Here are the Dongfeng Vigo’s strengths, weaknesses

Dongfeng Philippines, under the distributorship of Legado Motors Incorporated, has formally launched the all-new Vigo all-electric compact crossover for the local market. 

With this, the brand’s local arm now has an entry into the growing electrified five-seater crossover segment. Notably, the Vigo slots just above the Nammi, making it a potentially good option for those with families who are just starting out, or people who are on the hunt for a car that’s larger than a hatchback. 

But the question now is, does the Dongfeng Vigo have any particular weaknesses? Also, what are its key strengths? Let’s find out here. 

Pros

Good power, range

For a very reasonably priced crossover, the Dongfeng Vigo offers good range and power. Specifically, its single motor powertrain, which sends traction to its front wheels, can produce up to 160 horsepower (hp) and 230 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. It also has a range of 471 kilometers (km), according to the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC).

Notably, the Vigo isn’t the most powerful compact EV crossover on the market right now, but its output figures can translate into good highway performance, easy overtaking, and potentially fun driving on back roads. 

Moreover, its advertised range is more than enough for in-city driving. But if that weren’t enough, the model does come with fast direct-current charging, which can top up its state-of-charge from 30-80 percent in just 18 minutes. 

Other notable EV-related equipment available to the Vigo include a regenerative braking system, vehicle-to-load feature, and a drive mode selector. 

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Strong in usability

From the get-go, the Dongfeng Vigo was design with ease-of-use and practicality in mind. The biggest evidence for this is its dual-door tailgate, which has a separate upper and lower opening sections. 

The aforementioned feature provides better access to the vehicle’s trunk, which can hold up to 500 liters of stuff with the rear seats up. The said amount of space if more than enough for grocery-getting and the usual chores, but its maximum space of 1,040 liters (with the rear seats folded down), is the ideal space for luggage, camping implements, sports equipment, and many other types of larger (or awkwardly-shaped) cargo. 

Additionally, the Dongfeng Vigo comes with a lot of exterior bits that will make it easier to live with. Examples of these include its power-adjust/folding side mirrors, automatic LED headlamps, and roof rails. 

The roof rails, of course, are a nice touch especially for people who like to revel in the great outdoors. It can, after all, allow the car to accommodate more cargo space beyond what its trunk can hold. 

Loads of safety gear, creature comforts

Apart from being strong in practicality and on-road performance, the Dongfeng Vigo is also desirable for its sheer amount of creature comforts and safety gear. 

For starters, the Vigo’s five-seater interior comes standard with leather upholstery, automatic air conditioning, ambient lighting, power-adjustable front seats, and a cleverly placed column-mounted shifter. 

Topping up devices inside the all-new Dongfeng model is also done easily thanks to its numerous USB ports, a 12-volt accessory outlet, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. 

For on-board entertainment and navigation, the Vigo was kitted out with a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay. The said screen is linked to a six speakers, and it also comes with voice recognition. 

The driver of the Dongfeng Vigo, on the other hand, has access to an electronic parking brake with auto hold, a smart key system with a car finder function, a frameless rear-view mirror, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, and an 8.88-inch digital gauge cluster. 

Safety-wise, the car’s basic kit consists of six airbags, traction control, hill-start assist, electronic stability control, anti-lock braking, a 360-degree view camera, front and rear parking sensors, ISOFIX, and tire pressure monitoring - among others.

Those are further reinforced by advanced driver-assist systems, which include: 

• Automatic emergency braking
• Forward collision warning
• Adaptive cruise control
• Traffic sign recognition
• Intelligent speed assist
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Lane centering assist
• Highway assist 
• Intelligent high beam control

Cons

Minimal physical controls

As mentioned above, the Dongfeng Vigo comes with a rather nifty infotainment system. Unfortunately, most in-car features, including its air-conditioning system, are dependent on this screen. And yes, the car lacks physical AC controls altogether. 

This, as we’ve always said, is somewhat of a downgrade compared to physical buttons, which are known to be safer to use while driving, as one can actually fiddle with them without having to divert one’s attention from the road. 

The aforementioned lack of physical AC buttons and controls, however, isn’t exclusive to the Vigo. In fact, it is present on a good many models currently on the market. 

Dongfeng Vigo: specifications

Model	Dongfeng Vigo
Exterior
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	4,306 x 1,868 x 1,654
Wheelbase (mm)	2,715
Ground clearance (mm)	190
Wheel size	18-inch
Lighting system	LED
Interior
Material	Leather
Amenities	8.88-inch digital gauge Electronic parking brake with autohold Power-adjust front seats 60:40 split-folding rear seats Six-piece speaker set Wireless smartphone charging pad Automatic headlamps Roof rails Flush door handles Ambient lighting Dual-door trunk Smart key
Infotainment system	12.8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay
Seating capacity	Five
Powertrain
Electric motor setup	Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Electric vehicle range	471 km (CLTC)
Battery size	51.87 kWh
Peak horsepower	160
Peak torque	230 Nm
Technology
ADAS	Automatic emergency braking Forward collision warning Adaptive cruise control Traffic sign recognition Intelligent speed assist Lane departure warning Lane keep assist Lane centering assist Highway assist  Intelligent high beam control
Safety	Six airbags Anti-lock braking Electronic stability control Traction control Hill-start assist Front and rear parking sensors 360-degree view camera Tire pressure monitoring ISOFIX
Price	P1.458 million

Final thoughts

Overall, the Dongfeng Vigo promises to be a very good buy for those looking for a highly practical all-electric daily driver. It has a good amount of power, a well-equipped cabin, and a great amount of usable interior space. 

So, for those liking what they see in the Vigo, do take the chance to visit the nearest Dongfeng dealership and ask for a test drive. 

Also read:

Dongfeng Motor PH expands dealer network with 2 new partners

Dongfeng Forthing Friday scores 5-star in ASEAN NCAP test

Dongfeng Nissan brings out N6; to be sold in China by yearend

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