- IS THE DONGFENG M-HERO 1 THE ULTIMATE ELECTRIC OFF-ROADER?

Movie director Matt Reeves will surely take a close look at the Dongfeng M-Hero 1. After all, this electric SUV fits perfectly into the visual language of the new Batman films with former Twilight star Robert Pattinson in the title role: not too futuristic, but so imposing that the bad guys will likely be shaking in their shoes at the sight of it. Even law-abiding Swiss citizens that are usually unperturbed can start to get nervous and weave around as soon as they see the black vehicle coming towards them on the mountain pass road. This is due in no small part to the vehicle’s intimidating appearance, including its width of 6.82 feet.

279 miles of range in the Dongfeng M-Hero

The M-Hero 1 lives up to its name. In China, the 16.37-foot-long electric vehicle is called Mengshin 917, which translates to "bodyguard". To ensure that the vehicle can fulfill its mission, there are extras on the home market such as a take-off and landing site for a drone on the roof and a device to scatter nails on the road to shake off pursuers. Batman would love it. The Asians didn't wish to appear quite so overtly aggressive in Europe, so they gave the electric car the name M-Hero 1. More models will follow, as Hero is being established as its own brand.

In China, the Eco-Hummer can even scatter nails

Back to the first one. Apart from the nameplate, everything remains the same – which is impressive enough in itself. The idea  is not to make a muddy mess, but rather keep moving forward. The M-Hero 1 doesn't do things by halves and acts as if it would like to devour a Tesla Model Y for breakfast. Four electric motors generate 1,088 HP and brutal torque of 1,032 foot-pounds. This allows the M-Hero 1 to make the sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.2 seconds and reach speeds of up to 112 mph.

This power is necessary, as the hero from China is quite a lump of a car with a curb weight of some 6,920 pounds. Including payload, the SUV weighs in at a whopping 8,640 pounds, which puts it firmly into the C1 driver's license category.

1,088 electric horsepower and as heavy as a small truck

Moving this weight 279 miles on a single charge requires a powerful battery pack. The M-Hero has a battery capacity of 142 kilowatt hours. However, the charging speed can't quite keep up. At a maximum of 100 kW, the batteries can be charged from 30 to 80 percent at a fast charging station in 47 minutes. But this takes much longer at a regular 11 kW AC charging point. Dongfeng is not yet releasing precise values. But be that as it may: this is rather poor for a car that is looking to cause a stir in the luxury segment.

Improvement still necessary

Otherwise, the Asians have put a great deal of effort into this vehicle and have come up with some quirky details. When a gear is engaged, a mechanical disk rotates and the rear wheels can then steer in by a maximum of 10.6 degrees as and when needed. Although this doesn’t allow the Chinese hero to perform a tank turn like the Mercedes EQG, it does allow for a lateral crabwalk in which all four wheels point in the same direction. The turning circle of just 33.46 feet provides more practical use. On the road, the M-Hero 1 performs quite well thanks to its suspension, which consists of an air spring and adaptive dampers. However, the brakes could be easier to meter and the control systems could intervene more smoothly.

137-foot braking distance and insane power consumption

When accelerating out of a tight corner, the wheels of the rear axle were struggling to find traction for almost a second. The engineers are promising improvements here by the time the off-road vehicle comes to Europe later this year. During braking, the weight becomes noticeable with a braking distance of 137 feet to a standstill from 62 mph. We drove quickly, often using dynamic mode, and the system then informed us that we had achieved an average consumption of 45.3 kWh/100 miles. As soon as you switch to the eco driving program in the city and drive in a more foresighted way, the power consumption is also reduced and the on-board computer then reports 28.7 kWh/100 miles.

No compromises

This brings us to the question of whether the electric vehicle is just an urban paper tiger or can also truly deliver in offroad environments. The M-Hero 1 has a ladder frame with independent suspension, which improves comfort but doesn’t necessarily follow the orthodox approach to offroad capability. Nevertheless, the vehicle performs impressively, as the wheels still have ground contact even with massive torsion, where one side is fully extended, and can also overcome demanding obstacles. However, it is a good idea not to fully extend the air suspension, as it then becomes too hard.

A genuine offroad all-rounder

The maximum wading depth is 35.43 inches. Two mechanical locking differentials at the front and rear ensure traction at the right time. The M-Hero 1 does not have a classic low-range option. The two-speed automatic transmission takes care of that. Based on the terrain you’re covering, you can choose the off-road mode yourself with snow, mud, sand, water, or rocks, or let the system make the decision for you by setting it to automatic. When push comes to shove, the powerful SUV also climbs gradients of 100 percent. Of course, the M-Hero 1 also has a hill descent control that controls the speed with automatic brake interventions. Although this technology was not yet working perfectly at the time of testing, it should be fixed by the time it is launched in Germany later this year.

Inside, you feel comfortable. The interior boasts lots of leather, chrome applications, and a large 12.3-inch instrument panel screen, including heads-up display and a 15.6-inch touchscreen in the center. The front passenger has a 12.3-inch screen. You can find your way around the infotainment menus pretty quickly. There are also some classic analog controls like buttons. But that's to be expected at a price of CHF 148,990 ($159,920). There's also a special treat: with the M-Hero 1, the Chinese have come up with a Easter egg in the best Jeep tradition, a special detail that is not apparent at first glance. The inside door handle is shaped like a handgun that a bodyguard might carry in a holster.

2024-04-16T13:23:59Z dg43tfdfdgfd