Review – BYD Dolphin (2024) – The price killer of the moment?

How big is it?

Although the Dolphin may not look hugely imposing in photos, we are surprised when we first stand next to it. He looks much bigger in real life. Its length exceeds even that of the Volkswagen ID.3. By the way, you don’t notice this in the luggage space, which at 345 liters is considerably smaller than that of the ID.3. There is still a large compartment under the cargo floor, where even a small suitcase will fit. In the second row of seats, you won’t be short of (leg) room). Even persons with very long legs have nothing to complain about. Headroom, on the other hand, is less imposing.

RangeBYD Dolphin

The BYD Dolphin offers a choice between two battery options: a modest 45 kWh battery with a range of 340 kilometers and a 60 kWh battery that will take you up to 430 kilometers. Performance ranges from 95 hp for the base version (Comfort), 117 hp (Boost) and 204 hp (Comfort and Design). We drive the 204-hp Comfort version. The electric motor provides plenty of punch while driving. In fact, the Hankook tires – which BYD mounts under the Dolphin in the Netherlands – can sometimes struggle to handle the power. In sharp turns, you have to dose the throttle gently in rainy weather. Sporty driving is therefore not one of them. But why would you want that with a compact family car?

Float

Riding in the BYD Dolphin is characterized by comfort. And how! It is one of the most comfortable cars we have driven in 2023. And that can safely be called special, since we are talking about a compact hatchback and not a stately German sedan. The smooth suspension effortlessly absorbs all bumps and potholes in the road surface, giving you that typical “floating over the asphalt” feeling. Despite this softness, the car remains surprisingly stable at high speeds. The Dolphin proves that the Chinese now understand how to build a good chassis.

Lavishly dressed

As standard, the Dolphin comes with an impressive list of features, including a 13-inch infotainment screen, power-adjustable front seats, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera. With the competition, you have to dig deep into the pocket for these items – if they are on the option list at all. So with BYD, you already get these fancy goodies in the base version, which – again – costs less than 30,000 euros. Impressive, especially when you know that at the competition you can easily spend 7,000 to 15,000 euros more for a similar car.

Minuses

The entry-level model – with a price tag of 29,990 euros – might be best left alone. It has only 95 hp and can fast charge up to 60 kW. There is little wrong with the 340-kilometer range, but the fast-charging capability in particular makes this car a poor choice for longer trips. But as a second car, it is more than suitable. But not everyone has 30 grand lying around for a second car. Still, even the entry-level model remains a special offering because of its generous trim. Still, we would recommend choosing the Comfort variant for 35,490 euros. This version also does not impress enormously at a fast charger – it can handle up to 88 kW of charging power – but it does get a lot further: 430 kilometers.

Future Prospect

With the emergence of competitors such as the Citroen ë-C3, Renault 5, and Volkswagen ID2, there is more choice in the affordable segment and thus more competition for the Dolphin. However, the Dolphin is not a small town car, but a full-fledged family car, packed with modern gadgets and comfort features. Did we mention that the giant infotainment screen rotates 90 degrees at the touch of a button? However, BYD also has its eye on the future with the possible arrival of the BYD Seagull, a truly compact electric car that can compete with the aforementioned models, possibly even for less than 25,000 euros, we guess.

Conclusion

The BYD Dolphin is a price breaker with space and style, and while it is not without its shortcomings – its payload makes little impression – it offers an attractive option for those looking for an electric car with a friendly price tag. In the video below, we tell you more about our experience with the Chinese hatchback.