Soueast DX3
Soueast Motors, a joint venture of Fujian Auto, CMC of Taiwan and Mitsubishi, has struggled to reach sustainable volume in its home market, as its line-up of sedans based on out-of-production Mitsubishi cars failed to keep up with rising demands of Chinese car buyers. That changed in 2015 when the brand launched its first crossover DX7 Bolang, which was designed with the help of Italy’s famous design house Pininfarina, and which immediately became the brand’s best selling model with more than three quarters of total brand sales. In December 2016, that model was accompanied by a smaller crossover called DX3, also co-designed by Pininfarina.
The DX3 is available with the same two Mitsubishi-sourced engines that most small Chinese brands use for their small cars: a 1,5-liter with 120hp and 143Nm of torque mated to a 5-speed manual, and an optional 1,5-liter turbo with 150hp and 220Nm of torque, mated to a CVT. Size of the small Soueast crossover: 4.354/1.840/1.654mm with a wheelbase of 2.610mm. Prices start at 72.900 yuan (€ 9.900,- / US$10,600) and end at 99.900 yuan (€ 13.600,- / US$14,500), which is similar to the Changan CS35 and JAC Refine S3, but above budget models like the the Beijing Senova X35.
