from modern passenger car cabins. The symmetrical dashboard layout features two-tone trims and wood-grain accents for an upscale ambience. A flat-bottom multi-function steering wheel, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, and a portrait-oriented 10.4-inch (12-inch on selected variants) infotainment touchscreen replace cluttered physical switchgear, significantly boosting the high-tech cabin vibe.

Powertrain & Performance

The JAC T9 (Hunter) offers a comprehensive powertrain line-up spanning turbodiesel, all-electric (BEV), and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options.

• Turbodiesel: Powered by JAC's Ankang Power 2.0-litre CTI four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, this unit delivers 125 kW (approx. 170 PS) and between 380 to 420 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to an industry-standard ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, forming a proven "golden powertrain" that balances robust pulling power with fuel efficiency. Certain export markets also offer a 2.5T diesel mill paired with a manual gearbox.

• All-Electric (T9 EV): Built on a bespoke platform dedicated to mid-to-large intelligent lifestyle pick-ups, the T9 EV is fitted with CATL's latest-generation 88.02 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, offering a CLTC-rated range of over 500 km. Drive comes from a dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) layout delivering a combined torque of 516 Nm, completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 8 seconds—matching the pace of many performance SUVs.

• Plug-in Hybrid (T9 PHEV): Unveiled in 2025 for key pick-up markets such as Australia, the T9 Hunter PHEV delivers a massive combined system output of 385 kW and a staggering 1,000 Nm of torque, backed by a 1-tonne payload and a 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, making it one of the most potent PHEV pick-ups globally in output figures.

Chassis & Handling

Underneath, the JAC T9 (Hunter) rides on a robust ladder-frame chassis built with high-strength steel in a "two longitudinal and nine crossmember" overlapping welded layout, coupled with a traditional body-on-frame structure to guarantee immense torsional rigidity and load-bearing endurance. The front suspension employs a double-wishbone independent setup for superior lateral support and ride stability. At the rear, passenger-focused and selected export variants feature a multi-link solid axle setup to substantially improve rear-seat ride comfort, whereas commercial-spec variants retain heavy-duty leaf springs to cater to maximum payload requirements.

Drivetrain duties are handled by a BorgWarner part-time 4WD system featuring 2H, 4H, and 4L modes, complemented by an electronic rear differential lock. Combined with a ground clearance of 210 mm, it delivers genuine off-road capability and rough-terrain tractability. Crucially, the vehicle boasts a 3.5-tonne towing capacity alongside a 1-tonne payload, comfortably hauling caravans, horse floats, or jet skis.

Cabin & Equipment

In the cabin, the 10.4-inch central touchscreen runs an intelligent infotainment suite with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, smart voice command, remote vehicle telematics, and connected satellite navigation. On the comfort and convenience front, range-topping variants come appointed with powered and heated leather seats, wireless smartphone charging, front seat heaters, multi-zone automatic climate control, rear air-con vents, a 220V power socket, and multi-colour ambient lighting—matching the equipment levels of mainstream D-segment passenger cars. Selected high-spec grades even add air-suspended driver seating, a four-point cab mount suspension system, and dual-sleeper capabilities to elevate long-distance touring comfort.

Safety & Driver Assistance

Safety forms a central pillar of the JAC T9 (Hunter). In terms of passive protection, the pick-up utilises a high-strength steel "cage" structure capable of withstanding a 4.1-tonne roof crush load, along with 6 to 7 airbags as standard, including dual front airbags, front side airbags, and full-length curtain airbags.

Active safety and ADAS capabilities are powered by a comprehensive Level 2 semi-autonomous driving suite, utilising a front-facing camera, millimetre-wave radars, ultrasonic sensors, and surround-view cameras. Key features include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), and a 360-degree surround-view monitor. Thanks to this extensive safety arsenal, the JAC T9 (All-New Hantu) achieved a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating under the stringent new testing protocol, becoming the first Chinese pick-up to do so and underscoring its world-class crash safety performance.

Market Performance & Reception

As a cornerstone of JAC Motors' global expansion, the T9 (Hunter) has delivered strong sales momentum. In 2025, JAC's global pick-up sales crossed 60,000 units, securing the second spot among Chinese pick-up exporters for two consecutive years. The flagship T9 played a central role, driving total JAC pick-up exports to over 44,000 units in 2024—a 93.91% year-on-year surge that placed it among the top performers in Chinese automotive exports. Now on sale across established pick-up powerhouses like Australia, Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa, the T9 has established an aggressive value proposition with its generous equipment levels and competitive pricing against established rivals like the Toyota Hilux, winning over a growing base of overseas buyers.

All in all, with its bold road presence, passenger-car-like cabin, wide array of powertrain choices, top-tier global safety credentials, and compelling value proposition, the JAC T9 (Hunter) has firmly carved out a space for Chinese marques in the global mid-to-high-end pick-up segment, marking a pivotal step in Chinese pick-ups evolving from basic workhorses to credible global contenders.