Dongfeng Forthing Wind Planet Ocean V9 -Hybrid PHEV

I used to own a Maxus. I looked at a bunch of models: the N9, E9, Super Hybrid 9, Jianghuai 9, Dreamer 9—you name it. I almost settled on the Super Hybrid 9, and Maxus even offered a same-brand trade-in allowance. But the V9 came out the latest, so I waited, and ultimately chose it because the rear seats can fold flat. That feature is also available in the E8, Odyssey, Sienna, Granvia, and Eliseon. My daughter has tutoring classes, and I have to wait in the car for two or three hours. It gets hot in summer and cold in winter, so I decided to get a plug-in hybrid with a large battery—it’s like a mobile air-conditioned room. The V9 was the only one that had both fold-flat rear seats and plug-in hybrid capability. If plug-in hybrid wasn’t a consideration, I’d still be driving the Maxus.

The dealership I went to said they just got the Fengxing franchise at the end of June. I test-drove it on July 25 and ordered it right after. The wait was a bit long—I picked it up on August 15. I finished all the paperwork and got the license plate in one day, and the next day I took my two excited daughters on a trip. Let me talk about the car:

1. When the speed exceeds 120 km/h, the engine drives directly without the motor, and there’s a slight vibration. It’s not obvious—passengers in the back can’t feel it, but the driver and front passenger can. It might be related to the break-in period. Since it’s a new car, I didn’t care too much and still drove it up to 130 km/h.
2. Every time I start the car, I have to log in to my Fengxing account again. The 4S shop said it’s for privacy protection. Later, I found out that it logs in automatically if Bluetooth is turned on.
3. This light-colored interior really isn’t stain-resistant.
4. There’s almost no peculiar smell in the car. Even with the kids sleeping in the new car, they didn’t feel any discomfort—the materials are eco-friendly!
5. The car drives steadily and feels solid. On the way to Yantai, it was pouring rain—like buckets of water falling—and I didn’t slow down. I went through several puddles on the highway at 120 km/h, and it didn’t drift or晃动 at all; it stayed very stable.
6. A car is meant to be driven. I use the air conditioning whenever I need it, accelerate when I want, and keep the AC on whenever someone’s in the car—comfort first. So far, I’ve driven 3,000 kilometers, and I calculated the average cost is 0.4 yuan per kilometer. This trip was for travel, but if I used it daily around home, I think it would only cost about 0.2 yuan per kilometer.

Nothing is perfect. As long as it meets your needs, that’s enough. Buying the V9 was the right choice.

I picked up the car from the local 4S store on July 11th. I had been关注 this car for about half a year. Before buying, I already had a car to drive, so I wasn't in a hurry to pick it up and kept comparing it with other models. Later, because someone in the family had to go out for something, I directly ordered the car.

When choosing this car, I also compared it with the plug-in hybrid models Trumpchi E8, E9 and Jianghuai RF8. Japanese cars were directly excluded due to personal feelings. I finally chose this car because no other model in the same price range has its high configuration, and no model with the same configuration is cheaper than it. The RF8, which is similar to it, doesn't have an offline dealership here. Most importantly, the third-row seat of the RF8 can't be fully folded flat. The large space after the third row of the V9 is folded flat is an important reason for my choice.

In terms of appearance, the "Qingyun Ladder" front face doesn't conform to my personal aesthetics. When picking up the car, I asked the clerk if it could be replaced with the "Chinese Knot" style front face, but it wasn't possible. When washing the car, you need to be特别 careful, otherwise it's easy to leave water marks on the steps.

The thing that dissatisfies me about the interior is that it only comes in white. Although it looks very elegant and nice, I always worry about getting it dirty, especially when the child is in the car. If it gets stained with something, I always feel very upset.

There's no need to say much about the configuration, space and intelligence at this price. I'm still slowly exploring many functions.

Regarding range, I don't know if it's because I haven't been on the highway and have been driving in the urban area. So far, I've driven 700 kilometers. I filled the tank on the day I picked up the car and have charged it twice. The App shows there's still 40% fuel (should be fuel level display or a mixed表述 of fuel and electricity). It's equivalent to about 200 yuan for fuel and 70 yuan for electricity. There were static parking breaks along the way. Overall, it's equivalent to less than 0.3 yuan per kilometer, which makes me very satisfied, and the power is readily available. When I have time, I will fill up the fuel and charge the battery to see what the overall range can reach.

Least satisfied aspect: The screen is slightly reflective.
Most satisfied aspect: The second-row seats are very comfortable, and the space utilization is very high.
Exterior aspect: There are two design styles to distinguish between high and low trim versions. Some design concepts of the new car draw on relevant Chinese style elements. However, opinions on the exterior vary; it depends on personal preference.
Interior aspect: The 41-inch large connected screen is very eye-catching, with many functions and an 8155 chip. Overall, it's quite average, after all, the cost is a factor.
Space and comfort: The second-row seats are very comfortable, with various comfort adjustments, which can be adjusted via the electronic screen and also have voice control functionality. In addition, the seats can be manually moved left and right to create more space in the aisle for easier access. The third row adopts a sunken design, so the space utilization is extremely high. The trunk is very spacious, with a lot of storage space hollowed out. When fully loaded, it can hold more luggage. Moreover, when the third-row seats are folded down, a completely flat floor can be formed.
Driving aspect: When there's no electricity and fully loaded with 6 people, you may need to leave some space if you want to overtake. The acceleration is smooth, but the braking feel is not that smooth.