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.
UNI-S has a modest catalogue-index lead, while BOX remains close.
UNI-S starts ZAR 10,000 cheaperBOX from ZAR 399,900 · UNI-S from ZAR 389,900
Five key differences
Exact selected derivatives
Swipe sideways to compare every column
Specification
BOX
UNI-S
Maximum Power
BOX70 kW
UNI-S138 kW
Maximum Torque
BOX160 Nm
UNI-S300 Nm
Engine Size
BOXNot Applicable
UNI-S1500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy
BOX0 km/l
UNI-S14.49 km/l
Ground Clearance
BOX0 mm
UNI-SNot Officially Disclosed
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 ratingNot yet rated
No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.
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
UNI-S
Strengths
More powerful engine output
Stronger listed safety equipment
Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to:Published PerformancePublished Practicality
Which One's Right for You?
BOX
Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
UNI-S
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
Open a category, then swipe sideways to compare every column
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Model Introduced Year
2026
2026
Generation
Current South African generation
First current South African UNI-S retail generation, offered in CS, CL and CE grades.
Facelift History
Current launch specification
No South African facelift has been announced since the UNI-S entered local retail sale in 2026.
Facelift Launched Since
2026
Not Applicable
Facelift Version Ending
Current
Not Applicable
Body Style
Hatchback
SUV
Model Year
2026
2026
Production Status
Active
active
Segment
Electric city hatchback
Compact SUV
Vehicle Type
Hatchback
Passenger car
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Length
4020 mm
4539 mm
Width
1810 mm
1865 mm
Height
1570 mm
1680 mm
Wheelbase
2663 mm
2656 mm
Ground Clearance (Default)
0 mm
Not Officially Disclosed
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load)
140 mm
167 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity
0 l
51 l
Boot/Cargo Space
326 l
475 l
Kerb Weight
1370 kg
1505 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
1820 kg
1825 kg
Payload Capacity
450 kg
Not Officially Disclosed
Towing Capacity
750 kg
Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity
5 seats
5 seats
Number of Rows
2 rows
2 rows
Doors
5 doors
5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius
5.8 m
5.66 m
Front Headroom
1000 mm
Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom
950 mm
Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom
1050 mm
Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom
900 mm
Not Officially Disclosed
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Engine
Permanent-magnet synchronous motor
1.5-litre Turbocharged Petrol
Engine Code
Not Applicable
NE15TG-AC
Fuel Type
Electric
Petrol
Hybrid System
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Engine Displacement
Not Applicable
1500 cc
Cylinders
Not Applicable
4
Cylinder Layout
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Valves
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Valves per Cylinder
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Aspiration
Not Applicable
Turbocharged
Fuel System
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Compression Ratio
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Bore
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Stroke
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Maximum Power
70 kW
138 kW
Maximum Torque
160 Nm
300 Nm
Combined Power
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Combined Torque
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Motor Type
Permanent-magnet synchronous motor
Not Applicable
Number of Motors
1
Not Applicable
Motor Location
Front
Not Applicable
Drive Type
FWD
FWD
Transmission
Single-Speed Reduction Gear
7-Speed DCT
Top Speed
140 km/h
190 km/h
0-100 km/h
10.6 sec
Not Officially Disclosed
Quarter Mile
Not Officially Disclosed
Not Officially Disclosed
Drive Modes
Yes
3 selectable modes
Launch Control
No
Not Officially Disclosed
Rev Limiter
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Power-to-Weight Ratio
Not Officially Disclosed
Not Officially Disclosed
Torque-to-Weight Ratio
Not Officially Disclosed
Not Officially Disclosed
Battery Capacity
42.3 kWh
Not Applicable
Usable Battery Capacity
40.2 kWh
Not Applicable
Battery Type
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
Not Applicable
Battery Voltage
400 V
Not Applicable
Electric Range
430 km
Not Applicable
AC Charging Power
11 kW
Not Applicable
DC Charging Power
60 kW
Not Applicable
AC Charging Time
Not Officially Disclosed
Not Applicable
DC Charging Time
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Regenerative Braking
Yes
Not Applicable
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Gearbox
Single-speed reduction gear
7-Speed DCT
Drivetrain Layout
FWD
Not Officially Disclosed
LSD Available
No
Not Officially Disclosed
Transfer Case
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Differential Lock
No
Not Officially Disclosed
Paddle Shifters
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Final Drive Ratio
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Number of Gears
1
7
Transmission Type
Single-speed reduction gear
DCT
Clutch Type
Not Applicable
Dual-clutch
Gear Shift Indicator
Yes
Not Officially Disclosed
Gear Shift Type
Electronic shift-by-wire
Automatic
Drivetrain
FWD
FWD
4WD Engagement
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
4WD Hi Range
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
4WD Lo Range
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
4WD Selector
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Automatic Shift Paddles
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Front Differential Lock
No
Not Officially Disclosed
Gearbox Type
Single-speed reduction gear
Dual-Clutch Automatic
Low Range Ratio
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Low Range
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Axle Layout
Front driven axle
Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Differential Lock
No
Not Officially Disclosed
Transmission Speeds
1
7
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Claimed Mileage
0 km/l
14.49 km/l
City Mileage
0 km/l
Not Officially Disclosed
Highway Mileage
0 km/l
Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Capacity
0 l
51 l
Emission Standard
Zero tailpipe emissions
Euro 6
AdBlue Tank Capacity
0 l
Not Applicable
Auto Start Stop
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Real-world Mileage
0 km/l
14.49 km/l
Charging Port Type
CCS2 / Type 2
Not Officially Disclosed
Charging Type
DC fast charging | AC charging
Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Litres
0
51
Combined Driving Range
430
Not Officially Disclosed
Electric Consumption
9.8
Not Officially Disclosed
Range Real World Highway
322 km
Not Officially Disclosed
Range Real World Mixed
366 km
Not Officially Disclosed
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Airbags
6
6
ABS
Yes
Yes
Electronic Stability Control
Yes
Yes
Traction Control
Yes
Yes
Hill Descent Control
No
Yes
Hill Start Assist
Yes
Yes
Child Safety Lock
Yes
Not Officially Disclosed
ISOFIX Mounts
Yes
Yes
Brake Assist
Yes
Yes
Tyre Pressure Monitor
Yes
Yes
Engine Immobiliser
Yes
Not Officially Disclosed
Seatbelt Warning All Seats
Yes
Driver and front passenger
Front Parking Sensors
Yes
Not Officially Disclosed
AEB
No
Yes
BA
Yes
Yes
Brake Override System
Yes
Not Officially Disclosed
Curtain Airbags
Yes
Yes
Driver Airbag
Yes
Yes
EBD
Yes
Yes
Engine Immobiliser
Yes
Yes
Hill Hold
Yes
Yes
Passenger Airbag
Yes
Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
No
Yes
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Yes
Not Officially Disclosed
Seatbelt Reminder
Yes
Driver and front passenger
Side Airbags
Yes
Yes
Stability Control
Yes
Yes
TCS
Yes
Yes
Knee Airbag
No
Not Officially Disclosed
ABS EBD
Yes
Yes
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Cruise Control
Cruise control
Cruise Control
Adaptive Cruise Control
No
Yes
Lane Keep Assist
No
Yes
Lane Departure Warning
No
Yes
Blind Spot Monitoring
Yes
Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
No
Yes
Parking Sensors
Front and rear
Rear (6 sensors)
Rear View Camera
Yes
Yes
360 Degree Camera
No
540-degree HD panoramic view
Autonomous Emergency Braking
No
Yes
Driver Fatigue Alert
No
Not Officially Disclosed
Traffic Sign Recognition
No
Yes
Auto Highbeam
Yes
Yes
Auto Wipers
Yes
Yes
Rear Parking Sensors
Yes
Yes
Reverse Camera
Yes
Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control
No
Yes
Park Assist
No
Straight-in/straight-out automatic parking
Around View Monitor
No
540-degree HD panoramic view
Blind Spot Warning
Yes
Yes
Forward Collision Warning
No
Yes
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Seat Material
Synthetic leather
Microfiber leather
Heated Seats
No
Not Officially Disclosed
Ventilated Seats
No
Front seat cushions
Ambient Lighting
Yes
Not Officially Disclosed
Steering Wheel Material
Leather
Microfiber leather
60 40 Split Seat
Yes
Yes
Driver Seat Adjustment
Electric adjustment
6-way electric
Passenger Seat Adjustment
Electric adjustment
4-way electric
Seat Trim
Synthetic leather
Microfiber leather
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Climate Control
Automatic climate control
Automatic climate control
Power Windows
Yes
All four windows; one-touch up/down
Keyless Entry
Yes
Passive entry
Push Button Start
Yes
Yes
Wireless Charging
Yes
Not Officially Disclosed
Sunroof
No
Electric panoramic sunroof
Electric Tailgate
No
Yes
Rain Sensing Wipers
Yes
Yes
AC Type
Automatic climate control
Automatic climate control
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Infotainment System
Touchscreen infotainment system
12.8-inch infotainment system
Apple CarPlay
Wireless Apple CarPlay
Yes
Android Auto
Wireless Android Auto
Yes
Bluetooth Connectivity
Yes
Yes
Number of Speakers
6
8
Digital Instrument Cluster
Digital instrument cluster
10.25-inch instrument display
USB Ports
USB-A | USB-C
1 USB-A and 1 USB-C in front
Infotainment Screen
12.8
12.8-inch
Touchscreen
12.8
12.8-inch
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
LED Headlamps
Yes
Yes
Daytime Running Lamps
LED
LED
Fog Lamps
LED
Rear fog lamp
Roof Rails
No
Yes
Exterior Colour Options
Multiple Dongfeng factory exterior colours
Black, Putty Grey, Shadow Grey, Fluorite Grey, Moon White
Headlights
Yes
Yes
Panoramic Sunroof
No
Yes
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Approach Angle
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Departure Angle
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Wading Depth
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Terrain Modes
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Locking Differential
No
Not Officially Disclosed
4WD System Type
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Breakover Angle
Not Applicable
Not Officially Disclosed
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Tyre Size
215/55 R17
225/55 R19
Front Brake Type
Ventilated disc
Ventilated disc
Rear Brake Type
Disc
Solid disc
Spare Wheel Type
Tyre repair kit
Temporary-use spare
Wheel Rim Size
17
19-inch aluminium-alloy wheels
Handbrake Type
Electronic parking brake
Electronic parking brake
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Front Suspension
MacPherson strut
MacPherson independent
Rear Suspension
Torsion beam
Multi-link independent
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
CO2 Emissions
0 g/km
179 g/km
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Service Plan
5 Years / 90000 km
5 years / 90,000 km
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Ownership Role
Dongfeng South Africa ownership programme
Current South African derivative
Price Zar
449900 ZAR
469900 ZAR
Pricing Role
South African retail / indicative price reference
Current South African retail price
Starting Price
449900
469900
Starting Price Zar
449900
469900
Spec
BOX
UNI-S
Warranty
5 Years / 150000 km
5 years / 150,000 km; roadside assistance 5 years
In depth: how these cars differ
This BOX and UNI-S 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 UNI-S 59.
Efficiency index: BOX 90 vs UNI-S 55.
Safety-equipment index: BOX 70 vs UNI-S 92.
Practicality index: BOX 47 vs UNI-S 68.
Ownership-cover index: BOX not separately scored vs UNI-S 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.
Model imagery
BOX and UNI-S image comparison
Open an image for its full canonical file or visit the model page for the complete vehicle record.
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
UNI-S leads by 11 points
UNI-S has a modest catalogue-index lead, while BOX remains close.
Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.
Why this scoreView full breakdown
Evidence-index leader
UNI-S
Performance
59/100
Efficiency
55/100
Safety
92/100
Practicality
68/100
BOX
Performance
36/100
Efficiency
90/100
Safety
70/100
Practicality
47/100
What the evidence means
Evidence indexChangan UNI-S
leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts
vs 58 pts for BOX
In Hagalu's specification evidence index, UNI-S 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.
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.
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