First previewed in August this year, the Dongfeng Box is now officially launched in Malaysia, marking the first right-hand drive market for the battery electric (EV) compact hatchback. Distributed by Central Auto Distributors Berhad (CADB), a subsidiary of the Malay Vehicle Importers and Traders Association of Malaysia (Pekema), the Dongfeng Box will be offered in two variants: E2 and E3, priced from RM100,700 and RM113,700 (OTR, without insurance) respectively – the latter also available with a two-tone white roof option, at a RM2,000 premium.
CADB has previously announced that the Dongfeng Box will be locally assembled (CKD) here in Malaysia at NexV Manufacturing’s Chembong plant, however that plan is still not realised just yet; the Dongfeng Box will remain fully imported from China for now, until sometime in late 2025.
Dongfeng Box exterior design
The Dongfeng Box is a compact EV hatchback, coming in at approximately the same size as the BYD Dolphin measuring 4,030 mm long, 1,810 mm wide, 1,570 mm tall, and is underpinned by a 2,660 mm wheelbase. A smooth pebble-like exterior styling motif gives the Dongfeng Box a cutesy appearance, accentuated by the intricately-designed full-width LED headlight, squircle 3D LED tail lights, and a floating roof design.
In terms of equipment, the Dongfeng Box comes as standard with flush pop-up door handles, 17-inch wheels (alloys for E3, steelies with aerodynamic covers on the E2), and surprisingly for a car in this segment, frameless windows on all four doors.
2024 Dongfeng Box Malaysia performance and variants
Both variants of the Dongfeng Box in Malaysia are equipped with the same “Mach E 10-in-1” motor on the front axle making 95 hp (70 kW) and 160 Nm, enabling a top speed of 140 km/h. Compared to the BYD Dolphin, the Box has the same amount of power output, but 20 Nm lower in torque.
The main difference between the two variants is their battery size: the entry-level Dongfeng Box E2 gets a smaller 31.45 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, giving it a driving range of 330 km on the (wildly optimistic) CLTC test cycle. On the E3, a larger 42.3 kWh pack brings its driving range up to 430 km (CLTC), which is approximately 10 km further than the base-spec BYD Dolphin Dynamic Standard Range.
For charging, the E2 variant supports AC power of up to 3.3 kW, going up to 6.6 kW on the E3. The company did not disclose its DC charging capacity, merely mentioning that both variants can charge from 30-80% in 30 minutes, suggesting a charging capacity of around 30 kW and 40 kW for the two variants respectively.
Dongfeng Box interior features
Like its exterior, the Dongfeng Box is also elaborately styled on the inside, highlighted by the quilted leatherette lining on the dashboard and door cards, and even decorative straps a la MINI Cooper. Other extravagant touches, like the cat avatar on the infotainment system’s home page, further adds to the Dongfeng Box’s characterful presence.
Standard features on the Dongfeng Box include:
- 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
- 50W Qi wireless charger
- 5-inch digital instrument cluster
- Automatic climate control
- Frameless rear-view mirror
- 32-colour ambient lighting
- six speakers
- 360-degree surround view monitor with transparent underbody view
- Manual front seats with lie-flat functionality
- E3 variant exclusive: Powered driver seat
The Dongfeng Box also comes standard with a suite of advanced driver assist systems across both variants, with features including autonomous emergency braking and intelligent cruise control.
2024 Dongfeng Box pricing and availability in Malaysia
The 2024 Dongfeng Box is currently fully imported from China, and priced as follows on-the-road and without insurance:
- Dongfeng Box E2 – RM100,700
- Dongfeng Box E3 – RM113,700
- Dongfeng Box E3 with Floating Cloud (White Roof) – RM115,700
Included in the price is an eight-year/150,000 km battery warranty, alongside a five-year/150,000 km vehicle main parts warranty. Four colour options are on offer, namely White, Purple, Green, and Blue.
As part of the launch celebrations, CADB is offering early bird customers with special promotional deals worth over RM5,000, which includes a portable charging unit worth RM1,088, complimentary front cabin storage compartment worth RM1,250, and one of the following items per customer’s choice:
- 1 year charging credit worth RM3,000 (subject to fair usage policy)
- home wall charger worth RM3,288
- service maintenance package worth RM3,000
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