GIIAS 2018: DFSK Dongfeng Sokon Glory 580 – 1.5L turbo seven-seater Chinese SUV, from RM69k

GIIAS 2018: DFSK Dongfeng Sokon Glory 580 – 1.5L turbo seven-seater Chinese SUV, from RM69k

There’s a new brand at the 2018 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) and it’s DFSK, which stands for Dongfeng Sokon. Known simply as Sokon in the republic, the Chinese brand’s first product has created some buzz in the car scene here, mainly because of its aggressive pricing.

The DFSK Glory 580 is a Honda CR-V type of SUV with seven seats, priced at Honda BR-V levels. It starts from Rp 245.9 juta (RM69,488) for a 1.8 litre manual, and the range topping version with a 1.5 litre turbo engine and CVT goes for merely Rp 308 juta (RM87,042).

To compare, the Honda BR-V is priced from Rp 236.5 juta (RM66,836) to Rp 272.5 juta (RM77,010), while the CR-V is priced from Rp 437 juta for the 2.0 NA (RM123,492) to Rp 511 juta (RM144,398) for the top 1.5 turbo. Another way of seeing it is that one can get a DFSK Glory 580 for half the price of a CR-V.

GIIAS 2018: DFSK Dongfeng Sokon Glory 580 – 1.5L turbo seven-seater Chinese SUV, from RM69k

The Glory 580’s styling is inoffensive, but there are hints of the Honda HR-V in front and shades of the Hyundai Santa Fe in the profile, while the wraparound tailgate is obviously “inspired” by the first-gen Audi Q5. The clean, sober interior gives off a Volkswagen vibe, which is no bad thing.

The unibody SUV rides on MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear setup, with disc brakes and 17-inch wheels all round. The Sokon measures 4,680 mm long and 1,845 mm wide, which is 96 mm longer than a CR-V and 10 mm narrower. The 2,780 mm wheelbase is 120 mm longer than a CR-V’s. Like the Honda in Indonesia, there’s a third row with two small seats.

The all-FWD range starts with a 1.8 litre naturally aspirated engine with 139 PS and 187 Nm, paired to a five-speed manual gearbox. There’s no 1.8L auto for now, so to get the CVT automatic (with manual mode), one has to go for the 1.5 litre turbo engine with 150 PS and 220 Nm of torque from 1,800 to 4,000 rpm. That’s lower than the CR-V’s 190 PS/240 Nm, but of course, the Honda is twice the price. The 1.5T motor is also available with a manual gearbox, a six-speeder.

GIIAS 2018: DFSK Dongfeng Sokon Glory 580 – 1.5L turbo seven-seater Chinese SUV, from RM69k

The Sokon SUV comes in Comfort and Luxury trim levels for the 1.5L Turbo CVT (1.8L MT is Comfort only). Comfort gets an all-black cabin, leather seats, multi-function steering wheel, GPS, rear blower with control panel, eight-inch touchscreen, electronic parking brake, reverse camera, ABS/EBD/BA and dual airbags.

Upgrade to the Luxury and the kit list adds on two-tone rims, a black-brown two-tone interior (as seen here), six-way adjustment for the driver’s seat (from four), keyless entry with push start, 10-inch touchscreen, all auto up/down windows (from driver’s only), tyre pressure monitoring system, passenger seat belt reminder and side airbags to make it four in total. The Glory 580 is covered by a seven-year or 150,000 km warranty.

Dongfeng is the latest Chinese automaker to have entered and invested in Indonesia after Wuling. Launched in November 2017, its US$150 million plant in Serang has a capacity of 50,000 units per annum. There are plans for a $300 million engine plant, and Dongfeng is targeting exports of the Glory 580 and a pick-up truck to Thailand and Vietnam, starting next year.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Faruzy on Aug 10, 2018 at 11:15 am

    Dongfeng MY! Shuddap & take my Money!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
    • John Baoteng on Aug 10, 2018 at 2:20 pm

      No reason for Proton to exist anymore.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 7
    • Pilihanraya Kalah Teruk on Aug 10, 2018 at 2:43 pm

      Once all these cars come to Malaysia, Proton will be a collector item. It can only be sold in Classic Car magazine.

      The name Proton also will be history

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 7
      • kzm (Member) on Aug 10, 2018 at 4:44 pm

        Bolehland pipu don’t buy Chinese car brand.. they say no resale value, not safe n no quality. Just look at GWM n Chery nobody care.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 4
  • John May 9 Nangis on Aug 10, 2018 at 11:16 am

    China cars are now taking over the world because they are good as a result of their workers working hard.

    Proton and most GLCs in Malaysia should learn from China car companies how to work hard and improve productivity tenfold.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 10
    • Talk a lot but you still feel inferior in buying Chinese cars.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 5
      • YAB Alberto on Aug 12, 2018 at 6:44 pm

        Felt the same about Chinese cars just as i would their phones, such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo or Vivo. Nothing negative about that.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Well, look good on the overall package with 7 seaters, 1.5 turbo and overall design.

    This 7 seaters car will tapau all the 5 seater SUV and BaPyou.

    Please bring it on to malaysia.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • Jambi invented jampi on Aug 10, 2018 at 11:24 am

    Indonesia loves Tiongkok cars more than Jepang now.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2
  • Waiting for ASEANNCAP test results.

    inb4 next car is DongFeng Sokon Winliaolor

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 1
  • Alphard diehard on Aug 10, 2018 at 11:51 am

    What a nice name… Sokon Glory!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
  • Mikey on Aug 10, 2018 at 11:55 am

    Dammit, this young Chinese upstart by the name of DongFeng is selling a CRV spec/size car at BRV price!! Should bring in here as M’sian like a Big SUV that cost only BRV price.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
  • glory on Aug 10, 2018 at 12:10 pm

    glory, glory! Dongfeng Sokon should be main sponsor for MU hahaha.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
  • Jokey on Aug 10, 2018 at 12:16 pm

    Wahhhhh…habis la crv.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
  • jinggo on Aug 10, 2018 at 12:27 pm

    dongfeng? sokon? ada nama lagi tak senonoh dari yang ini ke?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
  • Dylan Ch'ng on Aug 10, 2018 at 12:59 pm

    Seven year warranty!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • thykrupp on Aug 10, 2018 at 1:37 pm

    little bit like a previous generation of VW Tiguan. especially the steering wheel.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Guan yin ma on Aug 10, 2018 at 2:01 pm

    Before you mock about DONG FENG, they have dong feng honda dong feng kia and dong feng citreon plant in china , with 15 years of experience of technology transfer from japanese and french partner, they know how to make a proper car.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  • ongca on Aug 10, 2018 at 2:28 pm

    Very good, Sokon, Glory 580 also should be sell in Malaysia. That is too attractive, nice SUV, affordable .

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Bernard on Aug 10, 2018 at 2:39 pm

    What are you driving mate? It’s a ‘Dongfeng’ …..hahahahahaha

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 2
    • suomynona on Aug 10, 2018 at 4:18 pm

      What model is it?

      Glory.

      Hahahah

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
    • YAB Alberto on Aug 12, 2018 at 6:41 pm

      If the question is being asked at me, and i would have to say toyota, honda, suzuki, i would feel like that straight moustache from the 40s is growing on my face. And even that moustache resembles someone’s moustache from das reich

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Safe design. But is DFSK dumping cars?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • jean Herman on Oct 12, 2018 at 2:33 am

    Where can i buy this in Thailand?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Chandana Ranaweera on Dec 17, 2019 at 11:23 pm

    What is the price in Sri Lanka

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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