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Dongfeng Box vs BYD Dolphin: which one should you buy?

Dongfeng Box vs BYD Dolphin

The market for electric vehicles (EVs) in Malaysia has been further enlivened by the arrival of the latest competitor, the Dongfeng Box. It is officially distributed by Central Auto Distributors Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of PEKEMA.

As you can see, the Box is a compact hatchback with a fresh design aimed at attracting younger consumers. With a starting price of RM100,700, it is a close competitor to the BYD Dolphin, making it one of the most affordable EVs in the country.

In this article, we will compare the Box and the Dolphin to help you make the best choice:

Size

The Box measures 4,020 mm in length, making it 270 mm shorter than the Dolphin. However, it is 40 mm wider than the Dolphin’s 1,810 mm, while both models share the same height of 1,570 mm.

Additionally, the Dolphin’s longer body gives it an advantage in wheelbase measurement, with a size of 2,700 mm compared to the Box’s 2,650 mm.

Another advantage of the Dolphin is its larger boot space of 345 litres, which is 19 litres more than the boot space of the Box.

Features

On the exterior, the Box comes equipped with front and rear LED lights, as well as 17-inch alloys for both variants, the E2 and E3. The Dolphin also features automatic LED lights with daytime running lights (DRL), heated side mirrors, and 16-inch wheels for the Dynamic Standard Range variant, moving up to 17 inches for the Premium Extended Range.

Inside, there are several similarities between the Box and the Dolphin, with both models featuring synthetic leather upholstery, a five-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, six speakers, and a wireless charger (50W for the Box).

However, the Dolphin appears to have the upper hand as it is also equipped with electric adjustment for the front seats and a panoramic sunroof.

Safety

For the Box, only the E3 variant is equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), while the Dolphin comes with driver assistance systems as standard. Both models are fitted with a 360-degree camera.

However, in terms of passive safety systems, the Box is somewhat disappointing as it only has two airbags, whereas the Dolphin has six.

Performance, Range & Charging

The Box is powered by a single electric motor at the front axle producing 95 PS and 160 Nm, allowing it to reach a top speed of 140 km/h.

In comparison, the Dolphin offers 95 PS and 180 Nm for the Dynamic Standard Range variant and 204 PS and 310 Nm for the Premium Extended Range.

How far can both EVs travel? The Box E2, equipped with a 31.45 kWh battery, offers a range of 330 km, while the Box E3 with a 42.3 kWh battery offers a range of 430 km. These figures are based on the CLTC cycle.

The Box supports AC charging (3.3 kW for the E2, 6.6 kW for the E3) as well as DC fast charging, capable of restoring the battery power from 30-80% in 30 minutes.

For the Dolphin, the Dynamic Standard Range variant comes with a 44.92 kWh LFP battery offering a range of 340 km. The Premium Extended Range variant has a larger 60.48 kWh battery, allowing it to travel up to 427 km. These figures are based on the more realistic WLTP cycle.

This model supports AC charging at 7 kW, while DC charging capacity varies between the two variants, with 60 kW for the Dynamic Standard Range and 80 kW for the Premium Extended Range, allowing 30-80% charging in under 30 minutes.

Price

If you are looking for an affordable EV as an entry point into the world of electric vehicles, both the Box and the Dolphin are among the most suitable candidates, but which one is more budget-friendly?

The Box is priced (OTR excluding insurance) starting from RM100,700 for the E2 and RM113,700 for the E3. It comes with a five-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty and an eight-year/150,000 km battery warranty.

Meanwhile, the Dolphin starts at RM100,530 for the Dynamic Standard Range and RM125,530 for the Premium Extended Range.

Sime Darby Motors offers a six-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty, an eight-year/160,000 km battery warranty, and an eight-year/150,000 km warranty for the drive unit.

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