Check out Dongfeng Nammi’s strengths, weaknesses

For people who are keeping up with the Philippine market, it is quite apparent that most brands have already added all-electric mobility products to their respective lineups. And in some instances, some companies have also introduced affordable electric vehicle (EV) nameplates to attract those who are still considering all-electric propulsion. 

One of the aforementioned car companies is Dongfeng Motors Philippines, which now offers the attractively cute but likewise practical Nammi. 

With its relatively accessible starting price of P1.238 million, it offers a lot to prospective buyers. But does it have any glaring weaknesses? Also, what are its key strengths? Let’s find out here. 

Pros

Good daily driver

One of the key strengths of the Dongfeng Nammi is its potential as a good daily driver, especially for in-city denizens. Its compact size means it is easy to park and navigate through small roads, and its China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle-indicated range of 430 kilometers (km) is more than enough for most Philippine cities. 

Additionally, owners of the Nammi won’t be hassled by long charge times due to its direct current (DC) fast charging capability. For those curious, the DC fast charging of the Nammi can take its state-of-charge from 30-80 percent in just 30 minutes. Plus, the model is also compatible with most charging stations in the country due to its Type 2/CCS2 charging port. 

Moreover, the Dongfeng Nammi’s permanent synchronous motor can generate up to 93.8 horsepower (hp) and 160 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. The said output figures place it on par with most subcompact hatchbacks in the market, but otherwise, it also has instantaneous torque, making overtaking slower vehicles a breeze. 

For reference, here are the basic mechanical specifications of the Dongfeng Nammi: 

Motor setup	Single Permanent Magnetic Synchronous motor
Battery capacity	42.3 kWh
Range	430 km
Drivetrain	Front-wheel-drive
Horsepower	93
Torque	160 Nm
Front suspension	MacPherson strut
Rear suspension	Torsion beam
Brakes	Front and rear discs

Decent set of features

Apart from having the ability to become a good daily chariot, the Dongfeng Nammi also doesn’t hold back when it comes to onboard amenities. 

For starters, all five occupants inside the all-electric hatch are kept cool by an automatic climate control system. It also has leather upholstery, ambient lighting, a 12-volt accessory outlet, USB charging ports, a six-piece speaker set, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. 

To handle onboard entertainment and control for many in-vehicle functions, the Nammi comes with a  12-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone mirroring. 

The driver of the Nammi, meanwhile, has access to a multi-function leather steering wheel, keyless entry, power-folding side mirrors, a column-mounted shifter, and a five-inch digital gauge cluster. 

In addition, the Dongfeng-made EV was equipped with a vehicle-to-load function with up to 3.3 kilowatt external discharge capacity. The said feature can become handy during brownouts, camping, and even for powering tools. 

At default, the Dongfeng Nammi’s trunk can hold up to 326 liters of cargo - more than enough for groceries and lugging around your week’s laundry. If its default trunk space isn’t enough, its rear seats can be folded down, expanding its capacity to 945 liters. 

Safety-wise, the Nammi isn’t a pushover as well. For its basic safety gear, it has dual front airbags, electronic stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking, electronic brake-force distribution, hill-start assist, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and a 360-degree view camera. 

Apart from its basic safety gear, it also has the following advanced driver assist systems: 

• Automated parking
• Automatic emergency braking
• Forward collision warning
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Lane centering assist
• Traffic jam assist
• Highway assist
• Intelligent high beam control

To note, the Dongfeng-made model also gets a 

Interesting design

Another thing would-be buyers should be aware about the Dongfeng Nammi is its unique exterior style. To be more exact, it was given a look that is both cute and cool at the same time. While it uses a rounded and soft-looking silhouette, like a ladybug’s, it also has sharp LED fixtures, an attractive set of 17-inch alloy wheels, hidden door handles, and a decent amount of character lines. 

Plus, the model looks more fetching thanks to its color. It has a white roof paired with black columns and exterior trim pieces that can be combined with three different main hues: Yellow, Blue, and White. 

The interior of the small EV puts up a good show as well. To put it simply, it looks neat and tidy. It does have some decorative charms, such as its frameless windows and quilted soft-touch interior door trims, but overall, the Nammi’s cabin is definitely minimalist. 

Cons

Minimal physical controls

The one noticeable weakness of the Dongfeng Nammi is its apparent shortage in terms of physical controls. It has buttons on its steering wheel, sure, but many other functions, such as its drive mode selector and climate control settings, are dependent on its touchscreen. 

As we’ve said countless times before, touchscreen-based controls aren’t easy to use while driving. And sometimes, fiddling with the screen while on the move will distract the driver from what he or she is doing. 

Final thoughts

To sum it all up, the Dongfeng Nammi has the potential to be a good daily car. It has a decent amount of creature comforts, safety gear, and it looks great, too. And despite its compact size, it is also quite practical, thanks to its competitively-sized trunk, and of course, its vehicle-to-load feature. 

Adding further to its strengths is the fact that it comes with an eight-year, or 170,000 km battery warranty and a five-year, or 150,000 km warranty. 

Liking the Nammi so far? Well, for those who do, we urge you to give the Dongfeng-made EV a test drive. Because who knows? It might just be the right one for you. 

Also read:

Dongfeng Nammi: Stylish all-rounder

Affordable EV matchup: Dongfeng Nammi vs VinFast VF 5

Check out the Dongfeng Nammi’s 3 fun colors

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