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Doosan Excavators: Two Generations of Machines, Two Markets - MikePhua - 06-26-2025
Korean brands have a knack for tapping into the needs of the Chinese market, leveraging their foreign image while offering competitive prices. Whether in home appliances, automobiles, or construction machinery, Korean brands, despite entering the Chinese market a bit later, have quickly climbed to the top. Brands like Samsung, LG, Hyundai, and Daewoo have become household names, and in the construction machinery sector, Doosan is one of the fastest-growing Korean brands in China.
It's now common to see Doosan excavators in construction sites across cities, with the brand enjoying a widespread presence. Among the most discussed models in forums are the DH225-9 and DH225-7, two versions of Doosan's flagship excavator. The DH225-9, as the latest generation, is still carving its way into the market, while the DH225-7 has already found its place in the second-hand market. However, both models continue to serve their respective markets with distinction. Here's a look at what users are saying about both models.
User Feedback on the DH225-9
Compared to the DH225-7 series, the DH225-9 comes with a German MAN engine, offering better performance in terms of walking speed, digging power, and rotation speed. However, this improvement comes with the trade-off of higher fuel consumption. The official fuel consumption is listed as 18 liters per hour, but many forum users report that the actual consumption tends to exceed this, with some even experiencing fuel usage of up to 23 liters per hour.
Here are the key points users have shared about the DH225-9:
- Engine and Performance: The DH225-9 is equipped with a 115KW engine, and its main pump is more powerful than that of the DH225-7. This makes the machine particularly effective at digging hard materials. Despite the heavy body, the machine offers stable and smooth operation.
- Operator Comfort and Experience: While the cabin space has not seen significant improvements compared to the DH225-7, it remains relatively cramped for the operator. The operation levers are thick and somewhat uncomfortable, and the response time for the throttle and actions is slower than expected.
- Fuel Consumption: Due to the German MAN engine, the DH225-9 consumes more fuel than its predecessor. In "fast mode," the fuel consumption is about 22.86 liters per hour, while in "economy mode," it drops to around 19.3 liters per hour.
- Pros: The DH225-9 provides excellent stability during operations, with strong digging power, especially for heavy-duty tasks. The battery is large enough to handle cold starts in winter, and the vehicle's frame is thicker, making it more durable.
- Cons: The primary downside of this machine is its fuel consumption, and the cramped operator cabin. Additionally, the control levers are thick and hard to handle, and the machine's rotation and arm movements are a bit slow.
The DH225-7 was once the market leader, and it's still commonly seen in various construction projects like foundation digging, roadbed construction, and railway track building. According to a competitive comparison provided by users, the DH225-7 has consistently performed well across various working conditions.
Here are some specific details from users:
- Work Efficiency: In a 180-degree digging task, the DH225-7 achieves a work volume of 303 cubic meters per hour, with fuel consumption of 24.9 liters per hour. In trenching tasks, the work volume is 460 cubic meters per hour, with a fuel consumption of 23.6 liters per hour.
- Performance: The DH225-7 has good operation speed and work efficiency. Despite being an older model, it still performs reliably with proper maintenance.
- Fuel Consumption: Compared to the DH225-9, the DH225-7 has lower fuel consumption. In economy mode, it consumes less fuel while maintaining acceptable performance.
- Second-Hand Market: The DH225-7 is still a popular choice in the second-hand market, especially for well-maintained models. A 2005 model typically costs around 350,000 CNY, while an 2008 model can go for around 450,000 CNY.
Both the DH225-9 and DH225-7 are important models in Doosan's excavator lineup, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The DH225-9, with its more powerful engine and improved performance, is suitable for tasks that require high efficiency and heavy-duty operation, although it comes at the cost of higher fuel consumption. On the other hand, the DH225-7, while older and with slightly higher fuel consumption, continues to serve a large number of users, especially in the second-hand market, thanks to its solid performance and lower price.
Whether you choose the DH225-9 or the DH225-7, both machines reflect Doosan's strong presence in the Chinese market, providing reliable performance for a wide range of applications.