2025 Dongfeng Box Review

Dongfeng is another recent arrival, its first local offering being the Box. It’s an affordable five-door, but how’s the substance?

You would be forgiven for not knowing the name Dongfeng (pronounced dong-fung). In New Zealand it is brand new, but in China, this state-owned carmaker is a motoring giant, building more than two million vehicles a year, from micro vans to luxury Voyah SUVs and even driverless port trucks. Now, through Armstrong’s Distribution, it has officially arrived here, and it has come armed with something the market has not seen for a while: a genuinely affordable electric hatchback – the Dongfeng Box. 

At $29,990, the Dongfeng Box is the only new EV in the country under thirty grand, and perhaps more significantly, the only light electric hatch ready for immediate delivery. BYD’s Atto 1 launched with the same price, but those cars are still not in customers’ driveways. This one is. It also brings more to the table than the price suggests. 

Dongfeng Box – Short on length but not substance

At 4.02 metres long and just over 1.8 metres wide, the Box roughly matches a Mini Cooper’s  footprint. The slightly raised hip point gives it a hint of compact SUV in the way you sit, and the 2663mm wheelbase pays dividends inside. The cabin is significantly roomier than a Suzuki Swift and more usable than a Mini, with adult friendly rear space and a 326L boot that expands to 945. Both the front and rear seats fold completely flat, which makes it handy for longer items or a quick rest stop. Up front you can option a small frunk for $500. It is rated to 20kg and useful for cables and smaller items, but it is still unusual that it is optional. 

Under the skin sits Dongfeng’s Quantum Architecture, which will also underpin the upcoming 007 sedan. Power comes from a compact permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 70kW and 160Nm to the front wheels. While that sounds modest, the Box feels lively up to about 80km/h and is completely comfortable at open road speeds. Dongfeng quotes a 0 to 50km/h time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 140km/h. Those figures feel honest. We spent plenty of time at 110km/h on the Northern Motorway and the Box held pace with two adults and luggage without effort. 

A 43.89kWh LFP battery lives beneath the floor. Range is rated at 317km WLTP and is achievable if you spend most of your time in town. We saw between 11 and 12kWh/100km in the city and under 15 at 110 km/h, including the climb over the toll road hill. That puts open road range in the mid to high two hundreds depending on load and conditions. 

Charging comes via 6.6kW AC or up to 60kW DC. A 30 to 80 percent DC charge takes around 30 minutes. The Box uses air rather than liquid battery cooling, which may be a limitation if you fast charge repeatedly on a long trip, but most owners are unlikely to rack up multiple rapid sessions a day. Interestingly, the charging curve held close to 60kW for longer than expected, which suggests the system is well tuned. 

Character by design

Where some budget EVs lean hard into minimalism, the Dongfeng Box brings personality. Frameless doors, flush handles and a full width LED light bar give it a distinctive face. Two tone paint options add a splash of style. The 17-inch alloys complete the look, even if the wheel design itself may divide opinion. 

Inside, the Box feels more boutique than budget. Leatherette upholstery, soft touch surfaces and a 32 colour ambient lighting system give the cabin a designer feel. It has clearly been targeted at younger buyers. The vanity mirrors, for instance, are oversized and well lit, and the slide out dashboard drawer looks ideal for cosmetics and accessories. 

The 12-inch touchscreen houses most of the vehicle’s controls and is paired with a 5-inch driver display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted, but they run through a hidden distributor-installed adapter. It works, but it is clumsy, requiring both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections. In testing, CarPlay dropped out several times. Dongfeng would be better served by fully integrating the software into the infotainment system. The wireless charger is rated at 50W and actively cooled, but it struggled to consistently deliver much power during testing. 

The driver’s seat is a highlight. It offers six way electric adjustment with heating, ventilation and memory, which is remarkable for the price. The passenger seat is manual but both fold flat. The steering wheel offers tilt adjustment but no reach, though the driving position remains comfortable. Other touches include a proximity locking system and an external speaker that plays a greeting tune when the car is locked or unlocked. It is loud, and one of the first features you will probably disable. 

Light on weight, not on fun

At 1345kg, the Dongfeng Box is light by EV standards. Build quality feels sound and there are no errant noises or signs of cut corners. It feels like a well assembled small car. 

It drives well too. The steering is quick and accurate, making the Box easy to place in traffic and tidy through corners. The suspension tune leans towards comfort. It settles bumps without feeling floaty and deals with small road imperfections better than expected for a short wheelbase vehicle. Road noise is mostly well controlled, though some roar from the rear quarter crept in at highway speeds. 

The ADAS package is the biggest surprise. Adaptive cruise with traffic jam assist, lane keeping, lane centring, 360 degree cameras, automatic parking and front and rear parking sensors all come standard. Expectations were modest, but the system is one of the better mainstream level two packages we have tested. Driving from the Auckland Harbour Bridge to Warkworth required almost no correction beyond legally keeping hands on the wheel. Several far more expensive vehicles have not performed as well. 

Physical buttons for the ADAS and key functions are another win. They feel solid and are easy to use without looking. 

The safety point

The Box holds a three star Euro NCAP rating. The frontal offset test returned some concerns around airbag deployment force and failed spot welds in part of the body structure. It also missed a four star score by a single point. Armstrong’s Distribution says the manufacturer is already addressing the issues and is committed to improving the result. 

It is an important factor for some buyers. Private owners may weigh the rating against the value on offer. Fleet managers will likely wait for an improved score, as we have seen with other small cars in the past. 

Ownership and outlook

Ownership is supported by a six year or 200,000km vehicle warranty, an eight year or 200,000km battery warranty and six years of roadside assistance. Service intervals are every 15,000km or one year. Financing is offered through Dongfeng Finance, a collaboration with Heartland Bank. Guaranteed Future Value options are planned for 2026. 

With the EV market cooling, the brand believes affordability is the key to bringing new buyers into electric ownership. As they put it, to grow the market you need accessibility, usability and trust. 

Dongfeng Box – Verdict

After around 600km we have grown rather fond of the Dongfeng Box. It is comfortable, efficient, well packaged and surprisingly refined. The ADAS system is outstanding for the price, the range is honest and the specification is unmatched at this level. 

There are weaknesses. The CarPlay adapter solution is clunky and the safety rating will cause hesitation for some buyers. Still, for a significant number of people, especially younger urban buyers looking to move into a small EV at the lowest price point possible, the Box will make strong sense. 

The Atto 1 remains the natural rival and well worth comparing when available. But judged on what you can buy today, the Box represents exceptional value. And while the distributor suggests a move to $32,990 next year, market conditions make that unlikely.  

Dongfeng Box

$29,990  /  12.9kWh/100km  /  0g/km
0-100 km/h 12.5s
Motor output  70kW
Max torque  160Nm
Battery  74.0kWh
Range  43.9km
Drivetrain  Single-speed auto / FWD
Front suspension  Mac strut / swaybar
Rear suspension  Torsion beam
Turning circle  10.2m (2.5 turns)
Front brakes  Ventilated discs
Rear brakes  Discs
Stability systems  ABS, ESP
Safety  AEB, ACC, BSM, LDW, RCTA, ALK, AHB
Tyre size  f/r-215/55R17
Wheelbase  2663mm
L/W/H  4020 / 1810 / 1570mm
Track f-1600mm  r-1616mm
Luggage capacity 326-945L  
Tow rating  Not rated to tow
Service intervals 12 months / 15,000km
Warranty  6yrs / 200,000 km
ANCAP rating  ★★★☆☆ (2025)
Weight (claimed)  1345kg