Dongfeng 007 Performance Review

by Ben Chia, 18 June 2026

Dongfeng enters the electric sedan space with the evocatively-named 007, but does this slick new contender have what it takes to battle the Tesla Model 3?

James Bond may be known for his association with Aston Martin, but given the current geopolitical momentum shift towards China in the automotive world nowadays, should he opt for a Chinese car next, there’s probably none more appropriate for the job than the Dongfeng 007.

In all seriousness, though, the 007 is Dongfeng’s new electric sedan contender, pitted against the likes of the Tesla Model 3. It’s a tough battle for supremacy in this highly competitive arena, but based on the evidence, the 007 looks like it is more than capable of holding its own.

For Your Eyes Only

On first impressions, the 007 certainly looks the business. Its sleek design gives it a a sporty, coupe-like profile, with its swooping roofline leading to a smooth fastback shape at the back. Certainly, if it was finished in black with tinted windows, it would make for a very stylish ride fit for an international spy.

That said, some of the detailing can be a bit derivative. The front end, with its slim LED headlights, does look a tad similar to the updated Tesla Model 3 if you squint a little.

The rear profile, meanwhile, resembles any variety of fastback-shaped cars these days. Depending on the angle you’re looking at, the car could pass off as a Porsche Taycan, Audi A7 Sportback, or even the BYD Seal.

That’s not to say it doesn’t look good, because it does. It’s probably more of an observation of current car design trends where carmakers tend to recycle ideas from each other, leading to lots of similar-looking cars.

The slim taillight bar, for instance, feels like it’s just popping up everywhere these days, and a once stylish-looking element is now coming across as a bit old hat.

The key fob is a bit strange too, being in the form of a literal fidget spinner. Given that it has gone out of fashion for nearly a decade now, Dongfeng’s choice is a bit odd. Perhaps a more interesting alternative design could be the trigger-like key that Kia used for its Stinger, in keeping with the spy theme.

On the whole though, the 007’s overall design language is at least reasonably cohesive, with no jarring lines or overly-bulging curves. The smooth lines do hide the fact that the car is actually quite long and sits rather low, so you do need to pay extra attention when parking to avoid any unnecessary bumps and scratches.

A View To A Kill

Step inside the 007 and more familiarity abounds. The cabin is in the typical Chinese EV style, with a large central touchscreen and general lack of physical buttons. It broadly mirrors the theme of the exterior, being clean, minimalist and unfussy.

The software underlying the 15.6-inch touchscreen is fairly straightforward to use, although there are some quirks, such as having to adjust the door mirrors via the menu for the car’s external cameras. You do get used to it quite quickly though, and generally speaking, the user interface is somewhat easier to navigate compared to some other EVs.

Dongfeng 007 Performance wanos audio system

The 007 does come with quite an impressive list of standard features, and highlights include a 19-speaker Wanos premium sound system, which also includes two speakers in the driver’s headrest.

There is also the all-around view camera, which aids greatly with parking, as is the rather interesting camera-based digital rear view camera. The latter appears to be an aftermarket fitment on the test car, but it proves to be rather useful given the sloping roofline and large rear headrests.

There’s also the usual driver assistance safety systems, but they can be a bit intrusive, especially the lane keeping assist feature which is extremely sensitive and has a tendency to overcorrect. It feels counterproductive when a safety system proves to be so irritating that it’s much better to have it switched off.

Like many EVs, the 007 is generous with its space. Rear passengers have plenty of legroom to stretch out, given the car’s almost limo-like dimensions and lengthy, nearly 3-metre long wheelbase.

That said, headroom is a bit tight for taller individuals, which is no surprise given the roofline, although the large panoramic glass sunroof does mitigate any feelings of claustrophobia.

Boot space is decent too, at 452 litres, expandable to 1,026 litres when the rear seats are folded. The floor is a bit shallow though, so you probably can’t fit tall items in there. There is also a small frunk compartment in front, which can accommodate small items if you need a bit more storage.

Thunderball

In Singapore, Dongfeng offers the 007 with three drivetrain variants. There’s the obligatory Cat A version with 133bhp dubbed Prestige. The mid-level trim is the Premium, which has a single motor that produces a handy 268bhp. And the flagship model is the Performance, which is tested here, and has dual motors that produce a whopping 536bhp.

On paper, the specs look impressive. 0-100km/h comes up in a claimed 3.9 seconds, which is in the ballpark of pretty much all of the other performance EV models out there.

However, in truth, the 007 is more of a cruiser than a missile, with its relaxed demeanour brought about by its excellent composure. You get the sense that the car would much rather take it easy on the highway than behave like a hooligan on the drag strip.

That is, until you delve into the menu and activate something called Combat mode. All of a sudden, the screen turns red, there are all sorts of performance gauges with fancy racing graphics, and the word ‘Fight’ shows up on the driver display.

Floor the throttle in Combat mode, and you’ll find yourself rocketing forward at a rather alarming pace, accompanied by fake engine revving noises piped through the speakers. It’s a very amusing experience, certainly good for a smile or two, but you just get the sense that this is not the 007’s true character.

Quantum Of Solace

Instead, the car is much more at ease settling into the daily grind. The suspension is firm but comfortable, and it copes with most road surfaces extremely well. Refinement is also a major plus point, with a general lack of noise other than the artificial engine sounds that you can switch on or off on demand.

It’s the same story in the corners as well, with the 007 coming across as competent rather than outright engaging. There is a neat fluidity in the car’s handling, and the all-wheel-drive setup does provide a sense of stability. However, the steering feels somewhat lifeless, even in the sportiest mode, and the handling can be best described as safe rather than exciting.

Visually, the Performance is differentiated from the less powerful versions by its 19-inch wheels (instead of 18s for the others) and the red brake callipers. However, the brakes themselves tend to be a bit snatchy and inconsistent, and it doesn’t seem to particularly like hard stops. It’s a minor gripe, but one worth noting regardless.

Dongfeng claims that the 007 Performance has a range of 565km on a full charge, which is quite impressive actually. Certainly, in normal driving circumstances, hitting 500km shouldn’t be much of a problem. That said, the mid-spec Premium model has a claimed range of 650km, so if you need to go for long distance drives, that should be one to consider.

Die Another Day

Would the Dongfeng 007 make for a worthy Bond car? In many ways, certainly yes. It has the stylish looks to pull it off, and in Performance trim, definitely has the power to make for quick getaways when needed.

But arguably the most impressive argument for it has to be its price tag. The base Cat A version starts at $180,888 with COE (at time of writing), but even this top-spec Performance model is going for just $232,888 with COE.

That’s roughly 20 grand lower than the Tesla Model 3 Performance, and considering what you get in terms of power and style, it certainly represents excellent value for your money.

Technical Specifications