Forthing lands in Australia with sub-$40,000 electrified SUV pair and a three-model pipeline

New brand, familiar playbook, contested name

Forthing, a subsidiary of Chinese automotive giant Dongfeng — the joint-venture partner of choice for Honda, Nissan and Stellantis in China — is the latest new brand to enter the Australian market, launching with an electrified mid-size SUV that will take on models such as the Jaecoo J5 and Geely EX5. The brand was first launched in China in 2001 and has since expanded to parts of Europe, the Middle East and South America, with its local manager saying Australia will play a key role in its global network as a primary right-hand-drive market. ²

The debut model was originally badged Taikon 5, but CarExpert reports it is currently going by its powertrain names — Electric (EV) and Range Extender Hybrid (REEV) — while Porsche lodges a dispute over the Taikon name in New Zealand, arguing buyers could confuse it with the Taycan electric sports sedan and wagon. CarExpert separately notes the trademark has also been opposed in Australia, with the brand's SUVs described as previously known as the Taikon 5 before Porsche filed its opposition in both countries. ²³

Pricing and the two powertrains

CarExpert's first drive of both versions in New South Wales confirms drive-away pricing starting at $36,990 for the Range Extender Hybrid Luxury, with the Electric Luxury at $38,990, the REEV Exclusive at $40,490 and the Electric Exclusive at $42,490. Cardinkum's Australian EV database likewise lists the Forthing Taikon 5 BEV Luxury at $38,990. ²¹

According to specifications published by CarExpert, the EV uses a 64kWh LFP battery feeding a 150kW/340Nm front-drive motor and claims 427km of WLTP range, with 11kW AC and up to 80kW DC charging and a claimed 30-minute 30-80 per cent DC charge. The REEV pairs a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (75kW/130Nm) acting as a generator with a 31.94kWh LFP battery and a 120kW/240Nm rear-drive motor, quoting 170km of electric range, a 43-litre fuel tank, 6.6kW AC and 40kW DC charging. Both offer vehicle-to-load output of up to 3.5kW, and CarExpert's on-test indicated consumption of 14.1-15.0kWh/100km for the EV was among the better figures in the segment. ²

CarExpert reports the REEV's range-extender system lifts total driving range to up to 937km on the WLTP cycle. The publication also notes Forthing Australia has yet to publish emissions data for the REEV, but understands the all-new model launching this year is homologated to Euro 6 standards. ⁴²

Cabin, equipment and ownership terms

CarExpert found the cabin a blend of rival Chinese designs rather than glossy showroom fare, with displays reminiscent of BYD and dashboard detailing echoing GWM, plus a crystal-like gearshift said to come from a former Volvo designer. The 14.6-inch touchscreen runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there are physical climate controls alongside virtual buttons. Cargo capacity is quoted by Forthing at 480 litres behind the rear seats and 1480 litres folded, and only the top-spec EV gets a spare wheel of any kind — a space-saver. ²

Equipment highlights across the range, per CarExpert's equipment rundown, include 19-inch alloys, auto bi-LED headlights, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, leatherette upholstery and a 10-way power driver's seat with ventilation and massage on the Luxury grade; the Exclusive adds a power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, power-folding mirrors, a 6-speaker audio system and a 50W wireless phone charger. Standard safety kit spans six airbags, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, with front sensors and surround-view cameras on the Exclusive. ²

Ownership terms, as documented by CarExpert, include a seven-year/200,000km vehicle warranty with the battery covered for eight years, capped-price servicing for up to five years and roadside assistance tied to servicing. Averaged over five years, servicing the EV costs about $363 per year against roughly $521 for the REEV, with service intervals of 12 months/20,000km for the EV and 12 months/15,000km for the REEV. ²

How it drives: CarExpert's quick drive verdict

CarExpert drove top-spec versions of both powertrains from Parramatta to Sydney over urban, highway and B roads, and found the EV a generally pleasant and fuss-free daily proposition with decent insulation and a chassis tune slightly tauter than typical for affordable Chinese SUVs, plus steering that was more accurate about-centre than many rivals. On the downside, it rarely feels quick, the firmer ride can jitter on coarse surfaces, and the front-driven EV scrambled for traction and understeered when pushed on winding roads, with home-brand Atlas A51 tyres not helping. ²

The rear-drive REEV felt more secure in corners on the same drive, though its traction control cut power more intrusively when its Prinx Hirace tyres lost grip. CarExpert also flagged odd spec discrepancies: the top-spec REEV gets highway lane-centring but the EV does not, despite both claiming Level 2 driver assistance, and the brand's local boss indicated these discrepancies will continue as they are for now. ²

CarExpert's overall take was that the pair is adequate rather than standout — relatively cheap entry points into an electrified mid-size SUV, with sharp base pricing, competent daily driving and achievable efficiency claims offset by quick-to-find dynamic limits, odd spec differences and underwhelming cabin ambience. It noted a longer and more varied test would be a better real-world efficiency indicator given the brief seat time. ²

What comes next: three more models flagged

At the local launch, Forthing Australia national manager Shaun Garrard told Australian media, including GoAuto, that at least three new models are planned over the next 18 months. The first is a people mover offering pure electric and plug-in hybrid power, to be shown in prototype form at the Everything Electric show in Sydney, with seating arrangements not yet settled. Garrard told GoAuto the brand sees a gap for an affordable electrified MPV that no other brand currently offers, and separately told CarExpert that no affordable seven- or eight-seat plug-in hybrid or pure-electric MPV is accessible in Australia today, contrasting with premium Chinese MPVs such as the Denza D9, LDV MIFA 9 and Zeekr 009. ⁵³

A larger SUV is planned for 2028, and a third model remains under wraps, with Garrard declining to specify its segment. CarExpert's analysis suggests the people mover could be the Xinghai V6, a Huawei-collaborated people mover already sold in China with 45.5kWh or 60.5kWh batteries and CLTC ranges of 400-510km, and that the mystery model could be the Xinghai S7 sedan, which quotes up to 650km CLTC in EV form — though official details on the incoming products are yet to be confirmed. ³⁵

On the powertrain strategy, Garrard told CarExpert that EREVs are "perfect" for this market because they give people access to pure EV technology while providing an internal-combustion backup, adding that many Australians are not yet confident the public charging network is sufficiently built out. CarExpert's own analysis notes EREVs remain rare in Australia — early examples include the Holden Volt and BMW i3 REx — though Leapmotor already sells EREV versions of its B10 and C10 locally and Hyundai has confirmed an updated Santa Fe EREV is coming, with timing unconfirmed. ⁴