Soueast S08 DM: Is This the Best Value 7 Seater Hybrid in the UAE?

Abu Dhabi: The seven-seater family SUVs are one of the biggest segments in the UAE right now. They are popular among larger families looking for space, comfort, and ease of use. However, finding a really good seven-seater that is affordable to run is not always easy. You either go for a large Japanese SUV, which may not be the most fuel-efficient, or you stretch your budget considerably for a European hybrid that starts well above AED 150,000. For most UAE families, neither option feels quite right.

The Chinese brand Soueast, with the S08 DM, is trying to close that gap. What makes the S08 DM particularly interesting is that very few brands in the UAE currently offer a plug-in hybrid seven-seater below AED 120,000. Most buyers choosing electrified family SUVs still have to compromise either on seating capacity or affordability. The S08 DM seems to offer everything that buyers in the segment want. A seven-seater plug-in hybrid SUV that launched in the UAE in March 2026 at AED 113,500. The price alone is unusual for a car with these specifications. But the Soueast S08 DM is also a product of Chery Group, the Chinese automotive powerhouse behind Omoda, Jaecoo, and Jetour. The brand certainly brings a factor of trust and reliability to the S08, and to let you know all the details, we take a closer look at this new arrival.

S08 DM Key Details 

Spec	Details
Price (AED)	1,13,500
Powertrain	1.5L Turbo + Electric, 342 hp, 525 Nm
Battery	18.4 kWh
Electric Range	89 km (WLTC)
Combined Range	800 plus km
Charging	30 min (30 to 80%), 2.6 hrs (full)
V2L Power Output	3.3 kW
Seating	7 seats, 32 configurations
Boot Space	Up to 1,708 litres
Dimensions	4,810 x 1,930 mm, 2,820 mm wheelbase
Wheels	20 inch starlight alloy, 235/50 R20
Airbags	6 standard
Monthly EMI	From AED 1,605 (60 months)
Colours	Snow White, Cosmic Silver, Starlit Black, Olive Grey

Plug-In-Hybird Electric Vehicle 

UAE car owners who drive 60 to 80 km per day between home in Mirdif, school drop-off in Al Barsha, the office in Business Bay, and home again. They top up petrol at least once a week, sometimes twice. They have thought about going electric, but worry about charging at home and running out of range on the Friday trip to Ras Al Khaimah with the whole family in the car.

The S08 DM answers each of those concerns without much change in your routine. The 18.4 kWh battery gets you 89 km of pure electric range under WLTC test conditions. In real UAE city driving, that covers most people's full weekday round trip without a single drop of gasoline. Fast charging gets the battery from 30% to 80% in about 30 minutes; slow charging goes from empty to full in 2.6 hours. Plug it in at night and wake up to a full charge every morning.

When you need to go further, say from Khalifa City to Fujairah and back with the third row folded for luggage, the 70 liter petrol tank takes over seamlessly. The combined range across electric and petrol is over 800 km. That combined range is higher than most seven-seat SUVs in the UAE, whether petrol or hybrid.

Interestingly enough, the V2L function at 3.3 kW lets you run external appliances from the car. Camping in Hatta or Khor Fakkan with a powered fridge and phone charging points is not a stretch. Neither is using it as a backup power source during an outdoor event.

Seven Seats

This is the part that matters most for UAE families, and it is also the part where the S08 DM is more honest than most competitors at this price. The second row is where this car shines with executive seating, which has large individual legroom, heated and ventilated seats, 4-way lumbar support, a massage function, a boss button for adjusting the front passenger seat from behind, and fold-out rear tables for work or dining. On the drive from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, this row is more comfortable than many business-class car seats.

The third row is a different story, as it tends to be in any SUV under 5,000 mm long. It is suitable for children or for shorter adults on trips that are not longer than 45 minutes. The one-touch access to the third row is convenient, but the space itself is what it is. The boot space with all three rows in use is reduced. When the third row folds, the S08 DM opens up to a maximum of 1,708 liters of cargo space, which is exceptional for the segment.

There are about 32 different seating configurations, giving the car real multipurpose use. One of those configurations is a bed mode, useful for long highway trips or for anyone who needs to rest during a multi-Emirate drive.

The Cabin

The interior design language is described as a "motorsuite," and it does feel noticeably different from the usual mass-market SUV approach at this price. The horizontal wraparound dashboard creates a sense of space and width. The 15.6-inch central touchscreen rotates, a feature that draws attention every time someone sits in the car for the first time.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip powers the infotainment, the same processor found in vehicles costing AED 50,000 more. Response times are immediate. The 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster is clear and readable in direct UAE sunlight.

Key interior features include the following:

• 12-speaker audio system
• 50W wireless fast charging pad
• Wood accented premium leather upholstery
• Baby soft touch fabric trim on secondary surfaces
• Multi-zone automatic climate control with individual rear vents
• Four preset seating positions including bed mode
• The driver seat is 8-way electric with lumbar, heating, ventilation, and massage
• Rear seat tables for work or entertainment on the go
• Half-concealed door handles for a cleaner exterior line

Safety

The S08 DM comes with six airbags as standard and a full L2-level driver assistance suite:

• Adaptive Cruise Control 
• Lane Centering Control 
• Forward Collision Warning
• Autonomous Emergency Braking
• Blind Spot Detection
• Rear Collision Warning
• Door Open Warning
• Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control
• Child safety electronic locks on rear doors

The chassis uses MacPherson independent suspension at the front and multi-link independent at the rear. At highway speeds on Emirates Road or E11, the ride stays stable and composed. The immediate torque from the electric motor makes merging and overtaking feel more confident than the numbers suggest on paper.

Against the Closest Rivals 

	S08 DM	Captiva PHEV	Geely EX5 EMi	Nissan X Trail
Price (AED)	1,13,500	104,900 to 109,900	89,900 to 115,900	101,900 to 153,000
Seats	7	7	5	7
Power	342 hp, 525 Nm	201 hp	317 hp	181 hp
Electric Range	89 km	~80 km	114 km	None
Total Range	800 plus km	~700 km	1,065 km	Petrol only
Boot Space	1,708 L	645 L	621 L	555 L
Screen	15.6 inch rotating	10.25 inch	12.3 inch	9 inch
ADAS	Full L2	Partial	Full L2	Partial

The S08 DM is the only seven-seater PHEV in this comparison. The Geely EX5 EMi has more combined range and slightly more power on the NEDC cycle, but it seats only five. The Captiva PHEV seats seven but gives up on power and boot space. The Nissan X Trail has no electrification at all. The S08 DM currently has very few direct rivals for families that specifically need seven seats and a hybrid powertrain priced below AED 120,000.

Things to Know

In the UAE, Soueast is handled exclusively by Elite Group Holding, the same company that brought Jetour to the country. Showrooms are on Sheikh Zayed Road (the flagship), plus Deira in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, and Al Ain.

The S08 DM launched at Dubai Fashion Week in February 2026 as the official partner vehicle. The Mountain and Sea design reference, panoramic headlights, and cascading tail lamp strip of over 400 LEDs give it a distinctive presence on UAE roads, where visual identity matters in traffic.

Available colors are Snow White, Cosmic Silver, Starlit Black, and Olive Gray. All four suit the UAE market well. The 20-inch starlight alloy wheels are standard across the single trim level.

Conclusion

There is only one variant of the S08 DM in the UAE at AED 113,500, which simplifies the buying decision. What you see is what you get, and what you get is the fully loaded version. The monthly EMI of AED 1,605 for 60 months, along with a down payment of AED 28,400, makes the S08 accessible to buyers who may have previously considered a base-spec Japanese seven-seater within the same monthly payment range.

The S08 is an interesting new addition to the affordable seven-seater PHEV segment, especially with the amount of technology and space it offers. It has what it takes to deserve your attention if you are considering one.

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