Riddara RD6 is an electric pickup truck from the Geely camp – dubbed the first affordable electric pick up in the UAE. Once upon a time, SUVs were an alternative to the sedate sedan, for those who wished to make a statement of individuality bordering on an aggressive attitude, and in search of a commanding position – rather literally – on the road. As the category of SUVs evolve to largely become the standard choice, the assertive individuality sought new pastures in the rugged and macho build of pick-up trucks. The workhorse transformed into the modern stallion, and modern being one of the keywords, could an electric pickup truck be that far away?
There is no dearth of all-electric pickup trucks that have lined up for arrival on our shores this year, with the GMC Hummer EV already marking the beginning of a new era. Chevrolet Silverado EV, Tesla Cyber (pickup) truck, Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Sierra EV – most of them are awaiting their turn. However, beating them to the port was the Riddara RD6, the new and affordable all-electric pick up.
Design and Dimensions
Riddara RD6 is made remarkable by the colours it comes in rather than its frill-free and functional design. 5260 mm long, it looks more compact than it actually is. At 5370 mm, the Ford Ranger is 11 cm longer and so is its cargo bed by more than a foot longer than the 1525 mm long tail-space of RD6.
L x W x H: 5260 x 1900 x 1880 mm
Wheelbase: 3120 mm
Alloy wheels: 18”
The Drive
Riddara RD6 comes in two drivetrain options – An 86 kWh battery that powered my test car and a smaller 73 kWh battery, both producing 422 hp and 685 Nm of torque. The promised range didn’t vary much; the bigger power source claiming 455 WLTP rated kilometres and the smaller one offering 424 km.
My test started off with 420 km range on display and a mixed drive, on highways and some bits of adventurous terrain, yielding almost 350 km with some more to spare. Around 85% is a reasonably reliable range though these days we see results even closer to what is promised. Capable of leaving an impression is its acceleration – the power to zip past a sports car with its 0 – 100 timing of 4.5 sec!
Cabin comforts
Positioned as a value pickup, the Riddara RD6 surprises you with leather seats that can move 6-way for the driver and 4-way for the front passenger; the rear comes with its own ventilation. A decent 8-speaker system makes music while a 14.6” tablet serves as the infotainment display.
Advanced Safety
The misnomer 540-degree camera has become part of the contemporary parlance thanks to the new Chinese cars that started claiming that figure first. Notwithstanding that weirdness, the camera does provide a top-view and also reveals what’s under the chassis.
Family users will feel happy about the top trim being equipped with 6 airbags and a host of advanced driver assistance features: Blind spot assist, Lane departure warning and lane keep assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Door Open warning, Rear cross traffic warning and braking. Yes, the former workhorse has largely become a choice for idle luxury.
Camping-ready with accessorizing options
My test car not only turned heads but also could have bumped its own in low-ceiling parking lots thanks to an elaborate camping canopy it wore – complete with an overhead tent set-up and paraphernalia from ‘Ironman’. A thoughtful addition to the side wall of the cargo bed is a 21 kWh electrical source with multiple sockets – power supply for your coffeemaker, portable fridge, music system or laptop in the middle of nowhere. And the best part is, a moderate overnight use of it is said to drain just over 2% of the battery power, dispelling worries about draining the driving range.
The essential RIddara RD6
Practicality and power coincide in the RD6 and the third P of price is also designed to be appealing at AED 139,500 for the 73kWh battery version and AED 169,500 for the 86kWh version. Apart from the extra power and 30 km added range, the higher trim gets 2 airbags and 2 speakers extra, panoramic sunroof, side steps and towing set along with the bundle of ADAS features.
