Dongfeng BOX vs Toyota Hiace

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
Toyota Hiace in South Africa

Toyota Hiace

2.5D Panel Van MT Diesel 5-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 680,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 75 kW 🔧 260 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Dongfeng BOX vs Toyota Hiace: the short answer

BOX has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Hiace remains close.

BOX starts ZAR 281,000 cheaper BOX from ZAR 399,900 · Hiace from ZAR 680,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification BOX Hiace
Maximum Power BOX70 kW Hiace75 kW
Maximum Torque BOX160 Nm Hiace260 Nm
Engine Size BOXNot Applicable Hiace2494 cc
Combined Fuel Economy BOX0 km/l Hiace11.8 km/l
Ground Clearance BOX0 mm Hiace175 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

Toyota Hiace

2.5D Panel Van MT

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)

Specification evidence leader

BOX

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

Hiace

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

Which One's Right for You?

BOX

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Hiace

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec BOX Hiace
Model Introduced Year 2026 2019
Generation Current South African generation H300 generation – front-engine layout replacing the previous cab-over design
Facelift History Current launch specification Current H300 generation launched in SA in 2019 – major redesign from rear-engine layout
Facelift Launched Since 2026 2019
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback Van
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Electric city hatchback Van
Vehicle Type Hatchback Van
Color Note - White, Silver
Dealer Stock Note - Base grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 2080 kg
Spec BOX Hiace
Length 4020 mm 5380 mm
Width 1810 mm 1880 mm
Height 1570 mm 2285 mm
Wheelbase 2663 mm 2985 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 0 mm 175 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 140 mm 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 70 l
Boot/Cargo Space 326 l 5200 l
Kerb Weight 1370 kg 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1820 kg 3500 kg
Payload Capacity 450 kg 1420 kg
Towing Capacity 750 kg 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 2 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 1 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.8 m 6.5 m
Front Headroom 1000 mm 992 mm
Rear Headroom 950 mm Not Applicable
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1032 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm Not Applicable

In depth: how these cars differ

This BOX and Hiace 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 Hiace 37.

Efficiency index: BOX 90 vs Hiace 48.

Safety-equipment index: BOX 70 vs Hiace 44.

Practicality index: BOX 47 vs Hiace 71.

Ownership-cover index: BOX not separately scored vs Hiace 43.

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

BOX leads by 9 points

BOX has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Hiace remains close.

Evidence leader 58 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 64% source coverage
58
#1 Evidence leader

BOX

64% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 90 Check Performance 36
Performance 36
Efficiency 90
Safety 70
Practicality 47
Leads by 9 points
49
#2

Hiace

84% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 71 Check Performance 37
Performance 37
Efficiency 48
Safety 44
Practicality 71
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Hiace +1 Efficiency BOX +42 Safety BOX +26 Practicality Hiace +24

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

BOX

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

Hiace

Performance 37/100
Efficiency 48/100
Safety 44/100
Practicality 71/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Dongfeng BOX leads the specification evidence index with 58 pts vs 49 pts for Hiace

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

BOX vs Hiace 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.