Geely's Riddara RD6 electric pickup launched in Singapore

With an increasing array of competitive electric vans and light lorries available, the path towards greener mobility for Singapore's commercial vehicle sector is truly beginning to crystallise.

Now, those on the hunt for a rugged runabout that can fuse both people and cargo-ferrying duties in a comfortable and emissions-free package also have this latest electric pickup in town to turn to: The all-new Riddara RD6. 

Riddara marks yet another sub-brand of the Geely Auto Group to be distributed by Hong Seh, after Farizon with its SuperVan

Distributed by Hong Seh Motors, Riddara marks yet another sub-brand from Chinese auto conglomerate, Geely Auto Group, to touch down in Singapore, following in the footsteps of Farizon with its SuperVan. Its launch here also continues the deepening of ties between Geely and Hong Seh.

The RD6, which was designed to have both commercial and lifestyle appeal, arrives in Singapore in two variants: In rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive guise.

The rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive variants of the RD6 can be differentiated by their 'front grilles'

For starters, setting both of them apart shouldn't be too difficult if you know where to look.

The rear-wheel drive RD6 gets a 'front grille' covered in a three-dimensional, diamond-like pattern, whereas the four-wheel drive RD6 wears its identity proudly with embedded 'RIDDARA' lettering on its nose, along with 'RIDDARA' imprinted side steps. Both boast a ground clearance of 225mm, and ride on 18-inch wheels as standard.

The RD6's flatbed offers 1,200-litres worth of storage and a payload of more than 1,000kg

Utility is arguably the utmost priority on a pickup, and the RD6 promises to deliver strongly on this front. As standard, its flatbed offers 1,200-litres worth of storage and a payload of more than 1,000kg.

Unlike your diesel-powered pickups, the RD6's electric underpinnings give it extra versatility too with its vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality. A 6kW onboard charger effectively turns it into a mobile power bank.

With 315kW and 595Nm of torque on tap, the four-wheel drive variant of the RD6 can smash the century sprint in just 4.5 seconds

Still, the RD6 doesn't just excel in terms of practicality, but also performance.

Power is already plentiful on the rear-wheel drive variant, with a system output of 200kWh and 385Nm of torque helping to propel the pickup to 100km/h from rest in 7.3 seconds. Opt for the four-wheel drive variant, however, and output is raised even further to 315kW and 595Nm of torque, allowing the RD6 to complete the century sprint in just 4.5 seconds. (Yes, this is a two-tonne pickup.) 

The RD6's 73.9kWh battery gives it up to 498km on a full charge, and supports DC charging at up to 110kW

Since most buyers are unlikely to be dashing into drag races, though, perhaps more pressing is the question of whether the RD6 can go the distance - and in this regard, the pickup also doesn't disappoint.

Both variants draw energy from the same 73.9kWh battery, which provides an impressive WLTP-rated range of 467km and 498km in four-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive guise respectively. Just as importantly, its ability to support DC fast charging at up to 110kW means business-owners or adventure-seekers can recharge their RD6s from 30-80% in just 30 minutes.

Go-anywhere capability: The four-wheel drive variant of the RD6 comes with seven drive modes, including Sand, Mud, Off-Road and Wade

For superlative go-anywhere capability, the four-wheel drive variant of the RD6 is equipped with an intelligent electric drive system that can adjust itself according to road conditions and load capacity in real-time.

It also offers drivers seven different drive modes (compared to only three on the rear-wheel drive variant), including Sand, Mud, Off-road, Wading, Economy, Comfort and Sport. Speaking of wading, flash floods shouldn't faze the RD6 with its four-wheel drive, thanks to its wading depth of 815mm.

Two-tone upholstery adds an upmarket touch to the RD6's commodious and modern cabin

And against the dust and the elements outside, the RD6's commodious and well put-together cabin should provide a welcome respite. Soft touch materials can be found both up front and in the second row, while two-tone upholstery helps add an upmarket touch.

Standard equipment is generous too.

The RD6 presents drivers with a generous serving of digitalisation, thanks to its 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch touchscreen display that even supports Apple CarPlay. Also standard are powered front seats, a 50W wireless charging tray, dual-zone air-conditioning and a six-speaker sound system (the four-wheel drive variant gets an eight-speaker system instead).

A generous suite of ADAS features comes as standard

To add some extra ease to life behind the wheel of a vehicle so massive, the RD6 even comes with a full suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Change Assist, and Blind Spot Detection. A handy surround-view camera with a transparent chassis also promises to take the stress out of parking.

As was the case with the Farizon SuperVan launched earlier this year, both Hong Seh and Riddara have made sure to highlight the RD6's amenability to HDB multi-storey carparks.

Hong Seh and Geely have touted the RD6's amenability to HDB multi-storey carparks too, thanks to its dimensions and kerb weight

Even the heavier four-wheel drive variant tips the scales at exactly two tonnes unladen, meaning that it resides squarely at the HDB's stipulated weight limit for commercial vehicles. In terms of size, the RD6's 1,900mm height means it should clear all but the oldest of carparks too, while its 5,260mm length is roughly on par with that of modern luxury sedans or MPVs.

The Riddara R6 is now on sale in Singapore, and comes with a five-year/150,000km warranty, as well as an eight-year/200,000km battery and electric motor warranty*. Prices for the rear-wheel drive variant start at $120,000 (excluding COE, but before factoring in CEVS rebates).

*Whichever comes first. Terms and conditions to apply.