Forthing U-Tour: new seven-seat MPV from €37,500

The Forthing U-Tour is the Chinese brand’s entry into the seven-seat MPV segment. Positioned as an alternative to an SUV, it is already available to order on the domestic market, with prices starting at €37,500.

Forthing U-Tour: a genuine seven-seat MPV

At 4.85 m long, the U-Tour has a boot capacity of up to 2,032 litres when the seats are folded down. Forthing presents it as one of the few models on the domestic market to provide seven proper seats.

That is an increasingly unusual sight, as SUVs have largely displaced MPVs, even though they generally cannot match them for interior space or versatility.

Engines and chassis

Two versions are offered for this market, both using a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).

In the petrol model, the engine produces 197 hp and 285 Nm. The BiFuel version, which features an LPG system, delivers 156 hp and 259 Nm. Their respective combined WLTP fuel consumption figures are 7.5 l/100 km and 10.2 l/100 km, while CO₂ emissions differ by just one gram, at 173 g/km and 174 g/km.

Both versions send power to the front wheels. They use independent MacPherson front suspension and a rear torsion-beam axle. The braking system comprises ventilated discs at the front and solid discs at the rear.

LPG version priced competitively against the entry model

The recommended retail price for the petrol Forthing U-Tour is €37,500. The LPG BiFuel variant is priced at €40,250, excluding registration and delivery costs.

Although there is a €2,750 difference between the two versions, LPG costs roughly half as much as petrol, meaning that the additional outlay could be recovered over time.

Forthing provides a five-year or 150,000 km warranty, whichever comes first. Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, synthetic-leather upholstery, an infotainment system and an extensive suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).