Forthing Friday EV

Cabin

Inside, you will find most of what you would expect, although there are a few notable features. The Friday EV moves away from a plain cabin layout and builds the interior around two screens and seats with features often offered in pricier cars. For a compact electric SUV, that is an unusually long list.

Starting with a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, the driver gets a clear view of the information through a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel. A touchscreen handles the infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto listed in the equipment information. A crystal-style gear lever is the cabin's major highlight. Similarly, the panoramic sunroof adds natural light to the cabin. The seats are leather-trimmed, while a six-speaker audio system and cooled glove box round out the equipment list.

Front Seat and Rear Seat

• The power-adjustable driver's seat has eight-way adjustment. The equipment information also lists electrically adjustable seats and mirror memory features.
• Heating is available for the front and rear seats, while ventilation and massage functions add comfort.
• Rear headrests and a folding rear seat are included.
• The cabin is designed to seat five people, with the space available making it suitable for everyday family use. It is still worth checking rear-seat comfort in person, especially if adults will regularly sit in the back on longer drives.

Climate Control

Air conditioning with air quality control is standard. The cooled glove box is a useful extra in a UAE summer, when a drink or snack can heat up in a parked car.

Storage

• Cup holders in the front and rear
• Bottle holders and a centre armrest with storage underneath
• A cooled glove box
• A vanity mirror

Battery Charging

The Friday EV comes with an 85.9 kWh battery.

• DC fast charging takes the battery from 30% to 80% in around 45 minutes under the stated conditions. This adds roughly 43 kWh of energy to the battery.
• A portable charging cable is listed for home charging.
• Forthing also offers an external discharge function, which allows the battery to power compatible external devices.

A 45-minute stop is long enough for lunch and a coffee, so a long trip needs some planning around charging stations.

Cabin Charging

• USB charging for phones and tablets
• An accessory power outlet for small devices
• Mobile phone connectivity through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Boot Space

The Friday EV has a power tailgate, and the rear seat folds to make a longer load area. With a 4,565 mm body, the boot is more suited to a family's weekly shop or a pair of cabin bags than a large load. Anyone planning a road trip with a week's worth of luggage should test the boot with the rear seat up before signing for the car.

Forthing has equipped the Friday EV with a long list of safety features, including several usually found in pricier cars.

• Airbags are listed for the driver and front passenger, with the detailed equipment list also referring to side, curtain, and driver's knee airbags. Confirm the exact UAE-market airbag configuration with the dealer before publication.
• ABS with electronic brake force distribution and an electric parking brake
• A 360-degree camera, rear camera, front and rear radar, parking assistance, and a side-mirror reverse assistant
• Blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, door-open warning, and traffic jam assistant
• Cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring, speed-sensing door locks, and an engine immobiliser
• A spare wheel, first-aid kit, and fire extinguisher are listed in the equipment information

Front

At the front, you see something familiar but also sleek. Forthing designed the Friday EV with what it calls Thor's AX headlights, an LED unit that gives the nose a sharp, angular look. The front is closed, as there is no conventional engine that needs a large grille for cooling. The fog lamps and headlight features fill out the lower bumper. Automatic headlamps are also included. The front design is not totally unconventional, but it does appear slightly more premium than you might expect at this price point.

Side Profile

Since you are looking at a compact SUV, the Friday EV appears short but quite upright from the side. This is clear from its dimensions: 4,565 mm long, 1,860 mm wide, and 1,680 mm tall, with a 2,715 mm wheelbase. These dimensions put it firmly in the compact SUV category and should help when driving through narrow streets. The side profile is also defined by the electrically folding, heated mirrors and panoramic roof, which complete a clean look with few lines or creases.

Alloy Wheels

The Friday EV comes with 19-inch alloy wheels and 235/55 R19 tyres. The wheel size is large for a compact SUV, while the relatively tall tyre sidewall helps balance its appearance with ride comfort.

Rear

Moving to the back, there are not many details that stand out. Everything is blended into the overall design. The LED tail lamps finish the rear, and a power tailgate opens the boot. To sum up, the rear is plain and tidy, providing a calm finish to a design that makes big claims.

Colours

• White
• Blue

There are two colours available for the UAE market. White is a practical choice for UAE summers, as lighter paint generally absorbs less solar heat than darker paint.

City Performance

A compact electric SUV with 340 Nm of torque should feel more than sufficient for most city drives, and the Friday EV is well-suited to this type of use. Whether you need it for daily commutes or family trips, its size and equipment should make driving more relaxed.

• On the crowded streets around Dubai Silicon Oasis, the 4,565 mm body should be easy enough to place. The front and rear radar and 360-degree camera help take the guesswork out of parking in a tight bay.
• One advantage of an EV is instant torque. When you press the accelerator, the motor responds without waiting for a petrol engine to build up power, which can help when joining traffic at a Dubai Hills roundabout.
• The traffic jam assistant can be useful during long crawls, such as the afternoon queue towards City Walk, where it can take some of the effort out of stop-start driving.
• In Al Qusais in July, the air conditioner can draw a noticeable amount of power from the 85.9 kWh battery. Real-world range will therefore vary with the temperature, AC use, traffic, and driving style.
• At home, the portable charging cable can help with an overnight top-up, depending on the power supply and charging rate. This could cover weekday commuting without relying on public chargers, provided the battery is charged regularly.

Highway Performance

Long-distance drives in an all-electric car in the UAE still need more planning than they do in a petrol car. The charging network is expanding, but the 85.9 kWh battery is where the Friday EV aims to offer an advantage. The 45-minute charging stop is also something to consider.

• A 30% to 80% charge takes around 45 minutes under the stated conditions. It adds roughly 43 kWh, but it is still a significant stop on the way to Khor Fakkan from Dubai. Plan the stop rather than expecting a quick top-up.
• Cruise control and lane change assist can help reduce some of the strain of a long run on the E311, where traffic can move at a steady pace.
• When overtaking a slow truck near the Al Dhaid roundabout, the 340 Nm of torque should provide responsive acceleration, although the driver's judgement and available road space remain important.
• Seat ventilation and massage functions should make a two-hour drive to Ajman Corniche more comfortable for the driver.
• Features such as blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert can help when changing lanes in heavy traffic, including on a Friday evening for leaving Dubai.

Ride and Handling

Forthing has positioned the Friday EV for easy, comfortable driving. Its specifications suggest a car designed more for daily use than driver involvement.

• The 235/55 R19 tyres have a sidewall height of about 129 mm. This can provide some cushioning over expansion joints on the road to Umm Al Quwain and patched tarmac near building sites.
• Ride comfort also depends on suspension tuning. The Friday EV uses McPherson-style independent front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension. These are conventional arrangements, while the weight of the battery is something the driver may notice when the car turns and stops.
• Electric power steering helps with low-speed manoeuvring. The 4,565 mm length should make the Friday EV manageable in a tight car park, although the 1,680 mm-tall body may lean during a fast corner.
• Ventilated disc brakes at the front and disc brakes at the rear provide the stopping power, supported by ABS and electronic brake force distribution. The electric parking brake also makes it easier to hold the car on a slope.
• With front-wheel drive and 340 Nm of torque, the driver should take care on wet or dusty on-ramps, as strong acceleration can cause the front tyres to lose grip.

Choosing the right variant is straightforward because the Friday EV is offered in just one version in the UAE.

FWD is the only variant offered. It comes with a 204 hp electric motor and an 85.9 kWh battery. Features include leather-trimmed seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, electrically adjustable seats, a panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch instrument display, a 360-degree camera, and a range of driver assistance features.

Electric vehicles are becoming an increasingly important part of new car sales in the UAE. Their share of the market is still relatively small, but interest is growing, and buyers now have more choices across different segments. In the compact SUV space, the Friday EV is a surprise package, combining a large battery, a long list of seat features, and a safety package that appears more like something from a luxury car.

Quite frankly, it does not try to be especially quick-looking or flashy, and the exterior design is plain. The 45-minute charging time is one of its weaker points, and Forthing is still a relatively new name in the UAE, so the car relies on its equipment rather than an established ownership track record.

In the UAE's compact electric SUV segment, buyers can also consider the Omoda E5, BYD Atto 3, and MG ZS EV. These Chinese brands are becoming more familiar to local buyers, although each model has its own strengths and compromises.

The Friday EV targets families who have done their homework on EVs, understand the importance of battery warranty and charging access, and are willing to trade brand history for features such as heated and ventilated seats, driver assistance technology, and a large battery.

All things considered, the Friday EV makes a quiet argument through its equipment and everyday usability. For first-time EV buyers in Dubai or Abu Dhabi who prioritise practicality over brand familiarity, it is worth a serious test drive.

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