Premium marques used to hold the keys exclusively to automatic self-parking technology in the automotive landscape. But the times have clearly changed; here, the funky-looking, lavender-coloured electric hatchback we've taken home for the weekend has just slotted itself again into the lot, for the third time today.

And all while demonstrating impeccable competence too: With no drastic misalignments now, no unwelcome jerkiness in any of its movements in the moments prior - and yes - no driver inputs at all throughout. "Pulling into garage completed, please take over the vehicle," the infotainment display reads out politely. 

The Dongfeng Box's self-parking system offers unexpected levels of sophistication – speed, accuracy and smoothness alike – considering its entry-level positioning.

The Dongfeng Box marks the first passenger electric vehicle by yet another fresh Chinese name (Wuhan-based Dongfeng Motor Corporation) to land in Singapore, and as it enters the entry-level end of an increasingly-saturated EV market, it's not just keen to go into battle based on price.

Instead, its sights seem to be aimed even higher: At democratising the market by offering almost every feature a driver could want on paper.

Fashionable flesh

Before trying to win you over with its unbeatable value and breadth of equipment, though, the Dongfeng Box banks first and foremost on style. 

It may be retro-futuristic design of a different (wilder) stroke, but this compact electric hatch shouldn't look too out of place when parked beside, say, a MINI. Speaking of which, at just over four metres long, 1.8 metres wide and close to 1.6 metres tall, the Box is a tad bigger than the MINI Cooper E (another Cat A-eligible, bite-sized EV). 

Taste is admittedly subjective, but you'd file this more under delightful than dull, with the daytime running lights spanning the width of the front fascia, and curving round the headlamps. Add the two-tone colour, variety of vibrant paintcoats (ours is called 'Aurora Purple', with a white roof) and blacked-out tailgate glass into the mix, and what you get is a head-turning package that you could see appealing to young and 'extroverted' driver types.

Creature comforts

The Box's neo-retro styling is further complemented by a bright, blast-from-the-past cabin filled with quilted faux-leather trim, and soft-touch materials.

Immediate impressions once again belie the car's budget-oriented status; run your finger through the cabin and you won't encounter sharp edges or roughly-finished surfaces. Peer a bit closer and spend a bit more time, however, and the cost-cutting will likely start to show in the harder plastics down below and in the way certain bits (such as the centre console) are bolted together.

The Box's cabin is full of little quirks, such as a drawer in place of a glovebox, and front row seats which can connect seamlessly to the second row with their headrests removed

That's not to put the Box's cabin down entirely, though. Given that the user experience in EVs now feels like it's tending towards homogeneity, it also comes with several quirks that help it stand out.

There's its 'glovebox', for instance, which rolls out (instead of dropping down) to reveal a tray-like drawer that could ostensibly appeal to a passenger princess who needs to touch up on her makeup on the go. Clever seat design also allows you to seamlessly lay the first row down flat so that your Box morphs into a mobile double-bed.

The Box also sets itself apart from the competition with a playful user interface cloaking its 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen

The home screen of its 12.8-inch floating infotainment touch display is modelled just like a living room, too, replete with an onboard feline - which can respond to finger taps - to keep you company. Adding on to the playful touch, you can even pin notices to motivate yourself. (After some fiddling around, we land on 'Perseverance can conquer any peak in the world'.) 

But this system also has functional utility. Its expanse and responsiveness make operation relatively easy, and more importantly, its support of Apple CarPlay wirelessly calls into question why the feature isn't already standard on far more expensive models. The delights continue the more you poke around: The driver's seats come with ventilation, while a 64-colour ambient lighting system allows you to set the mood for night drives too.

Its boot may not be the largest, but the Box should serve as a competent compact family car for first-time owners nonetheless, thanks to its spacious rear-bench 

Elsewhere, you get 326 litres of boot space, ample head and legroom at the back for three adults and an overall airy ambience (the car's literally boxy shape means large windows), all of which convey a sense of comfort matched - again - by few at its price point. 

Smooth operator

On the go, a single electric motor on the Dongfeng Box delivers 94bhp and 160Nm of torque to the front wheels in a manner that's effortless and linear.

These figures are undoubtedly overshadowed by its aforementioned contemporary with more enviable brand cachet - the MINI Cooper E's 148bhp and 290Nm of torque - but the Box doesn't feel slow in most real-world driving scenarios, something you'd come to expect full-electric cars these days where acceleration is commonly brisk, and unassumingly silent. It's only when you're already pushing the speed limits of our expressways that the instancy of power starts to palpably plateau, and where overtakes need to be timed more intentionally.

More than just effortless acceleration, however, is the way the Box holds itself at speed.

Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assistance are among the safety assistance features offered as standard 

The car feels unexpectedly at home when cruising, and can even take on long sweeping bends with commendable enthusiasm, given how planted it remains.

Don't mistake this for an electric hot hatch, especially since its steering could use an extra serving of a handful of essential qualities - more feedback, more sharpness, and more accuracy. Still, for its entry-level positioning, the Box already does a good-enough job of furnishing you with surprising confidence to keep pushing at speed.

Also surprising is the Dongfeng Box's driving range. Equipped with a 42.3kWh battery pack (small-ish by modern standards), the hatch has the ability to travel up to 430km, on paper, before it requires re-juicing.

A 60kW DC charger will see the Box's battery recharged from 30 to 80% in 30 minutes; we were on track to hit about 380km of range on a full charge

With our driving patterns, our test car would have managed a range closer to 380km - still a decent figure, and still enough to last you a good week or more, depending on how heavy your right foot is. Besides, having a smaller battery pack has benefits when it comes to recharging too; a less powerful 60kW DC outlet is all you need to send the car's battery from 30 to 80% in under 30 minutes. 

And apart from its sophisticated self-parking system, the Box also flexes its tech when you're on the move with its range of safety assistance systems - chief of which is the combination of its Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assistance (effectively giving it Level 2 autonomy). 

Good things can indeed come in small packages

The Dongfeng Box may lack desirable badging, and could still use some polishing up with both its interior and its drive. (There are also some personality quirks that could either charm or grate - such as the music box-like charm that sounds every time you lock and unlock the car.) Still, these are minor niggles that are easy to look past given its scarcely believable price point in today's COE climate: At just $144,888 including COE (correct at time of publishing).

As an entry-level car, the Box could have stopped at meeting the basic requirements of a first-time owner - to be comfortable to live with, provide good space and a functional cabin, and also offer commendable range - all of which it does excellently.

But by going one step further with its wealth of equipment and surprisingly sophisticated level of technology, it rewrites expectations for the budget-minded buyer today.

Good things do come in small packages, and those willing to think out of the box when it comes to purchasing a new car today may find that this Box doesn't just have to plenty to like about it. It's also plenty compelling.

Source: SGCarmart