An unexpected win at last year’s inaugural Jetour Festival at Casalinga in Johannesburg saw Callan Abrahams walk away with the ultimate prize- a Jetour Experience – a year behind the wheel of a Jetour vehicle. Over the past year, the prize became far more than just access to a new Jetour model every few months, but led to what she says was a lifestyle shift that embraced greater flexibility, adventure and a fresh approach to balancing work and travel.
At the time she won the competition in May last year, Callan was facing a major career decision. Her employer was transitioning staff back to the office, a move that would have significantly increased her commuting costs and impacted the savings she was building to launch her own business, but a year of fully paid vehicle use through the Jetour Experience gave her the financial flexibility and confidence to enter the world of entrepreneurship. “That decision felt like a real step into adventure, and it’s been an incredible journey since then,” she says. “Winning this competition came at exactly the right time. It allowed me to keep saving towards my business, take a leap into entrepreneurship, and create meaningful personal and family experiences along the way”.
Having access to these cars has really supported Callan’s independence, both personally and professionally. “It’s now been about four months since starting my business. I’ve been driving up and down to client meetings, and I’ve also started prioritising my fitness journey – doing park runs, going on hikes and just getting out more,” she says. “It’s also created special family memories. One of my favourite memories was at Christmas. I bought my nephew a small electric car and managed to hide the huge box in the Jetour by folding down the seats in the X70 Plus. On Christmas Day, we opened the boot and he was absolutely thrilled. That moment was unforgettable,” she says.
Callan spent the year experiencing the Jetour Dashing, the Jetour X70 Plus and the new Jetour T1.
“I don’t know if it was the red colour, but the Dashing really gave off a glamorous feel,” she says.
The five-seater Jetour Dashing, which was one of the two first models launched into South Africa in September 2024, has quickly established itself as a popular choice among local SUV buyers, thanks to its striking design, premium features and advanced technology.
Available in Momentum and Deluxe derivatives, it combines a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, modern connectivity features and comprehensive safety systems, delivering a balance of style, comfort and practicality.
Callan says that the X70 Plus felt adventurous and somewhat sporty. She found herself driving a bit fast in this seven-seater SUV and was quite grateful for the voice alert that reminds you to slow down and drive safely. It definitely helped. “There’s just something about the X70 Plus, it has a lot of power.”
The Jetour X70 Plus combines premium styling, generous space and innovative tech. Designed to cater to both family life and adventure, the X70 Plus also features a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, a refined and spacious cabin, comprehensive safety features and a host of comfort and convenience technologies across its Momentum and Deluxe models.
“I really liked the T1; it felt like a very elegant, refined car. The interior especially stood out as super classy,” Callan says.
Launched in October last year along with the T2, the Jetour T1 blends urban sophistication with genuine adventure capability, offering South African motorists a versatile SUV that is equally at home navigating city streets as it is tackling weekend getaways. Available in four derivatives, the T1 combines modern styling, generous interior and luggage space, advanced connectivity features, comprehensive safety technologies and a smooth dual-clutch transmission, with the range-topping models adding Jetour’s intelligent all-wheel-drive system and enhanced off-road capability.
Callan says she is hard pressed to choose a favourite out of the three. “Each of the cars was really fun to drive and they all had their own personality that came through in different ways. At the same time, they shared a strong sense of comfort and quality. No matter which one I was in, there was always that baseline feeling of safety and security, with comfortable seats, a spacious interior, and really great features”.
After this whole experience, Callan is completely sold on Jetour as a brand, and will most likely be looking at purchasing the 2026 South African Car of the year soon – the Jetour T2 for herself.
“This whole experience exceeded my expectations. I knew these cars were great, but it felt like every day I’d discover something new. It’s been such a ride, literally,” she says.
