SINGAPORE – One look at the Dongfeng Box is all it takes to get me in touch with, dare I say, my feminine side.

The Volkswagen Polo-sized hatch is such a cutie, you want to pinch it. Check out its cuddly curves, almond-shaped eyes and pastel paintwork. This one here is in a shade called Aurora Purple – a gorgeous hue contrasted with a white roof and white wing mirrors.

If that is not adorable enough, step inside. Purple reigns here too. And, look, the entire interior is lined with a satiny, quilted upholstery. Like a classic Chanel handbag. So cute.

There is more. The glove compartment has handbag straps and opens like a jewellery box.

Everything in the cabin seems to be styled like a fashion accessory, such as the door handles, air-conditioning vents, wireless-phone charging cradle and a chic two-spoke steering wheel with widgets. The infotainment touchscreen’s home page displays a picture of a cosy living room with a cat on a couch and a list of airy-fairy captions you can select.

To carry the analogy further, at the risk of offending, this sweetie pie gets plenty of attention on the road. I reckon it turns more heads than cars thrice its price. Costing less than $150,000 if all discounts are applicable, this designer handbag on wheels is one of the least expensive cars in town.

It also gets attention from a soothing, but rather loud, musical tune which accompanies its proximity-triggered door lock/unlock functions.

But enough of my feminine side. Time for my slightly-grumpy-old-man side to resurface and make an assessment of the car. 

First, the form. The designers must be given credit for coming up with something which sets the Box apart from an ocean of cars – electric or otherwise. They have done an incredible job. You might wish they had used better materials for parts of the cabin which are not lined with quilted material, but that would result in a less competitive price.

There are other signs of austerity, including a bench rear seat, single-zone air-conditioning system, basic motorised adjustments for only the driver’s seat, single adjustment for steering wheel, a non-motorised tailgate and the absence of a rear wiper.

The most significant contributor to its attractive pricing is the car’s battery. With a rated capacity of 42.3kWh, the lithium iron phosphate battery is one of the smallest around. Because the battery is often the single costliest item in an electric vehicle (EV), size has a direct bearing on price.

A small battery means weight savings too. Weighing less than 1,400kg, the Box is amazingly light for an electric car. And this, in turn, has a direct bearing on power consumption. For this test drive, the Box averages 10kWh/100km, which translates to a range of around 420km if the car is driven in Singapore.

The car’s lightness may also be a function of its frameless windows. Frameless windows are fashionable and they rarely come with trade-offs. But not in the case of the Box. When a door shuts, the whole car reverberates, alluding to weight-saving measures which might have gone beyond battery size.

On the go, the Box conveys none of the thumpiness experienced in several other EVs. Its ride quality is agreeable to those who value comfort. On the flipside, the car fails to exude the plantedness commonly found in EVs.

But you cannot have everything. The Box is clearly a city car and one blessed with nimbleness and uncommon frugality. It is easy to drive, but not something which raises your pulse.

What matters more may be infotainment. In the case of the Box, the system is a little unwieldy. You need to pair your phone to two devices for Android Auto to work (possibly the same applies to Apple CarPlay). And even after you have done so, you need to configure this and that on the screen. Alas, music streaming is often patchy after all the trouble.

Despite these niggles, the Box has a good chance of succeeding here. After all, a car which looks fun often wins as many votes as one which is fun to drive.

The car is relatively spacious too. The second row is decent enough for journeys in Singapore, while the boot is roomier than its 326-litre capacity suggests. For instance, it will accommodate a compact wheelchair with ease.

It may be austere, but it has a couple of premium amenities, such as adaptive cruise control and ventilated driver’s seat.

With escalating prices everywhere, the Box is certainly well placed with its keen pricing and low running cost. And you do not have to get in touch with any side – just your wallet’s – to understand that.

Dongfeng Box

Price: $188,888 with certificate of entitlement (COE), before applicable discounts

Motor: Front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous with 42.3kWh battery

Transmission: Single-speed

Power: 70kW

Torque: 140Nm

0-100kmh: 13 seconds (estimated)

Top speed: 140kmh

Power consumption: 9.83kWh/100km

Agent: Volt Auto

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Source: The Straits Times