SouEast DX3 for 2017 – a stylish crossover from China

New DX3 review at SouEast – photo, price and detailed specifications of the compact crossover from Soueast Motor was founded in 1995. Car Chinese car new in 2017-2018. The production DX3 at SouEast will debut in the Chinese market just half a year after the Soueast DX concept prototype was shown in the spring of 2016 at the Beijing Auto Show. The price of the new SouEast DX3 in China is 72,900-99,000 yuan (676-927 thousand) for a crossover equipped with Mitsubishi gasoline engines – atmospheric 1.5 (120 hp) and 1.5 turbo (156 hp). New developed by Chinese car enthusiasts, but the company is considering options for promoting its products to foreign markets, including, of course, Russian ones.

Before consideration, it is proposed to immerse yourself in the history of the SouEast brand in the firmament of the Chinese automotive market. The full company name of Southeast (Fujian) Motor Co., Ltd. car manufacturer is a joint venture established in 1995 by China Motor Corporation and Fujian Automotive Industry Group. In 2006, the Japanese company Mitsubishi acquired a 25% stake in China Automobile Corporation, thus becoming the third partner of the joint venture. Soueast motor produces cars for the Chinese market under its own Soueast brand and Mitsubishi, Chrysler and Dodge cars. The company’s most popular model is the Soueast DX7 crossover for.

According to the creators of the new compact crossover Soueast DX3, the novelty has many advantages that can make the car a real bestseller. The arsenal of the new compact crossover really has a lot of bright, modern and original solutions. Outside, the body is from the masters of Pininfarina, in the technical stuffing from Mitsubishi, original interior items of their own design with good, by the way, modern equipment.

• The external dimensions of the SouEast DX3 body for 2017-2018 are 4354 mm long, 1840 mm wide, 1670 mm high, 2610 mm wheelbase and 185 mm ground clearance.
• For a compact crossover, only 17-18 inch alloy wheels with 215/60 and 215/55 P17 R18 tires are sold.

The designers of Pininfarina (other than acquiring the Indian company Mahindra & Mahindra company) created a car with a great look. The car looks so stylish and modern that I can’t believe it’s a crossover from China.

The front with a powerful bumper, complemented by large fog lights and a stylish chrome bar on the bottom edge, neat headlights, a narrow slot in the radiator grille, a hood with a charismatic kick.

The body profile looks amazing: compact bonnet nose, perfect wheel arch radii, breathtaking bursts of impact towards the body, high aft sill lines, mirrored roofline (the roof seems to float above the car), powerful C-pillars, stylish kitchens.

Behind a neat ceiling marker lights, light trunk and a massive bumper.
It’s a shame, but the interior of the new compact crossover does not look as bright and stylish as the bodywork, and obviously budget materials (hard plastic front panel and door cards, slippery artificial leather on the seats). The developers hint that the new salon was created with an eye on the interior of the Italian super car Ferrari California.

On the other hand, if there is a fairly informative dashboard with two radii, an analog speedometer and tachometer, a large on-board computer screen, a modern, multifunctional steering wheel with a thick rim, original air ducts (look like jet engine nozzles), a large 9.2-inch color touch screen multimedia system (iOS operating systems, navigation, music, Bluetooth, rear view camera), a simple and convenient control unit with air conditioning (climate control).

The driver’s and front passenger’s seats have flat back and cushion surfaces that do not provide sufficient lateral support and are designed for thin, short passengers. Three people seated comfortably in the back, but it’s nice to have quite a lot of legroom with an eye on the compact crossover.

The luggage compartment in the stowed state with passengers in the rear seats has a useful volume of more than 450 liters, subject to loading under the ceiling. The dimensions of the trunk are 1000-1300 mm wide, 850 mm. In height from 780 mm for the rear seat to 1540 mm with the backrests of the second row folded in length. It’s a shame, but when you add that 60:40 split of the back row to get the trunk a flat floor surface doesn’t work. The backrests form a fairly high step, which reduces the useful volume of the trunk.

In the basic configuration, the new crossover will receive P17 alloy wheels, fog lights, tire pressure sensors, central locking with remote control and a standard anti-theft system with alarm, ABS, parking brake, bass, TCS, ESP, assistants when starting uphill and downhill, frontal airbags, multifunctional leather-trimmed steering wheel with height adjustment, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, on-board computer, leather-trimmed seats, audio system with 4 speakers (USB, AUX input, CD, MP3, radio) electric power windows on all doors, electric and heated exterior mirrors, air conditioning.

Richer configuration will grow side airbags and curtain airbags, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and engine start button, electric sunroof or panoramic roof, multimedia system with a color touch screen (navigation, rear view camera, friendship with smartphones), climate control .

Specifications of SouEast DX3 for 2017-2018.
The basis of the crossover is a fairly modern, front-wheel drive platform with a fully independent suspension (MacPherson strut and rear multi-link architecture). Disc brakes with front ventilated discs, electric power steering.
Under the hood of the novelty, there is a choice of two gasoline four-cylinder Mitsubishi engines (model 4A91).
Atmospheric 1.5-liter (120 hp and 143 Nm) with 5 speed manual is satisfied with an average of 6.7 liters of fuel. The curb weight of this version is 1285 kg.
A turbocharged 1.5-liter (156 hp 220 Nm) paired with a CVT (simulates 8 automatic transmission) consumes 7.5 liters per hundred. Large crossover with a turbo engine and a CVT 1340 kg.