DFSK Box Review

In the currently saturated Malaysian C-segment electric vehicle market, fully electric cars priced around RM100,000 have become a popular choice for many family users—they need sufficient range for daily commuting, practical configurations, and comfortable space. The 2024 DFSK Box E2 is a new contender in this price range, offering a claimed range of 330 kilometers, a 12.8-inch large screen, and features like automatic parking as its key selling points. Today, through a static experience and a dynamic test drive, we’ll see whether it can truly stand out among its peers and if these features translate into practical usability.

In terms of appearance, the overall design of the Box E2 leans towards simplicity and practicality for household use. The front face adopts a closed design, which is a typical characteristic of electric vehicles, with a fast-charging port hidden under the brand logo in the center. The sharp LED headlights on both sides integrate daytime running lights, providing good recognition when lit; the lower front bumper has a relatively simple design without overly complex lines, aligning with its home-use positioning. The side profile of the car boasts smooth lines, and the 215/55 R17 tire specifications are proportionate to the car’s body. The door handles use a traditional design rather than a hidden type but come with a keyless entry feature, which adds convenience to daily use. At the rear, the LED tail lights are not connected but have a split design. However, the light strips inside the tail lights echo the shape of the front headlights. Under the trunk lid, there is a chrome decorative strip that adds a touch of refinement.

Stepping inside, the interior of the Box E2 is predominantly dark, with a clear layout on the dashboard. The most noticeable feature is the 12.8-inch touch screen in the center, which occupies most of the dashboard. The system interface is simple, supporting basic functions like navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and multimedia, with a decent level of operational smoothness. The instrument cluster is fully digital, clearly displaying information like range, speed, and battery level, with an intuitive layout. The multifunction steering wheel is wrapped in leather, offering a moderate grip. The buttons on the left side control multimedia and calls, while those on the right control the cruise system, with a clear and responsive button feedback. In terms of materials, the upper part of the dashboard is made of hard plastic, while the inner sides of the doors and the seats are wrapped in fabric, which provides a relatively comfortable touch; all seats are manually adjustable. Both the driver and passenger seats support forward/backward movement and recline adjustments, while the rear seats have a fold-flat design that can expand the trunk space when folded down.

Regarding space performance, the Box E2 has a wheelbase of 2650mm, providing sufficient front-row seating space. For a passenger with a height of 175cm, there’s about a fist’s worth of headroom. The rear seating space is also decent; for passengers of the same height, there are two fists of legroom and one fist of headroom, and the nearly flat floor can accommodate three adults without being too crowded. The standard trunk capacity is 326L, which can fit two 20-inch suitcases, making it enough for daily grocery shopping or short trips. After folding down the rear seats, the space can be expanded further, suitable for storing larger items. In terms of configurations, the front row is equipped with a single-zone automatic air conditioning system, although the rear row lacks independent air vents. The cooling effect of the front air conditioning, however, is excellent. The vehicle features six speakers throughout, providing adequate sound quality for casual music listening. For safety features, it comes with standard ABS, electronic stability control, dual front airbags, ISO FIX anchors, as well as rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. However, compared to the higher-end E3 version, it lacks front parking sensors and a 360-degree camera.

In the dynamic test drive section, the Box E2 is equipped with a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor, with a maximum power of 70kW (95PS) and a maximum torque of 160N·m. In terms of power parameters, it is considered average for its class. The power response is direct at start-up, and the vehicle can move quickly when the accelerator pedal is pressed, making it suitable for following cars in congested urban areas. In the commonly used speed range of 40-80km/h, acceleration is stable. When overtaking, you need to press the pedal down deeply, and there will be about a one-second delay in power output, but it is sufficient to complete the overtaking action. There is only one driving mode, without the option to switch to sport or eco modes, and the overall tuning leans towards comfort.

As for the chassis, the front suspension is a MacPherson independent suspension, while the rear suspension is a torsion beam non-independent suspension. On smooth urban roads, the chassis performs solidly, effectively filtering out small bumps. However, when encountering speed bumps or potholes, the rear suspension tends to bounce more noticeably, which can make the ride slightly less comfortable for rear passengers. The steering wheel has moderate weight, average precision, and minimal play, making daily driving rather easy. When driving at high speeds, the steering wheel becomes slightly heavier, and the stability is acceptable.

For range and charging, we test drove approximately 100 kilometers on urban roads, which included about 20% highway mileage, while keeping the air conditioning running at 24 degrees throughout. The displayed range decreased by about 120 kilometers, achieving a utilization rate of approximately 83%, performing moderately well. The battery capacity is 31.45kWh, with a fast-charging time of 0.5 hours (from 30% to 80%). There is no official data for slow charging, but using a home charging pile overnight can basically fully charge it. In terms of energy consumption, the urban consumption is about 12-14kWh/100km, while on highways, it increases to 15-17kWh/100km, conforming to its segment's average performance.

In terms of driving comfort, the noise control of the Box E2 is reasonably good. During low-speed urban driving, the motor noise and tire noise are relatively minimal. At highway speeds above 100km/h, wind noise becomes more noticeable, but it remains within an acceptable range. The fabric-covered seats have good breathability and will not feel too stuffy during long periods of sitting, although lumbar support is somewhat insufficient, and a lumbar cushion may be needed for long-distance driving. For energy recovery, it only has a single fixed mode. Releasing the accelerator pedal does not create a pronounced dragging feeling, making the driving experience closer to that of a traditional fuel vehicle, which is suitable for users transitioning from fuel cars to electric vehicles.

Overall, the core advantage of the 2024 DFSK Box E2 lies in its affordable price. With a price of around 100,000 MYR, you can get a vehicle with 330 km of range, a 12.8-inch touchscreen, automatic parking, and ACC cruise as part of the configuration. Compared to competitors in the same price range, its features are more comprehensive. However, it also has some shortcomings, such as average rear suspension comfort and fewer safety features compared to the high-end versions, such as the omission of front radar and active safety systems. All things considered, Box E2 is more suitable for family users who value cost-effectiveness, with a daily commuting distance within 50 kilometers, occasional short weekend trips, certain configuration expectations, and a limited budget. If you need a longer range or more advanced safety features, you can consider spending more for the Box E3. However, if your needs are limited to basic family use, the Box E2 is already a practical option.

To summarize, the 2024 DFSK Box E2 is a clearly positioned family electric vehicle. Its advantages lie in its sufficient space, practical configuration, and affordable price, making it suitable as a family's first car or a daily commuting vehicle. If you are looking for balanced performance rather than extreme performance, then the Box E2 is worth considering.