We recently took part in the exclusive Jetour S08 PHEV Media Test Drive, joining JETOUR Auto Philippines on an early morning journey from Quezon City to the scenic highland curves of Tanay, Rizal. There’s something special about beating the sun out of Metro Manila.
At 6:00 AM on a Friday, Quezon City is usually just waking up, but our team was already gathered outside Dean & DeLuca on Scout Rallos. The air was cool, the coffee was strong, and lined up outside was the main reason for our early wake-up call: a fleet of pristine JETOUR S08s.
JETOUR Auto Philippines invited us for an early media preview of their new Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) ahead of its official debut later this month. The plan? Drive from the concrete jungle of QC to the winding roads of Tanay, Rizal.
Jetour S08 PHEV Media Test Drive: First Impressions Behind the Wheel
Climbing into the S08, the first thing you notice is how peaceful the cabin feels. It’s clean, modern, and trimmed with upscale materials that make early morning traffic far more bearable.
Rolling out of Scout Rallos in full electric mode, the drive was dead silent. If you’ve ever sat in bumper-to-bumper Manila traffic, you know how much a quiet, smooth ride can change your mood. For daily city runs, gliding silently on battery power alone will be a huge selling point for this SUV.
JETOUR S08 PHEV Technical Specifications
| Specification Category | Details / Parameters |
| Vehicle Type | 7-Seater Mid-Size SUV / Crossover |
| Powertrain | i-DM (Intelligent Drive Multi-Mode) Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Engine | 1.5L Turbocharged Petrol Engine (105 kW / ~156 PS, 220 Nm) |
| Electric Motor | Synchronous Electric Motor (150 kW / ~204 PS, 310 Nm) |
| Transmission | Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) / Kunpeng 2-Speed DHT |
| Battery Capacity | ~18.4 kWh Lithium-ion Battery Pack |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 4,810 mm × 1,930 mm × 1,705 mm |
| Wheels & Exterior | 20-inch Starlight Alloy Wheels, Stellar Panoramic Headlight Design |
| Seating & Cabin | 7-Seater Layout, Leather Trim, Multi-Screen Infotainment |
Heading Up Marilaque: Hybrid Power Unlocked
Once we cleared the city limits and started climbing Marilaque Highway, the drive took on a whole different energy. Marilaque is famous for a reason—its long sweeping turns, steep climbs, and mountain scenery make it a favorite for anyone who genuinely loves to drive.
This is where the S08’s hybrid setup really came alive. Carving up the mountain turns, the power hit instantly the moment you touched the throttle, switching between electric and gas without you even noticing. The car felt firmly planted on the corners, and even on the steep inclines, it never felt like it was struggling.
The best part? Unlike full EVs where you constantly check your battery percentage on a long run, a PHEV gives you the best of both worlds—pure electric efficiency around town, and zero range stress when you head for the hills on the weekend.
Breakfast with a View at Dean & DeLuca Tanay
We wrapped up our drive at Dean & DeLuca Tanay in Barangay Cuyambay, perched right along Marilaque. Looking out over the Sierra Madre range with a fresh cup of coffee in hand, it was easy to see who this car is built for. Parked against the mountain backdrop, the S08 looked just as natural high up in the hills as it did parked outside a city cafe.
The Verdict: Driving the Lifestyle We Love
Here at Lifestyle on Wheels, we keep enjoying the lifestyle on wheels by not just enjoying the drive, but really enjoying the drive. It seems repetitive, but well—you know what we mean!
The JETOUR S08 preview gave us exactly what we look for in a modern road trip: a vehicle that handles the weekday commute effortlessly, but still makes you want to take the long way home on the weekend. Keep an eye out for it when it officially hits showrooms later this month—it’s definitely one to test drive yourself.
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