DongFeng E1 Overview: Generations and Which One to Buy
A guide to the DongFeng E1, a 5-door electric SUV built in 2020–2021 with 46 hp, covering its single generation and the version worth buying.
The DongFeng E1 is a 5-door SUV produced in 2020–2021 with a power output of 46 hp across the range. It is an electric model with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, and it suits drivers who want a compact electric SUV for city use rather than highway performance, since 46 hp is the only output the lineup offers.
DongFeng E1 generations
1 generation
The first and only generation of the DongFeng E1 was produced from 2020 to 2021, exclusively as a 5-door SUV. Every DongFeng E1 (1 generation) delivers 46 hp, so there is no power spread to weigh between trim levels. The lineup contains a single modification: the DongFeng E1 AT (1 generation), an electric version with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Because the generation offers one body style, one gearbox type, one drive layout, and one power figure, the buying decision comes down to condition and model year rather than specification.
The DongFeng E1 AT (1 generation) is the mass version of the model. It combines the 46 hp electric powertrain with an automatic transmission and FWD, and it was available through both production years, 2020 and 2021. As an electric vehicle, it uses no petrol or diesel fuel at all, and the automatic transmission is the only gearbox ever offered on the DongFeng E1.
Which DongFeng E1 to buy
- AT (1 generation): the only modification in the lineup, with 46 hp, an electric powertrain, automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive across 2020–2021.
On the used market the choice is simple: with a single modification and a short 2020–2021 production run, any DongFeng E1 you find is mechanically the same specification, so compare individual cars by year and condition rather than by version. The one-generation, one-modification structure also means there are no late-cycle updates to hunt for — a 2021 car differs from a 2020 car only by age, and both model years share the identical 46 hp electric drivetrain.
Since every DongFeng E1 shares the same 46 hp electric setup, automatic transmission, and FWD layout, there is no dominated version to avoid: the DongFeng E1 AT (1 generation) is both the entry point and the top of the range, and it remains the only DongFeng E1 configuration a buyer will encounter.