Dongfeng Rich 6: a pickup truck with a Japanese engine and Chinese "resourcefulness"

Unexpectedly, but the meaning of the word "pickup" was found in the "Explanatory Dictionary" by S.I. Ozhegov. Explains, they say, a small car with folding seats on the sides for transporting people and goods. Other linguists (Efremova and Ushakov) add that this is a light truck on the chassis of an ordinary passenger car. Carrying capacity - up to half a ton, the cabin, they write, is closed, and the body is open.


The Chinese, when they built Dongfeng Rich 6 (shortly - DF6), also thought so, they agreed with everything. But Sergei Ivanovich was not read, as, indeed, most of us. In a word, folding seats on the sides did not. They did not fit the towbar and the rear towing eyes. Bad for trucks. But Ozhegov would have remained indifferent to such negligence, since he either did not know the word "hook" or did not want to include it in the dictionary.

However, the review of the Chinese pickup truck began somehow awkwardly, from the middle, and even with shortcomings. And we are used to...

Manufacturer

The state-owned company Dongfeng is one of the four best automakers in the Middle Kingdom - 3,28 million vehicles per year. But 79% of products are manufactured at joint ventures with Honda, Peugeot and Nissan.


The DF6 is produced at the Zhengzhou Nissan plant in China, so it looks a lot like the third-generation Navara D23 Japanese pickup truck. A sort of "legal clone". The fundamental concept of the cabins catches the eye, and the equally pleasant exterior pleases. A small difference between cars lies in the small details. And so, from a distance and squinting, you can’t suddenly distinguish the models. Rather, you say that "Chinese" is a well-reworked "Japanese". And you will be right.

Model overview

The pickup truck body type was invented by the Americans. In the 50s of the last century, he gained particular popularity. The capacious semi-truck was the best assistant to farmers and small entrepreneurs.


The Dongfeng Rich 6 pickup truck still has the same purpose today - to transport goods that are not suitable for the trunks of sedans and crossovers in terms of size and weight. But the car turned out to be very beautiful and solid: a bale of hay in the back, perhaps, will look ridiculous.

Exterior

The mid-size DF6, built on a frame structure, has 4 full doors. The designers were focused on modern forms and did not overuse the decor. The "look" of headlights with daytime running lights is somewhat harsh. Optical instruments are simple reflex halogens without washers. Cheap to maintain, but weakly shine, drivers say.

The radiator grille is massive 6-coal. Two large stripes run along it in the center, supporting the company logo of the manufacturer. The bumper is no frills, which is normal for a pickup truck.


Landing in the car is comfortable: wide aluminum thresholds help. Sidewalls without embossed contours of the wheel arches would look too simple. Regular tire sizes - 255/70 R16, Chinese Triangle tires. The stern with vertical lights is unsophisticated, but, in general, the appearance of Dongfeng Rich 6 is harmonious and complete.

dimensions

The body parts fit well, the assembly is welded, the seams are smooth. The manufacturer entrusted the care of the anti-corrosion coating of the bottom to the Russian user. And he took care of the environment himself: on the right side, under a neat lid, he installed a 13-liter tank for AdBlue liquid. Reagent consumption - 1 liter per 1 thousand km. The volume of the fuel tank is 73 liters.


A car with a characteristic elongated silhouette was given a lot of space in space:

✅ Length - 5 310 mm
✅ Width - 1 mm
✅ Height - 1 mm
✅ Wheelbase - 3 mm
✅ Ground clearance - 220 mm

The cargo platform is square with a side of 1 mm. The height of the sides is 500 mm, the loading height is 475 mm. A protective plastic case for the body and kung are optional. The spare tire is suspended on brackets under the bottom of the DF845 pickup.

Chinese trick

Regarding the weight and carrying capacity, we will talk about the announced Chinese resourcefulness, even cunning, albeit forced. The curb weight of the car, according to the documents, is 1 kg, the gross weight is 975 kg. It turns out that the carrying capacity is 2 kg. We fill all the seats with adults of average fatness and get 459 kg for luggage.


Who needs such a pickup and why? And here it is, Chinese ingenuity! They indicate the total weight of 1 kg less than 2,5 tons, so that Russians can safely move around cities and metropolitan areas on a Dongfeng Rich 6 pickup truck, having category B rights in their pocket. And, in fact, you can load the car up to a ton.

Thank you Chinese. For this, we will forgive you the towbar and rear towing eyes (there are front ones). And even though S.I. Ozhegov did not bother to explain to us what a towbar is, we will fit the part ourselves. In general, we sculpt a towing device in the form of a ball even on premium and racing cars - tea, not the Bezrukovs ...

Interior

Here the definitions of “standard”, “low-key” are more suitable. But neat and functional. Plastic is inexpensive, but does not emit a chemical smell. The seats, sheathed in eco-leather, are too soft - you fall through the hardest base. Lateral support is more for show.


The car is declared as a 5-seater, but it will be cramped for three passengers on the back sofa, and there are only two head restraints. There is no seat heating in the gallery, there are no armrests, the backrests are not adjustable in tilt.

There is only one USB connector, provided for front riders. But under the tidy there are a lot of plugs that will allow the user to realize the dreams of the user in terms of installing modern bells and whistles. A prominent place on the console is occupied by a 9-inch touchscreen media center.

The instrument panel is well organized, there is even an AdBlue gauge. Power windows, ABS and ESP systems, power and heated exterior mirrors and many other familiar things come by default.


In the top versions (we don’t expect it) with an automatic transmission, they offer an all-round camera, an ERA-GLONASS module, keyless entry, engine start from a button, and two-color upholstery. A picky driver will find many small flaws, but are they critical for a workhorse? The main thing is that the steering wheel with a hydraulic booster is well regulated, there are pockets and boxes under each seat for storing small items.

Engine

Only an in-line diesel turbocharged four, installed longitudinally, enters our market. Pickup truck "Comfort".

Characteristics of the power unit:

✅ Volume - 2,5 l
✅ Power - 136 liters. With. at 3,8 thousand rpm
✅ Peak moment of force - 305 N * m at 1,8-2,6 thousand rpm

The engine is considered "intellectual property" of China. The motor is also produced here. But the development is Nissan's - you can't fool a Russian user!

Gearbox - 5-speed mechanics, all-wheel drive with a "lower" and a rear differential lock. The front independent suspension uses large-arm double wishbones and an anti-roll bar. Behind - longitudinal springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. Disc brakes ventilated front and drum brakes on the rear wheels. Accelerating dynamics - 11-12 seconds to the first 100 km.


A car of this design, equipment, cross-country ability and carrying capacity cannot be cheap. The price is 2,7 million rubles. seems adequate. It's sad that there is no towbar and towing eyes. But we, with due respect and reverence, remembered the name of the great Soviet linguist, Professor S.I. Ozhegov. And we’ll fit the spherical traction coupling somehow ourselves ...