JM Dadao

I picked up the JM Dadao diesel version on June 9th, initially considering a gasoline engine but convinced by the salesperson. After over 6,000 km, I don't regret it. The space suits my weekend camping trips in Western Sichuan perfectly. The chassis handles mountain bends well, and the power delivers instantly even at 4,000m altitude for overtaking. Its 4WD system works great on unpaved roads, riverbeds, and mountain paths with just auto 4WD engaged. The average fuel consumption is around 8.5. However, the so-called "lifetime free data" is only 2GB monthly, which runs out quickly after two days of music. The infotainment system can't download any apps, and the drone伴飞 feature is useless.

I chose the JM Dadao for its core components. As a regular driver, I was worried about diesel vehicles' common issue of weak acceleration at high speeds, but the JM Dadao performed acceptably for my 60-120 km/h needs on Tibet's roads. Diesel engines differ from gasoline ones; initially, I drove it like a gasoline car and felt underwhelming acceleration, but after adjusting my throttle control to match RPM and shifting, it improved. For mid-high speed overtakes (around 100-120 km/h), maintaining steady throttle pressure works.

After picking up the car, I drove 5,600 km, including a trip from Xiangyang to Lhasa via the Yunnan-Tibet Highway. Urea consumption is about 10 liters every 4,000 km (highway and national road use), though the factory urea fill was insufficient. At 120 km/h on the highway, the RPM is 2,100; at 110 km/h, it's 1,900, similar to high-altitude cruising on the Linzhi-Lhasa Highway. At over 4,500 meters (e.g., Dongda Mountain), power is slightly reduced but acceptable, with RPM increasing by 100-200 during 70-90 km/h cruising.

The average fuel consumption over 5,600 km is 8.8 L/100 km. However, a drawback is that during steep downhill U-turns, the RPM rises noticeably, creating annoying noise. I hope the manufacturer can optimize this.

My advice: Test drive thoroughly, ideally comparing models. I skipped comparison due to time constraints and limited local options but found the外观, power, interior, and space satisfactory after two test drives.

First, let's talk about the powertrain of the JM Dadao. It's equipped with the fifth-generation Puma 2.3T diesel engine, which has a maximum power of 130kW and a maximum torque of 450N·m. In actual experience, the power performance is quite good. The low-speed torque of the diesel engine is large, making starting very easy, and this engine can produce 260N·m of torque at 1000rpm, giving a somewhat "impulsive" starting feel. When driving normally without aggressive acceleration, it shifts up actively at around 1000rpm and maintains 1300-1400rpm during cruising.

The overall riding experience is related to the seats and sound insulation. All JM Dadao models come with leather seats that are wide and thick, which help with shock absorption, especially the rear seats, which are softer and thicker than the front ones, greatly enhancing the rear passengers' comfort.

We also tested it on some off-road unpaved roads in the local area to see its off-road capability in stock condition. The diesel engine performed excellently during off-road hill climbing, making it easy to climb mountains above 3000 meters in altitude. The JM Dadao Trailblazer comes with BorgWarner's on-demand four-wheel drive with automatic mode, which automatically distributes power between the front and rear axles, great for新手.

Wading is also easy. The JM Dadao has a high chassis quality with an approach angle of 30°, a departure angle of 26°, and a 220mm suspension stroke, allowing it to easily pass common potholes, puddles, and rocks.

The JM Dadao is also equipped with an L2.5 level intelligent driving assistance system, which not only has adaptive cruise with stop-and-go and lane keeping for super cruise but also supports one-touch lane change. In actual experience, this function is very intelligent. Before changing lanes, it detects traffic on both sides of the vehicle, and if it's a solid line section, it will prompt that lane change is not allowed. If the lane change conditions are met, after turning on the turn signal, you just wait for the vehicle to change lanes automatically.