Dongfeng Aeolus Haoji

Model Overview

The Dongfeng Aeolus Haoji is a C-segment SUV launched in 2022 by Dongfeng Aeolus, the proprietary passenger car marque under Dongfeng Motor Corporation. Positioned as an "accessible premium hybrid SUV" and a "segment-defining compact SUV", it officially went on sale on 26 September 2022. It marks the first SUV model built on Dongfeng's DSMA (Dongfeng Superior Modular Architecture) platform and the brand's first production model powered by the Mach Dual-Engine MHD hybrid powertrain.

In terms of dimensions, the Haoji measures 4,720 mm long, 1,910 mm wide, and 1,702 mm tall (with some earlier documentation listing 1,720 mm), riding on a 2,825 mm wheelbase. With its generous 1,910 mm width and 2,825 mm wheelbase, the Haoji punches above its weight with D-segment-rivalling proportions, delivering cabin space superior to most C-segment rivals. Under the bonnet, two powertrain options are available: a pure petrol variant and a Mach Dual-Engine hybrid. The petrol model features a 1.5-litre turbo engine paired with a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (7DCT), while the hybrid pairs a 1.5-litre turbo engine with an E-CVT and an electric drive unit. Pricing ranges from RM126,900 to RM146,900, placing it against Chinese C-segment contenders like the Haval H6, Changan CS75 PLUS, and Geely Boyue, as well as entry-level joint-venture rivals. In November 2024, the 2025 Haoji facelift was introduced, streamlined to two variants—Luxury and Noble—priced at RM129,900 and RM139,900 respectively, retaining the 1.5T+7DCT powertrain.

Design Language

The Haoji’s exterior styling centres around the "Wind Language" philosophy, incorporating "Wind Trace" design cues to deliver a bold yet sculpted road presence. Up front, it features a prominent vertical-slat waterfall grille finished in gloss piano black, accented by a full-width light bar that seamlessly links the illuminated "AEOLUS" badging with the LED daytime running lights (DRLs). The split-headlamp cluster houses lower projector units for the high and low beams, featuring auto high beam and automatic on/off functionality. Down the flanks, a floating roof motif, yacht-inspired D-pillars, and a sweeping shoulder line running from the front headlamps to the taillights work alongside black wheel arch cladding and an optional two-tone exterior to add depth. Around the back, full-width LED taillights mirror the front DRL graphics, complemented by quad-look dual exhaust finishers and a sporty diffuser. It rides on 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 235/50 R19 tyres as standard. Exterior colour choices include Aurora Green, Ceramic White, Inkstone Black, Elegant Ink Blue, and Galaxy Grey.

Inside, the Haoji features a wraparound cockpit inspired by the "Wind Language" motif, creating an inviting, driver-centric ambience. Cabin themes are offered in Black Elf and Celestial Sea Star, with premium soft-touch materials covering 82% of the interior, including a 54% share of NAPPA-grain trim—an impressive standard for this price bracket. The driver is greeted by a two-spoke D-shaped flat-bottom sports steering wheel trimmed in perforated leather grips. The dashboard is dominated by a dual 12.3-inch curved screen setup comprising a full digital instrument cluster and a central touchscreen infotainment unit. The digital cluster incorporates AR augmented reality navigation, projecting turn-by-turn graphics directly onto live camera feeds. A physical button bank is thoughtfully retained beneath the centre display for tactile ease, flanked by an electronic shift-by-wire gear lever. On the passenger side, the class-exclusive "Queen Co-pilot" seat features an electric ottoman (leg rest) as standard across the range. At the rear, the seatbacks offer 10 levels of recline adjustment, complemented by aviation-style sleep headrests and extended seat cushions. Folding the rear bench down creates a completely flat cargo floor for maximum practicality.

Powertrain and Performance

The Haoji provides two distinct powertrain options—a 1.5T petrol and the Mach Dual-Engine MHD hybrid—catering to varied driving demands.

The petrol variant is powered by a Mach Power 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine (unit code: DFMC15TP1), pushing out 150 kW (204 PS) and 305 Nm of torque. Power is channelled through a Getrag 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT), returning a WLTC combined fuel consumption of 6.99 L/100 km and a top speed exceeding 195 km/h. It runs comfortably on RON 92 petrol, keeping everyday running costs low.

The flagship hybrid variant features the Mach Dual-Engine MHD hybrid system built on a P1+P3 architecture (P1 generator + P3 traction motor), combining a 1.5-litre dedicated hybrid turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an HD120 electric drive unit. The 1.5T hybrid engine achieves a stellar 41.07% thermal efficiency, with its high-efficiency band covering over 72% of the engine map. Total system output reaches 180 kW (245 PS) and a hefty 540 Nm of combined torque, eclipsing most conventional 2.0-litre turbo petrol engines. The hybrid powertrain operates at over 90% system efficiency across 90% of driving scenarios, delivering a WLTC-rated fuel consumption of 5.8 L/100 km and an NEDC rating of just 4.8 L/100 km, with real-world tests yielding figures as low as 4.6 L/100 km. An electronic continuously variable transmission (E-CVT) ensures seamless power delivery. The system is paired with a 1.8 kWh battery pack and operates as a self-charging hybrid (HEV) without plug-in capability. Braking performance is equally commendable, stopping from 100 to 0 km/h in just 34.12 metres. Off the line, throttle response is instantaneous at 0.15 seconds, launching under pure electric power for effortless low-speed pick-up.

Chassis and Handling

Under the skin, the Haoji benefits from Dongfeng's DSMA architecture, sporting an all-round independent suspension setup with front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link configuration as standard across the lineup—a strong selling point in its class. Tuned for urban commuting, it features oversized 55 mm shock absorber cylinders (versus the typical 45–51 mm among rivals), striking an adept balance between ride pliancy and body control. The chassis absorbs high-frequency road chatter with ease and settles over larger crests progressively, offering a reassuringly composed ride in daily use; body lean under hard cornering remains predictable and well-checked, inspiring confidence at highway cruising speeds. A negative camber change rate design of -3 deg/mm helps maintain an optimum tyre contact patch to maximise grip, particularly on wet and slippery roads. The electric power steering (EPS) comes with adjustable assist levels, delivering a light yet direct steering feel. The vehicle is front-wheel drive (FWD), with ventilated front discs and solid rear discs, backed by an electronic parking brake (EPB) and electronic stability control (ESC) engineered to function reliably in extreme conditions from -40°C to 120°C. Drive modes include Eco, Normal/Comfort, and Sport, while the hybrid version gains an "i-Driving" mode with 8-stage power customisation and two steering weight settings for a tailored driving feel.

Cockpit and Features

The cabin is equipped with the WindLink OS intelligent infotainment suite. High-spec versions feature twin 12.3-inch curved screens—a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel alongside a 12.3-inch central touchscreen—with crisp, high-definition graphics. For the 2025 model year, the cluster is revised to a 7-inch display alongside the 12.3-inch centre screen, retaining physical HVAC toggles below for intuitive blind operation. The system supports GPS navigation, Bluetooth telephony, online music streaming (Ximalaya, Kuwo Music), 4G LTE connectivity with Wi-Fi hotspot capability, preset smart scenarios, and over-the-air (OTA) updates. Voice commands are triggered via the "Hao Meimei" wake-up prompt, allowing hands-free control over navigation, phone calls, air conditioning, the sunroof, and power windows. Smartphone mirroring is catered for via Baidu CarLife and Huawei HiCar.

Comfort and convenience appointments are well-curated across the petrol Luxury and Noble trims. The Luxury variant gets a powered driver's seat, 360-degree surround-view camera with a 180-degree transparent undercarriage view, narrow road assist, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS); stepping up to the Noble variant adds Level 2 ADAS (incorporating full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and lane centring assist), automatic climate control, and an in-cabin PM2.5 air purification system. Leatherette upholstery is standard across the board, with 60:40 split-folding rear backrests, while the Noble trim adds a rear fold-down centre armrest with cup holders. Audio is handled by a 4-speaker setup on the Luxury and upgraded to 6 speakers on the Noble. Standout amenities like the Queen Co-pilot seat, aviation rear headrests, flat-folding rear seats, and panoramic sunroof won broad praise on earlier models, though 2025 updates saw minor repackaging (such as dropping the Queen seat and AR navigation on the Noble variant). Top-spec hybrid models also boast an innovative AR projection smart powered tailgate: when approaching the rear with the key fob, a graphic is projected onto the tarmac, allowing the tailgate to be opened simply by tapping the projected icon.

Safety and Driver Assistance

On the passive safety front, the Haoji is engineered to global five-star crash safety standards, utilising Baosteel 2,000 MPa ultra-high-strength thermoformed steel in the A- and B-pillars, which retains structural resilience even in extreme low temperatures down to -70°C. Airbag counts differ by model year and trim: top-tier 2022 models come fully equipped with dual front airbags, front side airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags (6 airbags in total); for the 2025 model year, the entry Luxury trim omits the curtain airbags, whereas the Noble grade retains the full six-airbag coverage.

For active safety and ADAS, early flagship variants featured an advanced quasi-Level 3 suite, powered by 17 radars and 7 cameras (24 sensors in total) delivering 360-degree environmental monitoring. Up to 27 driver assistance features were available, highlighted by Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go (ACC S&G), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Centring Keep (LCK), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA), and Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR). A 540-degree HD camera system (360-degree bird's-eye view plus 180-degree transparent chassis) comes standard across the board (including the 2025 Luxury), giving drivers an under-floor view to avoid scraping obstacles. The FAPA remote automated parking assist allows drivers to park in or summon the vehicle from perpendicular, parallel, or diagonal spots via a smartphone app. The 2025 Noble comes equipped with a comprehensive Level 2 ADAS suite, while the Luxury variant settles for standard cruise control alongside the 360-degree camera with transparent chassis. Augmented reality (AR) instrument navigation and the AR projection smart tailgate further enhance the vehicle's tech credentials.

Market Performance and Reception

The Dongfeng Aeolus Haoji made an auspicious start upon its introduction. Following its global premiere in April 2022, it racked up over 10,000 blind pre-orders on day one, reflecting significant market enthusiasm. In the months following its launch, monthly deliveries hovered between 4,000 and 5,000 units, making an immediate splash in the crowded C-segment SUV market. However, momentum began to wane from 2023 onwards. In 2023, the model's peak monthly performance (October) stood at 5,346 wholesale units and 3,671 retail sales, with December 2024 registering a trailing 12-month high of 1,116 retail units. By 2025, monthly retail volume had tapered to between 300 and 600 units; despite a brief uptick to 939 units in January 2026, deliveries softened again from February. Its sales ranking in the compact SUV segment has since fallen outside the top 80, leaving it in a relatively niche market position.

Owner feedback has been largely positive regarding the vehicle's lively powertrain (the 1.5T Mach engine provides punchy performance), cavernous interior (the 2,825 mm wheelbase and 1,910 mm width afford exceptional cabin room), and the hybrid's real-world fuel economy (averaging around 5.8 L/100 km on the WLTC cycle). Unique selling points like the Queen Co-pilot ottoman and the fold-flat rear seats have also drawn praise. Conversely, criticisms have centred on occasional infotainment sluggishness, infrequent OTA firmware rollouts, and spec de-contenting on newer model years (e.g. deletion of the Queen Co-pilot seat and AR navigation on the 2025 Noble, and removal of side curtain airbags on the Luxury). Fit-and-finish and quality control also leave room for improvement, with owners noting uneven panel gaps, lacklustre paint finish, and a rather high boot loading lip. Common quality complaints across automotive forums include infotainment screen freezes/blackouts, wiper glitches, panoramic sunroof water ingress, and interior trim rattles, which have weighed on overall customer sentiment.

In summary, as the pioneering SUV built on Dongfeng's DSMA architecture and Mach Dual-Engine hybrid powertrain, the Haoji carved out a unique niche in the RM120,000 to RM150,000 C-segment SUV space with its "big cabin, self-charging hybrid, and high equipment" proposition, bolstered by its segment-leading 2,825 mm wheelbase and impressive fuel efficiency. Nevertheless, squeezed by fierce segment competition, modest brand equity, and build consistency concerns, the Haoji failed to sustain its early sales blitz, leading to a tapering sales trajectory. For the 2025 model year, the lineup was trimmed from five variants to just two, reflecting a rationalisation of brand resources. Key competitors in this space include mainstream C-segment rivals such as the Haval H6, Changan CS75 PLUS, Geely Boyue L, GAC GS4, and BYD Song Pro.