2025 DFSK E5 PHEV Ultimate Review

The plug-in-hybrid arena is getting busier by the moment, and it’s easy to see why. PHEVs bring smooth power delivery, stellar fuel economy, and best of all, they’re exempt from the number coding scheme in Metro Manila. 

A rising star in the segment is the Sealion 6 because of its technology and value proposition. However, while many people have the BYD Sealion 6 on their radar, they are hesitant to pull the trigger because they want more space. If you’re one of those people, DFSK has something you should check out.

That "something" is the DFSK E5 PHEV, a plug-in hybrid crossover that offers the benefits of PHEVs along with an extra row of seats. With that in mind, we're taking the DFSK E5 Ultimate for a spin to see if this seven-seater PHEV is worth your hard-earned money.

Before we go any further, talking about the E5, we’d like to start at the engine bay. Powering the E5 PHEV is a plug-in-hybrid powertrain that features a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter hybrid engine producing 81 hp and 135 Nm of torque. Small numbers, yes, but that’s because the engine’s primary role is to recharge the E5’s 17.52 kWh battery pack. This battery feeds a 130 kW electric motor, delivering 174 hp and 300 Nm of torque, more than enough to move a seven-seater crossover with ease. How it moves the E5, though, we’ll tell you more later.

Moving to the exterior, the E5 has a face that can quite literally light up the room. Alongside its sharp LED headlights, it features a full-width LED light bar for the DRLs, stretching across the front fascia. Even the DFSK logo is illuminated, which we think is a neat touch. The front end has an aggressive presence, with a wide, grinning grille that pairs nicely with the sleek lights, flanked by functional-looking side intakes.

From the side, the E5 rides on large two-tone 19-inch wheels. While their size is impressive, they don’t quite have the same visual impact as the bold front fascia. The effect is somewhat let down by plastic trim inserts in the wheels, which make them feel more cheap than classy.

Thankfully, at the rear, the E5 regains some ‘pogi’ points. The rear is simple, with sleek LED taillights dominating the tailgate, complemented by a wrap-around LED light bar giving it some extra presence on the road. Speaking of the tailgate, that brings us into what’s inside the E5.

While we don’t have exact figures for the E5’s cargo carrying capacity, we found that with the third row up, you have enough space for a weekend’s worth of hand-carry luggage. Drop the third row down, and you have space for that and two balikbayan boxes. If that isn’t enough, drop the second row down, and the E5 can carry two extra boxes. Plus, the E5’s seats fold flat from the third to the second row, so pushing and pulling items from the rear is no issue.

Moving to the seats, we start at the E5’s third row. While the third row is generous with space for your legs and head, there are no features to note for the third row passengers. Apart from two bottle holders on each side, there are no charging ports and no dedicated air vents. So, while the E5 can indeed seat seven, we’d recommend reserving the third row for shorter trips.

In the second row, the E5 offers a familiar but comfortable setup. Passengers get plush leather seats, a center armrest with cupholders, two air vents, a Type-A charging port, various cubby holes, a share of the panoramic sunroof, and two additional bottle holders integrated into the door cards. The real highlight here is the generous legroom, aided by the E5’s flat floor. This means that even with three passengers seated across the second row, comfort remains uncompromised.

Up front, the driver’s cockpit has a classy feel, thanks to DFSK’s thoughtful design. The mix of light-colored leather and dark plastics creates a pleasing contrast and gives the cabin an airy, spacious vibe. The center console features a faux wood finish, which we find far better than glossy piano black. That said, piano black trim still makes an appearance on the shifter and beneath the buttons on the center stack.

Finding the proper driving position is easy, with a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel paired with power-adjustable seats. However, the seats themselves are quite flat and offer limited thigh support. They’re not uncomfortable, but we do wish the seat bottoms tilted back slightly for better long-drive comfort.

Still in the driver’s seat, the E5 features two crisp, high-definition screens, a 7-inch fully digital instrument cluster, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen that handles everything from navigation to media and vehicle settings. While the screens have a clear display, we think that the numbers and info on the instrument cluster are a tad small to read comfortably. Another complaint we have regarding the infotainment system is the inclusion of the latch releases for the fuel and charging ports. We wish that DSFSK stuck with physical latches for those, as it can get confusing for the uninitiated.

Safety features include Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Alert, Rear Collision Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, plus a full suite of airbags and stability aids like ESC, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Hill-Start, and Hill-Descent Assist, so in terms of tech, the E5 is decently well-equipped.

Out on the road, the E5 is quite impressive. Remember those power figures we mentioned earlier? They may be modest compared to the output of diesel PPVs, but while conventional engines lose steam as the revs climb, the E5’s hybrid powertrain delivers peak power consistently. Better yet, it does so smoothly and predictably.

Another advantage of a PHEV powertrain is, of course, fuel economy. Diesel PPVs can often stretch to 700 or 800 km on a full tank with careful driving, but a well-optimized PHEV with a gasoline engine can easily exceed 1,000 km without breaking a sweat. In our case, even with a mix of city driving and light to heavy traffic, we still managed to achieve over 20 km/l.

Moving on to the steering feel, we think that the E5 PHEV’s steering is on the lighter side. But, for a lot of drivers, this may be a refreshing change of pace, especially if they’re coming from cars with heavier steering characteristics. 

In the same vein, the E5’s ride quality and NVH isolation are equally impressive. We put it to the test at 100 km/h on the expressway and found that road noise was kept to a minimum, adding to the overall sense of refinement.

All things considered, is the DFSK E5 PHEV worth your hard-earned money? From our drive, we found that it has its share of faults and drawbacks. However, with pricing starting at P1,580,000 and topping out at P1,880,000, the E5 PHEV makes a strong case for itself. If a third row of seats and the extra space it provides are non-negotiable, and you’re set on a PHEV rather than a five-seater alternative, the DFSK E5 PHEV is certainly worth a look.