Dongfeng BOX vs BYD DOLPHIN SURF

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 389,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 70 kW 🔧 290 Nm
VS
BYD DOLPHIN SURF in South Africa

BYD DOLPHIN SURF

Dynamic EV Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 395,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 55 kW 🔧 135 Nm
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Dongfeng BOX vs BYD DOLPHIN SURF: the short answer

BOX and DOLPHIN SURF are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

DOLPHIN SURF starts ZAR 7,100 cheaper BOX from ZAR 349,000 · DOLPHIN SURF from ZAR 341,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification BOX DOLPHIN SURF
Maximum Power BOX70 kW DOLPHIN SURF55 kW
Maximum Torque BOX290 Nm DOLPHIN SURF135 Nm
Engine Size BOXNot Applicable DOLPHIN SURFNot Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy BOXNot Applicable DOLPHIN SURFNot Applicable
Ground Clearance BOX175 mm DOLPHIN SURF155 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

BOX

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
Specification evidence leader

DOLPHIN SURF

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

Which One's Right for You?

BOX

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

DOLPHIN SURF

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec BOX DOLPHIN SURF
Model Introduced Year 2026 2025
Generation Current South African BOX generation First South African DOLPHIN SURF generation
Facelift History Current South African launch version; no local facelift announced No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback Hatchback
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment Urban Electric Hatchback City Hatchback
Vehicle Type Passenger Vehicle Passenger vehicle
Spec BOX DOLPHIN SURF
Length 4020 mm 3925 mm
Width 1810 mm 1720 mm
Height 1570 mm 1590 mm
Wheelbase 2663 mm 2500 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 175 mm 155 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 160 mm 120 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 326 l 230 l
Kerb Weight 1285 kg 1280 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2020 kg 1690 kg
Payload Capacity 500 kg 410 kg
Towing Capacity 500 kg 0 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.2 m 4.95 m
Front Headroom 1000 mm 980 mm
Rear Headroom 970 mm 920 mm
Front Legroom 1040 mm 1060 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm 690 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This BOX and DOLPHIN SURF 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 52 vs DOLPHIN SURF 25.

Efficiency index: BOX 31 vs DOLPHIN SURF 90.

Safety-equipment index: BOX 88 vs DOLPHIN SURF 87.

Practicality index: BOX 52 vs DOLPHIN SURF 51.

Ownership-cover index: BOX not separately scored vs DOLPHIN SURF not separately scored.

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

DOLPHIN SURF leads by 4 points

BOX and DOLPHIN SURF are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 61 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 60% source coverage
61
#1 Evidence leader

DOLPHIN SURF

60% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 90 Check Performance 25
Performance 25
Efficiency 90
Safety 87
Practicality 51
Leads by 4 points
57
#2

BOX

83% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Efficiency 31
Performance 52
Efficiency 31
Safety 88
Practicality 52
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance BOX +27 Efficiency DOLPHIN SURF +59 Safety BOX +1 Practicality BOX +1

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

DOLPHIN SURF

Performance 25/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 51/100

BOX

Performance 52/100
Efficiency 31/100
Safety 88/100
Practicality 52/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD DOLPHIN SURF leads the specification evidence index with 61 pts vs 57 pts for BOX

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, DOLPHIN SURF 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
E2
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BOX vs E2 →
BOX
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Mazda2
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BOX vs Mazda2 →
BOX
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Polo
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BOX vs Polo →
BOX
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VS
Fit
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BOX vs Fit →
BOX
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VS
i20
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BOX vs i20 →
BOX
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VS
Polo-Vivo
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BOX vs Polo-Vivo →
DOLPHIN SURF
DOLPHIN SURF
VS
E2
E2
DOLPHIN SURF vs E2 →
DOLPHIN SURF
DOLPHIN SURF
VS
Mazda2
Mazda2
DOLPHIN SURF vs Mazda2 →

BOX vs DOLPHIN SURF 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.