A Wuling Darion has turned up at an emissions-testing center in Hanoi, a strong sign that the brand's new seven-seat MPV is in the final stages of preparation for the Vietnamese market. Notably, the sand-yellow test car wore a wheel design not seen on the version sold in Indonesia, suggesting the Vietnam-spec model may get its own exterior trim details.
According to market sources, Wuling dealers have been taking deposits on the Darion since mid-August. It will be the brand's first sliding-door, seven-seat MPV in Vietnam, with an expected price below 800 million VND and initial customer deliveries slated for September. Early buyers receive a 40-million-dong discount, a complimentary 7 kW AC charger and one year of insurance, while the first ten customers who book are also invited to visit Wuling's manufacturing plant in China.
At 4,910 mm long with a 2,910 mm wheelbase, the Darion stretches 155 mm beyond the Toyota Innova Cross in length and 60 mm in wheelbase, slotting between that model and the larger Kia Carnival. Like the Carnival, it uses convenient sliding rear doors. The cabin follows a 2-2-3 seven-seat layout with a 12.8-inch central touchscreen and a digital display behind the steering wheel.
Wuling Vietnam's site lists three electrified variants: one plug-in hybrid plus two battery-electric versions rated at 450 km and 500 km of range. Local specifications haven't been published, but the Indonesian PHEV pairs a 1.5-liter engine with a 145 kW motor for 125 km of electric driving and up to 1,000 km of combined range, while the Indonesian EV runs a 150 kW motor and a 60.6 kWh "Magic Battery Pro" good for 540 km. The lower Vietnamese range figures hint that the battery offerings have been reworked for this market.