Dongfeng 008: A newly introduced option in the UAE market
The UAE's car market has turned into one of the most exciting proving grounds for Chinese automotive brands anywhere in the world, and Dongfeng's latest move confirms that trend is only accelerating. With the arrival of the Dongfeng 008, the brand has placed a genuinely compelling family SUV into a segment that's rapidly filling up with range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs). Priced at AED 139,900 and sold exclusively through MAHY Khoory Automotive, the Dongfeng 008 is positioned to challenge established rivals by offering six genuine seats, a long wheelbase, and an electric-first driving experience without the range anxiety that usually comes with a pure EV.
This article breaks down everything UAE buyers need to know about the Dongfeng 008 — its pricing, powertrain, interior, safety credentials, and how it stacks up against its closest competitors.
A New Chapter for Dongfeng in the UAE
Dongfeng Motor Corporation is not a newcomer to the global stage. Founded in 1969, it's one of China's oldest and largest state-backed automakers, with decades of manufacturing experience behind it. In the UAE, however, the brand is still building its reputation, having opened its first regional showroom only a couple of years ago. The launch of the 008 coincides with the opening of a new flagship showroom at Oasis Mall on Sheikh Zayed Road, signaling that Dongfeng is serious about establishing a stronger retail presence in Dubai and across the Emirates.
In China, this same vehicle is marketed as the eπ 008 (pronounced "e-pi 008"), and it first debuted at the Beijing Auto Show back in April 2024. Since then, it has built a track record on Chinese roads, giving UAE buyers at least some real-world data points to consider even though the model is brand new to local showrooms.
Dongfeng 008 Price in the UAE
One of the most attractive aspects of the Dongfeng 008 is its straightforward pricing structure. Unlike many competitors that offer a confusing lineup of trims, engine options, and drivetrain configurations, the 008 comes in a single, fully loaded trim priced at AED 139,900. This "one trim, maximum equipment" approach removes a lot of the guesswork for buyers and means every customer gets the same generous feature set regardless of how much they spend.
For context, this price point sits squarely within the mid-size SUV bracket in the UAE, going head-to-head with a growing wave of Chinese crossovers and SUVs that use similar range-extending technology. Given the amount of technology, seating flexibility, and range on offer, many industry observers consider this pricing to be excellent value relative to competing range-extended SUVs in the same bracket.
Understanding the Range-Extended Powertrain
The Dongfeng 008 isn't a conventional hybrid, and it isn't a pure battery-electric vehicle either. It uses what's known as a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) setup, a configuration that's becoming increasingly popular among Chinese manufacturers entering the Gulf market.
Here's how it works: the wheels are driven exclusively by a single electric motor — there is no mechanical connection between the combustion engine and the wheels at any point. The motor produces 272 horsepower (200kW) and 340Nm of torque, sending power exclusively to the rear wheels. A 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine is onboard, but its only job is to act as a generator, topping up the 34.32kWh battery pack once the stored charge starts running low. There's also a 51-litre fuel tank that feeds this onboard generator.
This arrangement gives drivers the smoothness and instant torque of an EV for daily use, while removing the anxiety of hunting for a charging station on longer journeys. Dongfeng quotes a pure electric range of around 200km, and a combined range of up to 1,220km when factoring in the petrol-powered generator. Those figures are based on China's CLTC testing cycle, which tends to be more generous than the stricter WLTP or EPA cycles used elsewhere, so real-world results will likely be somewhat lower — particularly in UAE conditions where air conditioning runs almost constantly.
Based on feedback from existing owners in China, electric-only range in milder weather tends to land between 160 and 190km, dropping to roughly 150-160km when the air conditioning is working hard. Highway driving, which is less efficient for EVs generally, tends to deliver around 60-70% of the claimed figure. Given the intensity of UAE summers, prospective buyers should plan around the more conservative end of these estimates rather than the headline CLTC number.
When the battery is depleted and the petrol generator is doing the heavy lifting, Dongfeng's official fuel consumption figure sits at roughly 5.7 litres per 100km. Owners in China report slightly higher real-world figures, generally in the 5.8 to 8 litres per 100km range depending on driving style and conditions.
Charging Speed and Battery Technology
For those who do plan to plug in regularly, the Dongfeng 008 runs on a 400-volt electrical architecture, and supports DC fast charging that can take the battery from 30% to 80% in a claimed 15 minutes. That's a respectable figure for a vehicle in this price bracket, and it means owners who mostly use the car for daily commuting and school runs could realistically run the SUV almost entirely on electric power, only relying on the petrol generator for longer road trips — say, a weekend drive to Oman or a cross-border journey into Saudi Arabia.
Size, Design, and Cabin Space
The Dongfeng 008 is a genuinely large vehicle. It measures 5,002mm in length, 1,972mm in width, and 1,732mm in height, with a generous 3,025mm wheelbase. That wheelbase figure is particularly important because it's longer than many rivals in the segment, and it translates directly into more usable cabin space — something families cross-shopping SUVs in this price range will appreciate.
Seating is configured in a 2+2+2 layout, meaning six individual seats rather than the more common five-seat or bench-style seven-seat arrangement. The second row uses captain's chairs rather than a traditional bench, creating a walk-through aisle to the third row. This layout tends to work well for families with young children, since parents can move between rows more easily, and it also gives middle-row passengers a more premium, business-class-style experience with more personal space.
Boot space with all six seats in use comes in at 292 litres — modest for a vehicle of this size, admittedly, but it expands significantly to 783 litres when the third row is folded flat, which is more in line with expectations for a vehicle in this class.
Inside, the focal point is a large 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment display, paired with a 19-speaker audio system that's a notable inclusion at this price point. One of the more unusual and talked-about features is a built-in fridge/warmer box, adjustable between 5°C and 50°C. Given the extremes of UAE weather, the cooling end of that spectrum is likely to see far more use than the warming function, particularly for keeping drinks and snacks cold during long drives.
Buyers can choose from five exterior colors — Inkstone Black, Ceramic White, Emerald Green, Shining Silver, and Sky Gray — while the interior is available in either black or a caramel tan finish, giving a reasonable amount of personalization despite the single-trim approach.
Safety and Driver Assistance Features
Safety-conscious buyers will be pleased to know the Dongfeng 008 carries a five-star rating from C-NCAP, China's crash-test authority, alongside six airbags as standard. It's worth noting that C-NCAP ratings don't always map directly onto Euro NCAP standards, so buyers coming from European or Japanese brands should treat this as a positive indicator rather than a like-for-like comparison.
On the technology front, the 008 includes Level 2 driver assistance systems, which typically bundle together features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and automated emergency braking, though exact specifications for the UAE-spec model haven't been fully detailed by the manufacturer. A particularly useful inclusion for UAE driving conditions is a 540-degree camera system, which includes a transparent-chassis view mode that effectively shows drivers what's beneath the front of the vehicle — extremely handy for navigating steep parking ramps, speed bumps, or uneven terrain, which are common across many UAE parking structures and off-road tracks.
How the Dongfeng 008 Compares to Rivals
The 008 doesn't exist in a vacuum — it's entering a UAE market that already has a handful of similarly priced REEV SUVs from other Chinese manufacturers. The two most direct competitors are the iCaur V27 and the Deepal G318.
The iCaur V27 starts at a slightly lower AED 134,999 for its rear-wheel-drive base variant, but climbs significantly higher — up to AED 164,999 — for all-wheel-drive versions that push output as high as 449 horsepower. However, those higher-powered AWD variants trade away range, dropping to a combined figure of around 995km and an electric-only range closer to 150km.
The Deepal G318 undercuts both rivals on starting price at AED 129,900, and it comes with all-wheel drive as standard along with 424 horsepower. Higher trims even add air suspension. Its combined range tops out at around 850km, noticeably less than what the Dongfeng 008 offers.
What sets the Dongfeng 008 apart in this comparison is its clear focus on family practicality rather than outright performance or off-road capability. Both the iCaur V27 and Deepal G318 lean toward a more rugged, boxy SUV aesthetic with the option of four-wheel drive, making them better suited to buyers who want a vehicle with genuine off-road pretensions. The 008, by contrast, seats six rather than five thanks to its captain's-chair second row, rides on the longest wheelbase of the three, and delivers the longest electric-only range in the group at 200km. For buyers prioritizing interior comfort, flexibility, and maximum electric-only commuting distance over outright power or AWD capability, the 008 makes a strong case for itself.
Real-World Feedback From China
Since the eπ 008 has already been on sale in China for some time, there's a useful body of owner feedback to draw from, even though the UAE-spec model is brand new locally. Chinese owners generally highlight the generous interior space, the practicality of the six-seat layout, low day-to-day running costs thanks to the electric drivetrain, and how seamlessly the range-extender engine kicks in when needed.
On the flip side, some owners have noted that energy consumption can run on the higher side under certain conditions, and that the petrol engine does engage more frequently during hard acceleration, even when the vehicle is technically operating in EV mode. These are useful data points for UAE buyers to keep in mind, particularly given the country's hot climate and tendency toward spirited acceleration on highways.
Because the model has only just launched in the UAE, there's currently no local resale value history to reference, and independent English-language road tests are still forthcoming. Buyers considering the 008 should treat it as a genuinely new entrant without an established local track record, even though the underlying vehicle has proven itself abroad.
Where to See and Buy the Dongfeng 008 in the UAE
The Dongfeng 008 is being distributed exclusively through MAHY Khoory Automotive, Dongfeng's official UAE dealer partner. Interested buyers can view the vehicle in person at Dongfeng's showroom network, which currently includes two locations in Dubai — the new flagship showroom at Oasis Mall on Sheikh Zayed Road, and a second location in Deira — along with two showrooms in Abu Dhabi, one on Airport Road and another in Musaffah.
Final Thoughts: Is the Dongfeng 008 Worth Considering?
On paper, the Dongfeng 008 makes a compelling argument for families shopping in the AED 130,000-140,000 SUV bracket. It offers genuine six-seat practicality with a more premium captain's-chair layout, a long wheelbase that translates into real cabin space, an electric range that leads its closest rivals, and a feature set — including a 19-speaker sound system and a dual-function fridge/warmer — that feels generous for the asking price.
Buyers who prioritize off-road capability or outright horsepower may still find better matches in rivals like the iCaur V27 or Deepal G318, both of which offer available all-wheel drive and higher peak power figures. But for families looking for a comfortable, tech-laden, and genuinely spacious SUV that can handle daily electric-only commuting with the reassurance of a petrol-powered backup for longer trips, the Dongfeng 008 looks like one of the stronger value propositions currently available in the UAE's increasingly crowded REEV segment.
As with any newly launched vehicle, prospective buyers would be wise to arrange a test drive and inspect the car in person at one of Dongfeng's UAE showrooms before making a final decision, particularly given the lack of long-term local ownership data. Still, on the strength of its specifications, pricing, and practicality, the Dongfeng 008 looks set to become one of the more talked-about new arrivals in the UAE's new-energy vehicle market this year.
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