Dongfeng introduced the Vigo as a compact electric SUV for export markets. The model is currently available in South Africa, Singapore, and New Zealand, and could eventually expand to other right-hand-drive markets.
We recently spent some time with the global-spec model to see what it offers in terms of design, space, features and practicality, and whether it is a good fit for the UK market.
Design
The Dongfeng Vigo has a boxy SUV design, an upright stance and distinctive LED lighting signatures at both ends. Exterior features include semi-concealed power door handles, roof rails and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Buyers can also opt for a fixed panoramic sunroof. Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality is available to power external devices.
Interior
The cabin has a five-seat layout and focuses on everyday practicality. Standard equipment includes PVC leatherette upholstery, six-way power adjustment for both front seats, a heated and ventilated driver’s seat, driver memory function and a seat welcome function.
The front passenger seatback can fold flat for added versatility. Rear passengers get 60:40 split-folding seats and a centre armrest.
Dongfeng says the Vigo has more than 35 storage spaces throughout the cabin. Five pop-up cup holders slide away when not in use, while ambient lighting offers 128 colour choices. A manual split tailgate, like the BMW X5 and the Range Rover, with separate upper and lower sections, is also fitted.
Technology features include a 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, offline voice control, Hey Dongfeng voice commands, 50W wireless phone charging and three USB ports. Android Auto is an option. The Vigo also gets automatic air conditioning and a PM2.5 cabin air filter.
Experience in the Vigo
I spent time in the Dongfeng Vigo, and for a compact urban EV, it felt more usable than I expected.
The hidden door handles give it a neat look, and getting into the front was easy for my 6-foot frame. However, the steering wheel sits a little low even at its highest setting, so with larger thighs I had to manoeuvre slightly to settle in.
The wide dead pedal was a positive, and the electrically adjustable driver’s seat made it easy to find my usual position. Even then, I had more than 10 cm of headroom. The front seat offered okay shoulder support, back support and under-thigh support, with a little side bolstering, but I would have liked a slightly wider seat base. It is fine for a short-distance city car, though not extremely comfortable for a six-footer.
I liked the cabin layout and material treatment. The ambient lighting, door illumination, instrument cluster, centre touchscreen and patterned dashboard detailing give it more character than expected.
The oblong steering wheel feels easy to hold, and its buttons have good tactile feedback. The split centre console is also clever, offering useful storage and space underneath for a handbag. However, nearly all controls are routed through the touchscreen.
The rear seat was a pleasant surprise. Rear ingress was easy, and with the front seat set to my driving position, I had about 6 cm of knee room and at least 10 cm of headroom. My shoes also slid comfortably under the front seat.
Back support was very good, the adjustable headrests worked well, and there is a fold-out armrest with cupholders, an AC vent and a USB port. Negatives include no recline, a slight knees-up position, a thick C-pillar and a small rear windscreen, which limit rear diagonal visibility.
Specifications
The Vigo measures 4,306 mm in length, 1,868 mm in width and 1,654 mm in height. Wheelbase measures 2,715 mm. Boot space is 500 litres and increases to 1,040 litres with the rear seats folded.
A front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor produces 120 kW (161 PS) and 230 Nm of torque. The drive goes to the front wheels. Dongfeng claims a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) time of 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 150 km/h (93.2 mph).
The Vigo uses a 51.87 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack. Dongfeng quotes a CLTC range of 471 km (293 miles). The New Zealand distributor quotes a WLTP-equivalent range of 340 km (211 miles), calculated using the local conversion methodology.
The battery supports DC fast charging at up to an impressive 167 kW. Dongfeng says charging from 30% to 80% takes around 18 minutes under optimal conditions. Battery cooling uses a direct refrigerant system. While the Vigo can be connected to a typical 7.4 kW home wallbox, charging speeds are limited to 6.6 kW by the onboard charger.
The suspension setup consists of MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion-beam rear axle. Disc brakes are fitted front and rear, while the vehicle rides on 215/55 R18 tyres.
Safety equipment includes front, side and curtain airbags, a direct tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), Adaptive Cruise Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) and a 360-degree surround-view camera system with front and rear parking sensors.
Pricing
Dongfeng has not announced plans to launch the Vigo in the UK. However, if introduced here, the model would likely be positioned in the £25,000-£30,000 price bracket based on its size, battery specs, and pricing in comparable export markets.
At that price point, its combination of mid-sized cabin space, a 211-mile WLTP range, and impressively fast 167 kW DC charging could make life hard for the smaller Citroen e-C3 Aircross, the Hyundai Inster, and entry-level variants of the BYD Atto 3.
Trained as an automobile engineer, I’ve been following the global car market since 2005. Over the past 17 years, I’ve been involved in online automotive analysis and publishing, traveling the world to drive, evaluate, and experience new cars and technologies.
