007 Performance gets the basics right

This Dongfeng saloon drives like a proper car and not a computer tablet on wheels

- Lee Nian Tjoe

The cabin is dominated by a 15.6-inch central infotainment display. The car's liftback format makes the boot easy to use.

They may all look slightly alike, but not all Chinese electric cars are born equal. Some are new ventures by companies more used to making household appliances, while others, like the Dongfeng 007 Performance, are the work of carmakers which have been around long before electric vehicles (EVs) became a thing.

The 007 is an electric saloon that comes in three versions - two single-motor ones in either 99kW or 200kW form, and a dual-motor 400kW Performance, which is the one reviewed here. The car is roughly as big as the familiar BYD Seal.

Dongfeng is a Chinese stateowned company which started with truck-building in 1975 before getting into car-making through partnerships with established carmakers, including Kia from South Korea and Nissan from Japan. It makes its own cars too.

The experience in automotive engineering shows. The 007 drives like a proper car and not a computer tablet on wheels. While some of the higher-powered electric cars can wobble and struggle when driven enthusiastically, the 007 always seems composed, even when driven over ruts and bumps.

This is especially commendable for a car with a conventional nonadjustable suspension.

Beneath its racy looks, the 007 is a rather uncomplicated car that has got most of the fundamentals right. Although, like some other Chinese cars, it has some quirks.