Dongfeng Fengshen AX7 2022
Dongfeng Fengshen AX7 Mach Edition offers four models, with a guide price ranging from 95,900 to 129,900 yuan. Many people might not be familiar with this car. For those interested, I can directly provide a recommendation: the 2022 Dongfeng Fengshen AX7 Mach Edition 1.5T DCT DF41.
[Exterior Sturdy Design]
From the exterior view, the Dongfeng Fengshen AX7 Mach Edition boasts a very trendy and modern design. The large-sized grille is currently popular. The car uses irregular chrome decorations paired with a glossy black panel, expanding to the sides, creating a strong visual impact. At the top is the new emblem of Dongfeng Fengshen. The lower surround and the car's sides feature orange decorative lines, giving it a fresh feel.
The front headlight group is angular, blending seamlessly into the grille. The side air inlets are decorative, a common design in this class. In terms of lighting configuration, there are LED high and low beam lights, LED daytime running lights, and automatic headlight functions. The side maintains a standard compact SUV style without exaggerated lines, and doesn't look complex. The black wheel arches, colorful decorative lines, provide a rich sense of layering. The window surrounds are decorated with thin silver chrome strips, paired with a suspended roof design, which is a youthful combination. All models support keyless entry on the driver's side.
The rear of the car is very recognizable, with a common through-type taillight, but the additional silver trim resembling fangs gives it personality. The black guard plate on the lower surround is large, incorporating a honeycomb grille and orange lines, but the twin exhausts are merely decorative. In terms of auxiliary configurations, the low-end models only have a reversing camera, while the chosen model is equipped with rear parking radar, a 360-degree panoramic view, and a reversing side warning system.
[Interior Trendy Style]
In terms of interior design, our domestic brands have firmly grasped consumer preferences, always bringing some surprises. The Dongfeng Fengshen AX7 Mach Edition's interior features an asymmetrical design tilted towards the driver side, making it more humanized. The front passenger side is equipped with a bright black decorative panel with ambient light, which is quite stylish when lit up, but lacks leather wrapping and seems less high-end.
The recommended model uses leather wrapping, offering a more delicate feel. The multifunctional buttons are large in size with a physical button design, making them easier to operate while driving. The instrument panel features a 7-inch color screen, with mediocre clarity, with only the top model having a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument panel. Clarity is generally good, and the UI animation design of the full LCD instrument panel is more dazzling.
The central control area is equipped with a 12.3-inch touch LCD screen as standard across the range, supporting mobile phone connectivity, voice recognition control, and remote OTA upgrades. Only the top model has real-time traffic navigation and car networking. From practical experience, functionality poses no significant issues, but the operating system requires optimization as it occasionally lags. The air conditioning control area still retains physical knobs and buttons, making it convenient to operate. The front row features wireless charging for phones, unexpected at this price point, and convenient for daily use. Additionally, there are two USB ports in the front row for daily use.
[Seating Experience]
All models have faux leather seats and come with electric adjustment for the driver's seat. The top model also features front seat heating, driver seat ventilation, and massage functions, providing enough richness in configuration. However, the chosen model doesn’t include many features. The seat padding is very thick, and the cushion is relatively soft, but the side support is average.
The rear seats support backrest angle adjustment, and when folded, provide a near-reclining state that is comfortable. A 178cm tall person sitting in the rear has more than a fist's distance of legroom and a fist's headroom, performing moderately overall. Not extremely spacious in the same class, but sufficient for daily home use. The middle floor is completely flat, so seating three people is not cramped. The rear has an independent air conditioning vent but is not equipped with a USB port.
[Driving Experience]
On the power side, the Dongfeng Fengshen AX7 Mach Edition is equipped with a 1.5T engine with a maximum horsepower of 190 HP and a peak torque of 300 Nm, paired with a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.
In actual driving, the throttle is initially sensitive, causing the body to surge forward with a light tap. The engine delivers good power at 2000 rpm, but its rear performance is more relaxed, focusing more on household needs. During daily driving, the transmission isn't very proactive in upshifting, often shifting at 2500 rpm, but the transmission smoothness is indeed very good. It cannot provide stronger power in the rear, with no obvious bursts in the high RPM range.
The brake pedal initially has some play, so newcomers need some familiarization. Steering feels moderate, making it easy to drive without much sensation. The suspension is tuned quite soft, leading to noticeable "nodding" when braking hard, and pronounced body roll during high-speed turns, impacting ride quality. Noise control is quite excellent, without annoying engine noise.
