Another Chinese electric city car begins sales in Spain: this is the new Dongfeng Box

Last summer Dongfeng announced that it was taking the leap into Spain through its partnership with the Salvador Caetano Auto group. It is a Chinese brand you may not know, but one you should keep firmly in mind, since it has a long history in the automotive world and has sold more than 57 million units, of which more than 2 million were in 2023.

Dongfeng also has brands focused on luxury vehicles, which will also be present in Spain. However, here we will focus on its most popular or most affordable model, although we will see whether it is really as affordable as it seems given what it offers. This model is the Box, a city-focused car that is fully electric and is praised for its fast charging, which is, after all, the basic requirement for an urban electric car.

Starting with its exterior, the Dongfeng Box is built on the Quantum Qrchitecture 3 platform, which gives it a length of 4,020 mm, a width of 1,810 mm and a height of 1,570 mm. Its wheelbase is quite generous, at 2,663 mm. This platform supports a discreet body with soft lines, where flashy styling is not an option, as if it wanted to avoid drawing attention in the urban jungle. It does, however, stand out for striking details such as the floating roof, the flush door handles and the frameless doors for the windows.

Its completely clean front end is broken at the bottom of the bumper and by its LED light unit, which is joined by a strip using the same technology. The side is accented by the inserts applied to the lower part of the doors and the 17-inch alloy wheels, which are available in two colours, incidentally. At the rear is a tailgate whose lower part includes a black area that links the LED taillights. The body can be chosen in three colours, along with other two-tone options in which the roof is white.

Inside, the car follows the philosophy of the vast majority of electric cars: minimalism. If that is already evident on the outside, it is no surprise to find it inside too. At first glance, one might think they are inside a premium vehicle, a sensation created by the diamond-pattern upholstery, made from a soft material that is pleasant to the touch, as well as the strips on the pull-out drawer in the front passenger area, which recall the design of a haute couture handbag.

The interior of the Dongfeng Box is characterised by plenty of storage spaces. Along with the pull-out drawer mentioned above, there is also the space created by the floating armrest, as well as recesses for smaller items and a wireless charging area for smartphones. In addition, it stands out for its space: the front seats can fold down and sit flush with the rear bench, creating a space where you could even sleep. It is worth noting that the front seats, made of PVC, come as standard with electric adjustment, as well as heating, ventilation and massage functions. That is not all, as its standard equipment includes features such as:

• 360º camera
• Automatic air conditioning
• Keyless entry
• Rain sensor
• Adaptive headlights with automatic lights
• 6 speakers
• Multifunction steering wheel
• Ambient lighting
• Emergency braking
• Forward collision warning system
• Lane departure warning system
• Lane keeping assist system
• Traffic sign recognition
• Intelligent speed control
• Intelligent switching between Traffic Jam Assist
• Highway Driving Assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Hill start assist
• Automatic parking assist
• Fatigue reminder
• Tyre pressure sensor
• Stability control

Mechanically, the Dongfeng Box has an electric motor that produces 70 kW (52 CV) and 160 Nm of torque, allowing it to reach a maximum of 140 km/h. It has a battery with a net capacity of 42.3 kWh, which Dongfeng claims can be charged from 20% to 80% in 30 minutes using fast charging. It also features V2L technology, with which we can charge other devices. According to the WLTP test cycle, it has an estimated range of 340 kilometres in the urban cycle and 310 kilometres in the combined cycle.

The Dongfeng Box is now available in Spain, with a starting price of 25,995 euros, which can be reduced to 18,995 euros if we opt for the MOVES III Plan. In any case, registration, transport and pre-delivery costs must be added to this amount. Will this model be well received by drivers?