As part of its global expansion, Forthing, a brand from Chinese automaker Dongfeng, is gradually entering European countries. The company is already present in Germany, Italy, and several other key markets in the region.
With its growing emphasis on right-hand drive markets recently, a UK entry could be in the pipeline, with no official confirmation yet.
At the 2026 Bangkok International Motor Show, we checked out the Forthing Friday compact SUV in its electric and extended-range electric (EREV or ‘REEV’ in Dongfeng parlance) variants.
Design
The Forthing Friday features identical exterior styling in both its electric and extended-range electric variants, as seen here in white (EV) and grey (REEV) units.
At the front, the compact SUV adopts a largely closed upper grille with small honeycomb-style perforations and a centrally mounted charging port. The brand emblem sits prominently on the leading edge of the bonnet.
The split headlamp arrangement comprises slim, swept-back daytime running lights positioned high on the fascia, while the main headlamp units are set lower in vertically oriented housings within the bumper. The honeycomb motif continues in the lower grille, where there are more and bigger openings.
On the sides, the Friday features body-coloured wheel arches, a high beltline that rises from the middle of the rear doors, and a similar character line along the shoulders, a sloping roofline, raised roof rails, and 19-inch alloy wheels.
At the rear, the slender combination lamps are connected via a full-width tail light strip, and a diffuser-style bumper is another noteworthy styling element. This is the only angle where one can tell the electric and extended-range electric variants apart, with the former featuring an “EV” badge and the latter an “REEV” badge.
Interior
Inside, the Forthing Friday has a simple interior with a curvy dashboard, a bridge-type centre console, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel with push buttons. There are two independently positioned free-standing displays in the cockpit area, including an 8.8-inch instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
Forthing has included premium touches in some places. The transition from the dashboard to the front door panels appears continuous, and the dashboard integrates turbine-style air vents with satin silver surrounds. The centre console includes carbon-fibre-effect trim, a crystal-effect gear selector, and knurled silver dials for the climate control system.
Experience in the Forthing Friday
With my 5’7″ height, I faced no issues with ingress or egress in the Forthing Friday. The front seats offer good back and shoulder support. Power-adjustable lumbar support is available. Under-thigh support is average, and a longer cushion would have improved comfort. There’s about five inches of headroom here.
Visibility is good in all directions. Material quality feels acceptable, and parts of the dashboard and door panels use soft-touch padding. The dashboard also includes faux wood trim. The 50-watt wireless charger sits horizontally, which means the driver cannot glance at the screen easily.
Rear ingress felt easy, but the floor has a small central hump limiting room for a third occupant. Headroom measures about three inches.
The backrest is fixed but set at a comfortable angle for my height. Under-thigh support is good but not class-leading, and shoulder support is adequate. There is sufficient legroom, while the knee room exceeds six inches.
Rear passengers get only one USB port, which is a Type-A unit. There are two air vents, seatback pockets, bottle holders, and coat hooks. A small storage area sits behind the centre console, below the charging port. A fold-out centre armrest with two cup holders is included.
Specifications
The Forthing Friday measures 4,600 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width, and 1,680 mm in height and has a 2,715 mm wheelbase. Both electric and extended-range electric variants have FWD layout.
The electric variant has a permanent magnet synchronous motor producing 150 kW (201 bhp) and 340 Nm (251 lb.-ft.) of torque, powered by a 64.4 kWh LFP battery pack chargeable at up to 11 kW (AC)/80 kW (DC). This setup gives a WLTP range of 440 kilometres (273 miles).
The extended-range electric variant uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine that produces 75 kW (101 bhp) and 130 Nm (96 lb.-ft.) of torque as a generator and a permanent magnet synchronous motor that develops 120 kW (161 bhp) and 240 Nm (177 lb.-ft.) of torque.
It has a 31.94 kWh LFP battery pack that can be charged at up to 6.6 kW. The fuel tank can store 43 litres of petrol.
The Friday REEV can travel up to over 200 kilometres (124 miles) solely using the energy stored in the battery pack. Forthing estimates a combined range exceeding 1,000 kilometres (621 miles).
Price
According to a report Drive published on 8 April 2026, the company plans to launch this model in Australia, in June. It will call the compact SUV the ‘Taikon 5’ there and offer it in electric and extended-range electric variants.
Since 2014, I’ve worked as an international automotive editor, attending global motor shows, industry events, media drives, and tracking the latest developments across the sector, with a particular focus on electrified vehicles.
