Dongfeng BOX vs Honda CR-V

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Dongfeng BOX in South Africa

Dongfeng BOX

BOX E3 430 Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 449,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 70 kW 🔧 160 Nm ⛽ 0 km/l
VS
Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 819,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 204 kW 🔧 335 Nm ⛽ 20 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Dongfeng BOX vs Honda CR-V: the short answer

CR-V holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over BOX.

BOX starts ZAR 290,000 cheaper BOX from ZAR 399,900 · CR-V from ZAR 689,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification BOX CR-V
Maximum Power BOX70 kW CR-V204 kW
Maximum Torque BOX160 Nm CR-V335 Nm
Engine Size BOXNot Applicable CR-V1993 cc
Combined Fuel Economy BOX0 km/l CR-V20 km/l
Ground Clearance BOX0 mm CR-V198 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Dongfeng BOX

BOX E3 430

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

BOX

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

CR-V

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

BOX

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

CR-V

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec BOX CR-V
Model Introduced Year 2026 2023
Generation Current South African generation Built on Honda’s global SUV platform with focus on comfort and safety
Facelift History Current launch specification Latest generation introduced with improved design, features, and safety technology
Facelift Launched Since 2026 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Electric city hatchback SUV
Vehicle Type Hatchback SUV
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Color Note - White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red
Tare Mass Kg - 1750 kg
Spec BOX CR-V
Length 4020 mm 4690 mm
Width 1810 mm 1860 mm
Height 1570 mm 1690 mm
Wheelbase 2663 mm 2700 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 0 mm 198 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 140 mm 198 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 57 l
Boot/Cargo Space 326 l 497 l
Kerb Weight 1370 kg 1750 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1820 kg 2250 kg
Payload Capacity 450 kg 500 kg
Towing Capacity 750 kg 1500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.8 m 5.7 m
Front Headroom 1000 mm 970 mm
Rear Headroom 950 mm 970 mm
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1049 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm 1041 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This BOX and CR-V comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: BOX 36 vs CR-V 77.

Efficiency index: BOX 90 vs CR-V 80.

Safety-equipment index: BOX 70 vs CR-V 91.

Practicality index: BOX 47 vs CR-V 66.

Ownership-cover index: BOX not separately scored vs CR-V 60.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

CR-V leads by 18 points

CR-V holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over BOX.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 18 points
Data 94% source coverage
76
#1 Evidence leader

CR-V

94% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Ownership 60
Performance 77
Efficiency 80
Safety 91
Practicality 66
Ownership 60
Leads by 18 points
58
#2

BOX

64% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 90 Check Performance 36
Performance 36
Efficiency 90
Safety 70
Practicality 47
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CR-V +41 Efficiency BOX +10 Safety CR-V +21 Practicality CR-V +19

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

CR-V

Performance 77/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 60/100

BOX

Performance 36/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 70/100
Practicality 47/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Honda CR-V leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 58 pts for BOX

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, CR-V leads. However, BOX may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.

BOX
BOX
VS
DOLPHIN
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BOX vs DOLPHIN →
BOX
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C7
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BOX vs C7 →
BOX
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Harrier
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BOX vs Harrier →
BOX
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CX-30
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BOX vs CX-30 →
BOX
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Eclipse Cross
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BOX vs Eclipse Cross →
BOX
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VS
Territory
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BOX vs Territory →
CR-V
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VS
DOLPHIN
DOLPHIN
CR-V vs DOLPHIN →
CR-V
CR-V
VS
C7
C7
CR-V vs C7 →

BOX vs CR-V questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.