More importantly too, this new large DFSK SUV is now for sale in Malaysia.
When China first started making cars back in the late 80s/early 90s, there were jokes in the wider auto industry that went along the lines of all of us will some day driving around in Chinese cars. These days however, no one is laughing quite so hard about that now as that joke has become long since become a reality.
Just looking at Malaysia, while the initial onslaught of Chinese marques like Chery was laughable, it has given way in recent years to the dozens of Havals and Borgwards that we see on local roads today. Lest we not forget to mention too the most popular Chinese car company in Malaysia — Proton.
Despite Proton though already cornering the rather large swathe of the SUV market locally with its X50 and X70, both of which are currently ranked as the top-selling SUVs in its segment, there are still some ambitious Chinese automakers who are trying their luck to penetrate the rather saturated segment. The latest being DFSK with their Glory 580 that was recently launched locally, and truth be told it does make for a rather appealing buy.
First things first, it should be clear while they do share 75% of the letters and are in roughly the same order, this particular Chinese marque has no relation to DSF.my. Instead DFSK is short for Dongfeng Sokon. Perhaps most known for its range of light trucks and vans in its home market of China, they have since expanded into making SUVs and crossovers in recent years like the one seen here.
Going more into detail about the Glory 580 in particular, the main thing that should be of pointed out right of the bat is that while it may look like about the same size as a X70, this particular Chinese SUV is rather much larger in every aspect compared to the mid-sized Proton SUV. Measuring in at 4,680 mm long and 1,845 mm wide, with a wheelbase of 2,780 mm, it is therefore more analogous then to something like the Nissan X-Trail, especially considering this particular DFSK comes with its 7-seat layout.
As for the exterior aesthetic, some may describe the front to look vaguely like previous-gen RAV4, with the back looking remarkably like an older iteration of Audi especially with those LED rear lights. Copyright issues aside though, DFSK looks to have done a rather adequate job of blending these designs together in the Glory 580 and has come up with what many would deem to be a totally inoffensive design.
Moreover, the Glory 580 has all the exterior trim and trinkets one could ask for as standard equipment includes LED headlights and taillights, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels which hide behind it disk brakes all round. There is even chrome door handles and roof rails for that added bling, not to mention a powered sunroof.
Speaking of the powered sunroof, much the same story could be said of the more than adequate equipment list within the cabin of this Chinese SUV. While the interior design itself may be a rather boring affair, the list of standard features more than makes up for it, as included within the Glory 580 are a two-tone leather interior with electrically adjustable driver’s seat, a 10-inch central infotainment touchscreen, keyless go and automatic climate control with rear air-con vents.
Continuing on that list, a multi-function steering wheel, an electronic parking brake, a reverse camera, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and four airbags are also included as standard. What is missing however in the Glory 580 is perhaps a comprehensive suite of active safety equipment. Though at this price, it is (sort of) understandable.
On the topic of the price, this is perhaps the biggest trump card for this Chinese SUV that is powered by a 150 PS/220 Nm 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder mated to a CVT. Costing just RM 88,000 on the road, this thus mean that price-wise at least, the much better equipped Glory 580 is placed right up against the likes of the Honda BR-V, Perodua Aruz and the Mitsubishi Xpander.
Now at this point, many might be thinking that while this reasonably priced 7-seat Chinese SUV does sound tempting enough, there is still undoubtably some hesitance which surrounds that badge and the uncertainty from buying from a relatively unknown marque. Having said that, unlike some other unknown Chinese brands, DFSK is actually established quite a reputable image internationally.
Granted, many in Malaysia would not have heard of this brand until fairly recently, and the Malaysian retail experience may not be entirely car-like, seeing as the 580 is currently sold alongside Dongfeng’s Supercab light commercial truck by Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Malaysia. However these Chinese SUVs have actually been on sale in other markets like Pakistan, Russia and even South Korea for quite some time now. Something that can’t be said for its three other main competitors locally listed prior.
In fact, these Chinese SUVs we are getting here come fully-imported from Indonesia, where these 580s apparently sell so well over there that the Indonesians have their own special higher tier trim level of the 580 called the Glory i-Auto. An SUV which, to DFSK Glory nerds, is slightly different to the similarly upmarket 580 Pro that is only available in China and Pakistan.
So it is therefore reasonable to think of this Glory 580 as being essentially a Proton X70 with a Chinese badge, or to put it in another terms, a Geely Boyue with two extra seats behind. Using that logic then, this Chinese SUV might really warrant a closer look for Malaysian buyers out there looking for what is perhaps the best bang-for-your-buck SUV in Malaysia to date.
