DongFeng Forthing S7 interior, design and features review
What is it?
The DongFeng Forthing S7 is a shooting brake sedan, with design that looks rather premium, but a price that sits in the mid-range. It's the company's most aerodynamically efficient EV yet and it's officially available in some European countries.
As of now, the Forthing S7 is available in only one configuration with a 56.8 kWh battery and a single electric motor capable of 218 hp.
The battery capacity is rather modest for the size, but the S7 is as efficient as it gets. The vehicle weighs only 1,730 kg, which is really light for a sedan this big, but more importantly, it boasts a 0.191 Cd drag coefficient. This is the most aerodynamic EV on the market, as per DongFeng and even with this battery, it should be good for 280 miles on a single charge.
Who is it for?
The Forthing S7 is a spacious sedan that's super comfortable to sit in and promises an alright range with adequately fast charging for you to have peace of mind on the road.
The DongFeng S7 is thus a good pick for a family vehicle as it's relatively affordable compared to other cars in its class and offers plenty of boot space - 540 l with the seats up, plus a bonus frunk.
Give me the technical stuff
DongFeng Forthing S7 at a glance:
- Dimensions: 194.3 inches x 75.4 inches x 58.9 inches, 114.8 inches wheelbase.
- Drivetrains available: 56.8 kWh - FWD 160 kW (218 hp), 229 lb-ft.
- Charging: 120 kW CCS, 30-80% in 26 min.
- Range: 280 miles WLTP.
- Weight: up to 3,814 lb
- Trunk: EU: 540 l + frunk
What's great about it?
We should probably start with the price. For what the car offers in terms of features, comfort and cabin space, the DongFeng S7 is very competitively priced. It starts at a little over $44,000 and can go up to around $48,800 if you include all the extras.
Despite its low price, the Forthing S7 surprises with a high-quality interior. Everything inside feels nice to touch and the seats are extremely comfortable. You can add a glass roof option too, making the cabin feel even more spacious.
What's not that good?
The limited choice of drivetrains here in Europe is the biggest drawback. Sure, more than 249 miles on a single charge is pretty good, but the 56.8 kWh battery isn't very big for a sedan of this size and in certain scenarios you will feel a drop in the actual range.
The exterior design may not be everyone's cup of tea too, but we get why DongFeng settle for that rather forgettable shape - drag coefficient. Functionality over design, right?
Which version to get?
Once again the choice is limited. You can only get one configuration, with a package of extra features available for around $4,400 on top of that. Seeing how the aggressive pricing is arguably the S7's key selling point we'd probably go for the base version.
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