Ah, the Dongfeng Box. It sounds like a piece of IKEA furniture, but no, it’s an electric car from China, now taking aim at Malaysian streets. And why not? It’s compact, it’s electric, and it’s affordable. Perfect, right? Well, sort of. Let’s dive into it.
The Dongfeng Box is, well, a box. It’s as if the designers thought, “What if we could make a car invisible?” It’s not ugly, mind you. It’s just there. The frameless windows and retractable door handles are a nice touch, though. It makes the car feel like it’s trying to be cool—like a dad wearing Ray-Bans to a family picnic.
But here’s the good bit: it’s small enough to squeeze into a parking space at Pavilion KL without causing a diplomatic incident, yet big enough to hold your monthly haul from Tesco. With up to 945 liters of cargo space, it’s surprisingly practical. Take that, Proton X50!
Under the hood—or floor, rather—you’ll find a 31.4 kWh lithium-ion battery. It produces 95 PS and 160 Nm of torque, which is enough for urban commutes or leisurely drives on Jalan Tun Razak. But don’t expect any fireworks. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds, which means you’ll be overtaken by Myvis, lorries, and possibly even a determined cyclist.
Still, the range is its redeeming feature. Up to 430 km on a single charge is impressive for a car in this price bracket. That’s enough to get you from KL to Penang, with a bit of juice left over for a quick roti canai detour. Just don’t expect it to hit that number if you’re blasting the air con and carrying four passengers.
Inside, it’s all screens and buttons—functional but not exactly luxurious. There’s a big 12.8-inch touchscreen, which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 5-inch digital display for the driver. It’s all very “Look, Ma, no hands!” but the overall feel is more Proton Saga than Tesla.
On the upside, you get features like climate control, rear air vents, and even voice commands. It’s all very high-tech, but let’s be honest: Malaysians will still argue over which station to play on the radio.
The Dongfeng Box comes with a decent set of safety features. There’s ABS, electronic stability control, and airbags—plenty of airbags. You also get lane departure warnings and blind-spot monitoring, which will come in handy when dodging erratic motorcyclists. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s enough to keep you alive on the LDP.
Here’s where things get interesting. The Dongfeng Box is expected to cost around RM 100,700, making it one of the most affordable EVs in Malaysia. That’s less than a Nissan Leaf and way cheaper than anything with a fancy German badge.
But, of course, it’s cheap for a reason. The build quality isn’t going to win any awards, and you’ll have to rely on Malaysia’s still-developing EV charging network. If you live in a condo without a charging station, good luck convincing the JMB to install one.
The Dongfeng Box is a solid attempt at making EVs accessible in Malaysia. It’s practical, efficient, and affordable—everything you’d want from an entry-level electric car. But it’s not exciting. It’s not the kind of car you’ll dream about or boast about at the kopitiam.
Still, if you want to save money on fuel, do your bit for the environment, and enjoy the novelty of whisper-quiet drives, the Dongfeng Box is a sensible choice. Just don’t expect it to turn heads—unless you’re parked awkwardly on Jalan Bukit Bintang.
