Verdict
At RM100,000, the Dongfeng Box costs RM4,100 more than the RM95,900 Honda City Hatchback, but it brings EV running, a 42.3-kWh battery, 430-km range and 3.6-kW V2L. It is also 332 mm shorter yet has a 60-litre larger boot and a 60-mm longer wheelbase. The Honda fights back with 119 hp, a 195-km/h top speed, six airbags and a far fuller rear-seat arrangement. For Malaysian buyers without dependable charging, the City is the easier all-rounder; home charging makes the Box’s 430-km EV range the deciding advantage.
Pick the Dongfeng Box if you can charge regularly and want 430 km of EV range, 326 litres of boot space and 3.6-kW V2L.
Pick the Honda City Hatchback if you want six airbags, a 195-km/h top speed, rear air vents and the flexibility of ULTRA Seat.
Key differences
- Price: Dongfeng Box RM100,000; Honda City Hatchback RM95,900.
- Powertrain: Dongfeng Box has one 94-hp, 160-Nm motor and a 42.3-kWh battery; Honda has a 1,498-cc 119-hp, 145-Nm petrol engine.
- Range/economy: Dongfeng Box has 430 km EV range; Honda City Hatchback is rated at 5.6 L/100 km.
- Top speed: Dongfeng Box 140 km/h; Honda City Hatchback 195 km/h.
- Safety: Dongfeng Box has 2 airbags; Honda City Hatchback has 6 airbags.
- Boot space: Dongfeng Box 326 litres; Honda City Hatchback 289 litres.
Box
- 430-km EV range from a 42.3-kWh battery
- 326-litre boot and 2,660-mm wheelbase
- 360-degree camera, auto parking and 3.6-kW V2L
- Only 2 airbags versus the Honda’s 6
- 140-km/h top speed versus 195 km/h
- No rear air vents or 60:40 split-fold rear seat
City Hatchback
- Six airbags plus Blind Spot Information with Cross Traffic Monitoring
- 119 hp, 195-km/h top speed and 5.6 L/100 km rating
- ULTRA Seat, rear vents and four USB ports
- 289-litre boot is 37 litres smaller
- No V2L, while the Box supplies 3.6 kW
- No front parking sensors or auto parking
What the Box has over the City Hatchback
What the City Hatchback has over the Box
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The Box's wheelbase is 60 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom. The Box is 62 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays. Boot space favours the Box: 326 litres against 289.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM100,000 | RM95,900✓ |
| Body type | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Segment | B-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM50✓ | RM90 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,020/mo | RM980/mo✓ |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM2,848 | RM2,773✓ |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | RM874✓ | RM2,229 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM4.37✓ | RM11.14 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM18,860✓ | RM25,459 |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | 6.4 hours | — |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | 40 min | — |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 400V architecture | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift |
| Capacity | — | 1,498 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 119 hp at 6,600 rpm |
| Torque | — | 145 Nm at 4,300 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 73 mm × 89.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.6 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 94 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 160 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 42.3 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 430 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 6.6 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 70 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.6 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | EarthDreams Technology CVT with G-Design Shift |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Honda |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 10.7 seconds |
| Rated Economy | — | 5.6 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 140 km/h | 195 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,030 mm | 4,362 mm |
| Width | 1,810 mm | 1,748 mm |
| Height | 1,570 mm | 1,488 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,660 mm | 2,600 mm |
| Weight | 1,342 kg | 1,148 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 40 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 326 litres✓ | 289 litres |
| Front Tyre | 215/55R17 | 185/55R16 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/55R17 | 185/55R16 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Wanli Harmonic Plus | Toyo Proxes R57 |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | — | 26 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | — | 14 inch |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 17" Alloys | 16" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 17" Alloys | 16" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| ASEAN NCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 2 (Driver and Front Passenger) | 6 (Dual Front, Side and Curtain Airbags) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual For Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available On Outer Two Rear Seats | ISOFIX i-Size |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, Honda Sensing (CMBS) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Honda SENSING (FCW, CMBS, LKAS, LDW, RDM, ACC, Auto High Beam, Lead Car Departure Notification), Blind Spot Information with Cross Traffic Monitoring, Honda LaneWatch Camera, Emergency Stop Signal, Rear Seatbelt Reminder, Auto Door Lock, ISOFIX i-Size |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors | Bi-LED Projector, Auto |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Manual Adjustable, Combination Leather |
| Rear Seats | One-piece Folding | Manual Recline, 60:40 Split Folding, ULTRA Seat |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 USB | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lighting | Map Lights, Blue Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 12.8" Touchscreen | 10" Display Audio with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4 Speakers + 4 Tweeters |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down | Driver Side One Touch Up and Down |
| Engine Start | Keyless Start (Depress Brake Pedal) | Remote Engine Start, Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 2 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Surround View | Yes |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Handbrake |
| Convenience Notes | — | Remote Engine Start, Walk-away Auto Lock, ECON Button, Auto-retractable Door Mirrors, Front Panel Ambient Light; Honda CONNECT optional (RM2,450 with 3-year subscription) |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 7 years | 8 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | Limited to the first owner only; 8-year/unlimited mileage battery warranty | 8-year warranty = 5 years + 3 years service-activated (6th to 8th year, engine and transmission, unlimited mileage); free labour for up to 5 services within 5 years/100,000 km |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Electricity at RM0.44/kWh (TNB domestic, home charging); public DC charging costs around RM1.30/kWh. Charging times estimated from battery capacity and peak charging rates. Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
Used Box & City Hatchback for sale
Our reviews & guides
Dongfeng Box
Honda City Hatchback
Box vs City Hatchback FAQ
Is the Dongfeng Box or Honda City Hatchback better?
The Honda City Hatchback is better for safety hardware and long-distance petrol flexibility, with six airbags and a 195-km/h top speed. The Dongfeng Box is better for drivers with regular charging, offering 430 km of EV range, V2L and a larger 326-litre boot.
What is the price difference?
The Dongfeng Box costs RM4,100 more than the Honda City Hatchback.
Which has the better parking equipment?
The Dongfeng Box has the stronger parking kit: six front and six rear sensors, a 360-degree surround-view camera and auto parking. The Honda City Hatchback has two rear sensors and a reverse camera.
How long does charging take?
The Box's 42.3 kWh battery takes about 6.4 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 40 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 70 kW peak.
Which one is locally assembled?
The City Hatchback is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the Box is fully imported (CBU) from China. Local assembly generally helps pricing and spare-parts supply, and CKD programmes usually signal a longer-term commitment to the model here.
Which has the better warranty?
The City Hatchback carries a 8-year manufacturer warranty against 7 years for the Box. Box: Limited to the first owner only; 8-year/unlimited mileage battery warranty. City Hatchback: 8-year warranty = 5 years + 3 years service-activated (6th to 8th year, engine and transmission, unlimited mileage); free labour for up to 5 services within 5 years/100,000 km.