Finding a cheap car in these times is increasingly difficult. If we are also looking for an SUV and we need plenty of space, with a large trunk, and the availability of a third row of seats to complete 7 seats, the situation becomes even more complicated.
But the model we are talking about today is a great unknown. Y the only SUV that offers 7 seats, a huge trunk, comes well equipped as standard, even with an automatic transmission throughout the range and all this for €24,995. A price similar to that of the cheapest SEAT Ateca that neither has 7 seats, nor is it as spacious, nor does it have such complete standard equipment.
Where’s the catch?
A very little known 7-seater SUV for €24,995
DFSK is one of the lesser known brands on the market. But he has been selling his products in Spain for years. It belongs to the Chinese giant Dongfeng. It has 27 dealers in Spain and offers a 7-year warranty. Undoubtedly, it is one of those manufacturers of Chinese origin that, at a time when the European industry has begun to abandon the cheapest cars in its range, claims to be an anti-crisis solution.
The DFSK 580 is a great SUV that starts at €24,995. A really adjusted price, if we take into account that it has 7 seats and that its length, 4.68 meters, is similar to that of a SEAT Tarraco that starts from €34,210. We are talking about a €10,000 difference. An important difference, especially if we take into account that the DFSK is equipped with an automatic transmission (continuous variator) as standard in its turbocharged gasoline engine with 149 HP of power, while the most basic Tarraco uses a 1.5 TSI engine of 150 CV and manual transmission.
The simplicity of the DFSK range is maximum. While it is offered only with this mechanism (although we can optionally buy it with an adaptation to LPG and therefore with an ECO label) and two lines of equipment. The most basic line, called Luxury, already includes an 11″ touch screen, rear parking camera, and a practicable sunroof.
To better understand what the DFSK 580 offers, we recommend you watch our video comparison with the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, which you can see on these lines. As a summary of the conclusions reached by my colleague David Clavero, evidently the DFSK 580 has numerous weaknesses compared to alternatives such as the SEAT Tarraco or the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace with which we compare it. But the only question we should ask ourselves before buying it is whether those weaknesses outweigh the €10,000 or €15,000 difference that there may be with its 7-seater SUV alternatives.
But what economic alternatives exist in the market?
- If what we are looking for is an economical 7-seater car, there are few better options than the Dacia Jogger from €20,450 (in 7-seater configuration). It is not an SUV, but a minivan with a crossover look, but also one of the cars that offers the most space per euro invested
- If we want an SUV of a certain size, and wide, but we do not need the sixth and seventh seats, the MG HS part of the €22,990 and it is also one of the cheapest options for those looking for a large SUV.
- It is not cheap. But SEAT Tarraco from €34,210 Yes, it is one of the most complete 7-seater SUVs