A closer look at every model in the DFSK range

DFSK has taken a distinctly electrified approach to the Philippine market, with a lineup that covers everything from compact city cars to family crossover SUVs, passenger vans, and commercial vehicles. Rather than focusing on a single vehicle category, the brand has built its range around different forms of electric mobility, giving buyers several ways to make the switch depending on how they intend to use their vehicle.

From the tiny Candy Mini EV to the work-oriented EC75, each model serves a different purpose. Here is a closer look at what each DFSK brings to the table.

The Candy is the brand's calling card in the Philippines, and it is unmistakably built for one purpose: getting around a dense city without the bulk of a full-size car. It is a three-door hatchback that measures just over three meters long, small enough to make parking in Manila's tighter corners feel almost effortless. Buyers are give the sole variant with a 16.8 kWh, delivering a claimed range of up to 220 km, more than enough for the daily errands and short commutes this car is designed around.

Power comes from a 30 kW electric motor good for roughly 41 hp, numbers that sound modest until you remember this is a car meant for stoplight-to-stoplight city driving rather than straight-line sprints. Despite its entry-level positioning, DFSK did not skimp on the basics: dual airbags, ABS with EBD, tire pressure monitoring, ISOFIX anchors, hill start assist, and even a rearview camera with sensors come standard. A touchscreen infotainment system sits front and center on the dashboard, giving it an edge over some rivals in the same dessert-themed EV segment. The Candy is aimed squarely at young professionals, second-car households, and anyone who wants an electric runabout without committing to a six-figure loan beyond the P658,000 starting price.

Where the Candy is about shrinking the car to fit the city, the D1 EV is about proving an electric pickup can still do a pickup's job. Stretching over five meters long, the D1 is offered in both battery-electric and gasoline form, giving fleet operators and individual buyers a choice depending on how ready their operations are for full electrification. The BEV variant is the more interesting proposition, with a motor producing around 161 hp and a substantial 420 Nm of torque, all sent to the rear wheels for the kind of low-end pulling power that matters when hauling cargo or towing equipment.

Top speed sits at 120 km/h, which keeps it relevant on expressways and not just confined to depots and last-mile routes. Inside, a 10-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay brings the cabin up to modern expectations, while the safety kit includes ABS, electronic stability control, multiple airbags, and speed-sensing door locks. The D1 is pitched at commercial and business buyers first, particularly logistics operators and small enterprises looking to green their delivery fleets, though its practicality and pricing around P2.35 million also make it viable for buyers who simply want a capable work truck with lower running costs than a diesel equivalent.

The E5 PHEV is the flagship of the range and the model DFSK has to compete in the increasingly crowded midsize SUV space. It is a seven-seater plug-in hybrid, pairing a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with an electric motor and a 17.52 kWh battery for a combined system output of 174 hp and 300 Nm of torque. What sets it apart from a conventional hybrid is the scale of its electrification: DFSK claims a combined range of up to 1,150 km on a full tank and full charge, with roughly 100 km achievable on electric power alone, enough for many households to handle the daily commute without touching a drop of fuel.

Power routes to the front wheels through an e-CVT, and the SUV includes a 6.6 kWh onboard charger capable of a full recharge in about four hours. A neat addition is its vehicle-to-load function, letting the E5 power tools or appliances directly from the battery, a feature that plays well in a country where blackouts remain a fact of life. Cabin technology includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster, while safety features extend to a 360-degree camera system. Priced between P1.58 million and P1.88 million depending on trim, the E5 targets families cross-shopping midsize SUVs who want the flexibility of a plug-in hybrid without stepping fully into an unfamiliar all-electric ownership experience.

The EC36 II occupies a niche that gets less attention in mainstream car coverage but matters enormously to operators of hotels, resorts, schools, and corporate shuttle services: the light electric passenger van. Configured to carry up to nine occupants, it is built on a commercial van platform reworked for full electric propulsion, with the powertrain producing around 60 kW paired to a battery pack in the low-40 kWh range and delivering a real-world range in the neighborhood of 300 km.

Its layout favors utility over flash, with a boxy, upright cabin that maximizes headroom and shoulder space for passengers rather than chasing an aerodynamic silhouette. Suspension is tuned with durability rather than plushness in mind, a sensible choice for vehicles that will spend most of their life doing repeated short trips with a full load of passengers or luggage. Priced under a million pesos, the EC36 II is aimed almost entirely at fleet buyers and businesses that need a dependable, low-operating-cost shuttle solution rather than private individuals shopping for a family vehicle.

Rounding out the range is the EC75, DFSK's dedicated electric cargo van and the model built purely around commercial logistics. It carries a larger 50.38 kWh battery than its EC36 II sibling and is rated for a range of around 310 km, enough for typical intra-city delivery routes with room to spare. Charging flexibility is one of its stronger selling points: DC fast charging can take it from empty to full in around 45 minutes, while a standard AC charger completes the same job in about 10.5 hours, useful for depots that charge vehicles overnight.

The EC75 is offered in a single trim in the Philippines, priced at P1.45 million, reflecting its position as a straightforward, purpose-built tool rather than a vehicle with multiple trim levels to choose between. Its target buyer is unambiguous: courier companies, retailers running their own delivery operations, and any business looking to convert part of its logistics fleet to electric power without the higher upfront cost of a larger commercial EV. Where the Candy and E5 court private buyers with comfort and convenience features, the EC75 makes its case purely on operating economics and uptime.

If you’re interested in what DFSK is offering, make sure to check them out on AutoDeal.com.ph for its passenger car lineup.