Dongfeng is the last to enter the UAE automobile market among the four state-owned biggies from China. Among the four models they showcase, Dongfeng Mage is the most popular \u2013 a practical 5-seater designed to please.<\/em><\/p>\n The Dongfeng brand legacy<\/strong><\/p>\n Dongfeng Motor Corporation is one of the four major automotive manufacturers owned by the People\u2019s Republic of China \u2013 the other three beings SAIC Motors (we are familiar with the MG brand), Changan Automobile and FAW Group. Like the Jeep and Defender, Dongfeng also has an origin story linked to the battlefield. The company was envisaged as a manufacturer of light military trucks during the Korean war in the early fifties. But it wasn\u2019t until 1969 that Dongfeng came into being. Initially focusing on commercial vehicles, the majority of the company\u2019s production shifted to passenger cars by the turn of the century. Under the Dongfeng umbrella, there are many automotive sub-divisions \u2013 two of them are familiar to us \u2013 M-Hero, the recently arrived brand in luxury off-roading and Forthing, which is occasionally seen on UAE roads. Then there is Aeolus, which is the brand Mage belongs to. We can simply go on to call this car \u2018Dongfeng Mage\u2019 but now you won\u2019t be wondering why the name Aeolus is spread across its bonnet.<\/p>\n Mage, the 5-seater midsize SUV<\/strong><\/p>\n Like many of the Chinese midsize cars that come in their own convenient size, the Mage is 4.65 m long, quite similar to its major rivals, Geely Starray and Jetour Dashing. When it comes to design, Mage isn\u2019t keeping its admiration of Porsche design a secret, but brings to mind the Peugeot 3008 in the facia. The Tesla-styled hidden door handles and large alloy wheels add to the aerodynamic, low-profile design. Finding inspiration in the right places seem to be a modern virtue in automotive.<\/p>\n Cabin comforts<\/strong><\/p>\n The interiors impressed me for two reasons rolled into one \u2013 being bold and subtle at the same time (is that even possible?)! The stark, orange leather seats live up to the sporty profile of the crossover, which otherwise makes no claim of being sporty or adventurous \u2013 it is rather a cool, urban crossover.<\/p>\n The plastics and other synthetic material are made to look classy with intriguing patterns marking the dashboard. Complementing this is the exceptionally clean console bridge design \u2013 but for a small gear switch lever, there is hardly anything to disturb its peace!<\/p>\n Even without the superfluous luxury of dual-zone AC, Dongfeng Mage comes with rear AC vents \u2013 good enough to keep a cool head. The mid-seat is flat and comfortably seats an adult. The Mage makes space for comfort and convenience from the boot to the cabin. Besides the seatback pouches, there are seat-side pouches too. The console deck has space for two phones and there is a lower deck for quick storage, but it might be helpful to get those cheap grip-pads over them. The armrest storage has the clever addition of a blower vent, so as to double up as a cool-box.<\/p>\n Cabin tech<\/strong><\/p>\n The six speakers in the cabin streamed enjoyable music from my phone. But that is all I get to enjoy now, as there is no radio in the Mage \u2013 looks like from where the Mage comes from, unlike the UAE, people stick to their own playlists and don\u2019t care much for radio. It is equipped to receive DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) which incidentally is not a ubiquitous presence in our region. So, radio wisdom seems to have dawned late for the Mage but the good news is that Dongfeng has assured to bring it in a couple of months. Two out of their four models already have it.<\/p>\n The driver info screen is 10.2\u201d wide while a 13.2\u201d tablet leans onto the dashboard. Wireless charger is present only in the top trim but charging by wire is rather quick. The Mirror Link App allows your phone screen to be reflected wirelessly for navigation and other features.<\/p>\n Safety<\/strong><\/p>\n The base trim has 4 airbags while the top trim gets two curtain airbags, too. A 360-degree camera with top angle and transparent chassis view (shows obstacles underneath) is standard. The top variant is equipped with Advanced Driver Assist features, ranging from Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Monitoring to Lane Keep Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Even without the tech, blind spot was still absent in the left side mirror and brief in the right, which is simply resolved by a quick shoulder check, recommended standard practice anyway. The relatively high placement of the rear windscreen helps to avoid view compromise from headrests but could eschew the road space immediately behind the car.<\/p>\n The Drive<\/strong><\/p>\n Dongfeng Mage is driven by a 1.5L Turbo engine but its 202 hp and 305 Nm of torque, delivered smoothly and seamlessly, wouldn\u2019t let you believe this! However, the drive isn\u2019t sporty in the way enthusiasts speak of it. Rather, Mage has an easy going, loose-on-the-leash sort of drive, which seems to be preferred by most young drivers. For those who wish for a more stringent steering feel, settings can be adjusted. As for driving modes, there are two \u2013 Sport and Standard.<\/p>\n Dongfeng Mage is one of the few in the segment that strikes a balance between power and fuel economy. The promise of over 14 km was often fulfilled on long drives while achieving over 11km on average.<\/p>\n For a change, I drove the base trim and was still left impressed!<\/strong><\/p>\n Dong Feng Mage comes in two trims \u2013 I tested the basic which still spelt so much value with its 19\u201d wheels, 6-way electric driver\u2019s seat, the dashboard tablet and the 360-degree camera. The top model has all the trappings of luxury we have come to expect from economical cars including an Advanced Driver Assistance System, two extra airbags, 20\u201d wheels, automatic high-beam assist and 4-way electric seats for the front passenger. All for just AED 7000 more.<\/p>\n The essential Dongfeng Mage<\/strong><\/p>\n The model is priced at AED 89,900 and AED 96,900, which is a few thousands less than its obvious rivals. The desirable co-existence of striking yet clean design and a powerful yet economical drive makes Dongfeng Mage a youthful choice with practical comforts for families.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Dongfeng](\"https:\/\/drivemeonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Dongfeng-Mage-front.jpg\")
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