DONGFENG Z9

Cabin

The dashboard is built around a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch multimedia display. A notably large pairing for a double-cab pickup at this end of the market.

Dongfeng's intelligent multi-screen linkage keeps both displays synchronised, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come fitted as standard, not as a paid extra.

A multifunction leather steering wheel and a 12-speaker sound system round out a cabin that reads closer to a lifestyle SUV than a stripped-out work truck.

Front Seat and Rear Seat

• Electrically adjustable front seats with both ventilation and heating
• Integrated cup holder armrests on the front seats
• 60/40 split-fold rear seats with flat-fold flexibility for longer cargo
• Independently adjustable headrests across the cabin
• ISOFIX child seat anchors fitted as standard

Flat-folding rear seats on a double-cab pickup are still unusual. And they widen what the Z9 can carry inside the cabin on days when the bed itself is already full.

Charging

The Z9 is well equipped for keeping devices powered on the move. It gets a 50W wireless charging pad up front, along with USB and Type-C ports for both front and rear passengers. A 12V power outlet in the front provides another option for running or charging larger accessories, making the setup practical for longer journeys.

Storage

• Cup holder armrests integrated into the front seats
• Centre console storage beneath the armrest
• Door pockets sized for bottles and everyday items

Storage stays practical, not remarkable, built around what a driver needs within reach during a working day.

Climate Control

The Z9 comes with automatic air conditioning and rear air vents, ensuring cooling reaches passengers in the second row as well as those up front. The system is straightforward and well-suited to the UAE's hot climate, while the ventilated and heated front seats add another layer of comfort.

Cargo Bed

The Z9 has an 865 kg payload and comes with a spray-on protective bed liner and central locking for the cargo box. A roof rack, towing interface, and rear trailer hook add flexibility when carrying equipment beyond the bed itself, while the 60/40 split-fold rear seats provide additional flexibility inside the cabin when larger items need to be carried.

Dongfeng builds the Z9's safety case around front, side, and curtain airbags, with ESC, ABS, EBD, traction control, hill hold control, and hill descent control as standard.

• A 540-degree HD panoramic camera with a transparent chassis view for tricky off-road placement
• Front and rear radar systems supporting parking and low-speed manoeuvring
• Off-road cruise control with a creep mode, holding a set crawling speed over technical terrain
• Electronic differential locking is paired with the transfer case for traction on loose or uneven ground
• Cruise control and hazard warning systems fitted as standard
• Electronic parking brake with auto hold, removing the need to hold the pedal on an incline

The transparent chassis camera view and off-road cruise control are the kind of features usually reserved for pickups well above this segment, and they do more for actual off-road confidence than badge-level marketing usually suggests.

Front

The LED headlamps and full-width daytime running lights anchor the nose. They are paired with dual rear fog lamps that are built to cut through dust and darkness on unlit trails. The face appears to be aggressive, not restrained, with the kind of upright stance that signals off-road intent before a single spec is checked.

Side Profile

The side profile is largely defined by the dimensions. With 5,498 mm length and 1,950 mm width, the Z9 is clearly among the bigger double-cabs sold in the UAE. The wheelbase is 3,300 mm, and the height is 1,904 mm, which gives the pickup a tall, muscular stance. The side pedals are fitted as standard, a practical touch for climbing into a cabin this high off the ground. What also defines the profile from the side is 240 mm of ground clearance, which is quite enough to handle everyday driving across the UAE's cities and beyond.

Alloy Wheels

The Z9 gets 17-inch alloy wheels in 265/70 tyres. Quite taller sidewalls than the low-profile rubber some rivals fit, better suited to absorbing sharp edges on rougher tracks. All-terrain tyres come fitted as standard, not offered as a dealer accessory, and a full-size spare is mounted underneath instead of a space-saver.

Rear

Walking behind the pickup, you see a cargo box with central locking mounted behind the cabin. Finished with a spray-on protective bed liner instead of a drop-in plastic tub. A roof rack, towing interface, and rear trailer hook are all fitted as standard, along with anti-dazzle rearview mirrors that cut headlight glare from following traffic at night.

Colors

• Ink Black
• Orange
• Dark Grey

Dongfeng is offering three exterior colours for the Z9.

City Performance

• With the availability of the 380 Nm on tap, it means keeping up with traffic from a standstill is never the issue; the Z9 should get going effortlessly without the truck ever feeling like it needs encouragement.
• The 540-degree camera with transparent chassis view is the feature that matters most in tighter loading areas. And yes, judging where the tail sits on a double cab without one is mostly guesswork.
• Auto hold on the electronic parking brake removes the foot-on-pedal routine at every junction. This sounds like a small thing that adds up across a full working day of stops.
• At 1,950 mm wide, the Z9 needs a proper bay, the kind of multi-storey space that fits a large SUV comfortably; standard compact bays are a regular negotiation.
• Likewise, the electric power steering keeps low-speed effort light for a truck this heavy. And so reversing and parking feel more car-like than the dimensions suggest.

Highway Performance

• The turbo's mid-range torque handles E11 merges cleanly, with no hunting for a lower gear and no waiting for the engine to commit to the move.
• All-terrain tyres noticeably raise road noise at higher speeds. That is the honest cost of having them. A highway-biased tyre would be quieter, but you would feel it the first time the track turns rough.
• The 73-litre tank should cover a Abu Dhabi to Al Ain round trip and come back with fuel to spare.
• The double wishbone front suspension keeps the nose settled over the E611's expansion joints in a way that leaf-sprung rivals at this price simply do not match.

Ride and Handling

• The five-link rear suspension is huge, which is a daily advantage over older pickup platforms. The speed bumps land firmly but not harshly, with an empty bed, showing an immediate improvement over leaf springs.
• The electronic differential lock and part-time 4WD on the approach to Hatta should handle loose rock and uneven ground without requiring the driver to manage traction manually.
• The four-wheel disc brakes deliver a firm, predictable pedal under hard braking. And there's nothing vague or progressive about it; it's the kind of feel that builds confidence quickly.
• The 240 mm ground clearance, paired with all-terrain tyres, means desert tracks and gravel approaches that would catch a road-biased pickup are handled without any trouble.
• If switching between full-time and part-time 4WD modes happens without stopping, it's the kind of transition a working pickup needs to make quickly when tarmac becomes gravel without warning.

STD is currently the only variant for the Dongfeng Z9 in the UAE. That means no more variant comparison or deciding which ones suit your needs. The Standard comes with all the full specifications described throughout this review. This includes the 2.0-litre turbo engine, electronically controlled 4WD, and the complete safety and infotainment package.

If you test drive the Z9, you certainly feel that Dongfeng has done its work well, looking at the specs and also the experience on UAE roads. That is what our experience with this pickup clearly suggests: it takes on all of its work duties rather easily. Something a new brand does not always get right, from the electronically controlled 4WD and differential lock to a transparent chassis camera view still rare on pickups at any price.

Then here is a five-link rear suspension in place of the usual leaf springs, which is a real point of difference. Inside the cabin is a 14.6-inch infotainment setup that outsizes most rivals' cabins.

However, you may find areas like it’s new to the market and trusting the brand Dongfeng, which in the UAE hasn't yet put a full picture in the way established rivals like the Hilux, D-Max, or the Tasman already do.

Yes, this is a welcome addition to the pickup market in the Emirates, and buyers certainly can explore it to get a clear view. Spending time with the Z9 can change your perception of both the pickup and the brand. For that, it is worth checking out.

Other Pickups to Consider