Electric Hatchback of the Year
Dongfeng Box Electric
Why Box? According to the brand, it was due to its simplicity and positive connotations - a box of surprises, or a box of chocolates. And a Box of surprises, it indeed is; despite being extremely competitively priced, the Dongfeng Box is very well-specced.

This cheery electric hatchback has a large 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple Carplay; the driver's seat is ventilated, and the car is equipped with a slew of driver assist systems as well.
Special Features
Reviews
 
Tbh before driving the Box I thought the main selling point was just that it's cute and compact (mostly targetting female drivers?). After driving it for awhile, I think that's selling it abit short. Looks small, good for MSCP but inside really doesn't feel as small as it looks. The wheelbase is 2,660mm which is actually quite long for a car this size. Had a few people inside before and nobody was complaining about being squeezed that badly. Flat floor also helps a lot.Auto park is another feature I initially thought I wouldn't use. But it can actually detect the lots and park itself, including parallel parking. Will I use it every single time? Probably not. But when there's one annoying tight parallel lot, suddenly very useful LOL. My wife also really loves this feature a lot. Performance wise obviously don't expect some crazy fast EV. But because you get the instant torque, moving off from traffic lights still feels quite quick and smooth. For a small everyday car, I don't really need anything more.But overall, Box is one of those cars where the specs don't really explain why I like it. It's just very easy. Easy to drive, easy to park, enough space for normal daily use and doesn't feel like you're driving some boring "budget" car.
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The Dongfeng BOX is a small EV that is easy and comfortable to drive. I like its cute design, compact size and spacious interior. It feels easy to handle around the city and has enough features for everyday use. For the price, I think it offers good value and is a practical choice for daily driving.
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The Dongfeng Box is a clever, quirky compact hatchback designed specifically for dense city driving. Powered by a 70 kW (94 hp) electric motor, it delivers instant off-the-line torque that makes zipping through traffic and navigating tight carparks effortless. The exterior styling is fresh and distinct with round LED headlights and a two-tone roof option. Where the Box truly shines is inside: it boasts features usually reserved for luxury cars, such as a floating 12.8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, a fold-flat front passenger lounge seat, driver seat ventilation, and even automated self-parking. For a small footprint, the interior packaging feels light and airy.
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The Dongfeng Box is a clever, quirky compact hatchback designed specifically for dense city driving. Powered by a 70 kW (94 hp) electric motor, it delivers instant off-the-line torque that makes zipping through traffic and navigating tight carparks effortless. The exterior styling is fresh and distinct with round LED headlights and a two-tone roof option. Where the Box truly shines is inside: it boasts features usually reserved for luxury cars, such as a floating 12.8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, a fold-flat front passenger lounge seat, driver seat ventilation, and even automated self-parking. For a small footprint, the interior packaging feels light and airy.
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Verdict
Cute, funky, well-specced and very affordably priced - this cheerful electric hatchback offers plenty for drivers to love. Singapore's automotive landscape has been invigorated with a record amount of new brands in recent times, and the Wuhan-based Dongfeng Motor Corporation is one of the standout brands.

Smashing into the market with a cute hatchback might seem like an interesting move, but with the value and attractiveness of the Box, it clearly is the right one. At just over four metres long, 1.8 metres wide and close to 1.6 metres tall, the Box is a decidedly small car, which equates to ease of driving. But even more impressively, the Box is probably the smallest, most affordable car that you can find with a self-parking system.

Like its name suggests, the Box is a literal box of surprise with all that it offers at its price point. Inside, you'll get a neo-retro styled interior that is more spacious than you'll expect. Lined with quilted faux-leather trim and soft-touch materials, the cabin is a comfortable and well-built space. The centrepiece is a freestanding 12.8-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity, and you'll even get a ventilated driver seat. Despite its miniscule footprint, the Box still gives you 326 litres of boot space, along with ample head and legroom for three adults in the rear seats.

Powered by a single electric motor, the Box is well within the Cat A COE category, putting out 94bhp and 160Nm of torque to the front wheels. While the figures aren't particularly impressive, the Box is brisk and unassumingly silent. A range of 430km also means that you can go on road trips with the Box without fretting over charging stops.

With its affordability, the Dongfeng Box might seem like an entry-level choice of car, and indeed, it is an excellent car for budding drivers - but the features that you get with it, and all the space and utility that it offers, are far from entry-level.