No more excuses: we test the Chinese car that removes the price and range barriers of electric cars

Since I started testing and writing about cars -and a lot of water has flowed under the bridge- I have never seen a brand land in our market like the one BYD is carrying out. Just eight months ago the arrival was all-out, with no fewer than three models, the HAN, the Tang and the Atto 3, a luxury saloon, a large SUV and a compact SUV, respectively. Now we have had a first hands-on with the BYD Dolphin, a segment C compact car -it measures 4.3 metres in length- that joins proposals such as the MG with the MG4 in popularising 100 percent electric propulsion. And barely had we got out of the Dolphin when the BYD Seal was already here too. Four models in less than eight months… and what is yet to come, because this is not where it ends. If you want to know more about this model, we have a brief summary of its features on our YouTube channel.

But today we are talking about the Dolphin, a 4.3-metre electric vehicle that arrives with this calling card: 204 hp, a WLTP-homologated range of almost 430 km, an interior that stands out for its roominess and quality, a 345-litre boot and a price that, with discounts and purchase aid from the Plan Moves III, comes down to 24,500 euros. No other electric car in this category currently offers this combination of price, range, equipment and versatility.

Range and prices of the BYD Dolphin

And precisely for this reason I want to start by talking about prices, because there is quite a lot to say. For now, the BYD Dolphin going on sale in our market comes with a 204 hp engine and a 60.4 kWh battery, in Comfort and Design trims. Later, during the first half of 2024, a version with a smaller 44.9 kWh battery is expected, which will be offered in two variants: with 95 hp and 340 km of range and with 177 hp and 310 km of range, in Active and Boost trims respectively. The trims for the 204 hp Dolphin are Comfort and Design, and these are the list prices for the entire range:

• BYD Dolphin Active 95 hp: 29,900 euros
• BYD Dolphin Boost 177 hp: 30,690 euros
• BYD Dolphin Comfort 204 hp: 35,690 euros
• BYD Dolphin Design 204 hp: 37,690 euros

Now pay attention, because from those prices you have to deduct a launch campaign (initially until 31/12/2023, we will see whether it is extended) of 3,000 euros, to which you can add the 1,201 euros contributed by the brand through the Plan MOVES… and the 7,000 euros if you take advantage of the purchase aid and hand in a car for scrapping (up to 4,000 without handing in a car). In this way, the price of the BYD Dolphin with all the discounts and the MOVES plan comes down to:

• BYD Dolphin 204 hp Comfort: 24,480 euros
• BYD Dolphin 204 hp Design: 26,480 euros

It is unlikely that the Active and Boost versions will have the same discounts when they reach the market in the first months of 2024; if so, we would be talking about a Dolphin Active with 95 hp and 340 km of range for less than 20,000 euros. We will see… For now, do not look elsewhere: apart from the MG4 with its 64 kWh battery, there is no other electric car in the compact segment that is cheaper and has a greater range. Other options would be the Citroën ë-C4, the CUPRA Born or the Volkswagen ID.3, all of them more expensive.

And a lot about the equipment, because the Dolphin comes from the Comfort version with a very complete specification, which includes metallic paint, 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels, LED headlights, automatic high beams, electric seats, a 12.8-inch touchscreen with electric rotation, 360-degree camera, parking sensors, keyless entry, heat pump, an integrated 11 kW charger and intelligent adaptive cruise control, among many other assistance systems and comfort features. For 2,000 euros more the Design adds a panoramic roof, tricolour alloy wheels, privacy glass, a wireless smartphone charger, bidirectional V2L charging (it can supply energy to other electrical appliances up to a maximum of 3.3 kW) and two-tone paint.

Every BYD Dolphin comes with a 6-year or 150,000 km official warranty, and an 8-year or 200,000 km warranty for the battery, motor and control unit.

A spacious, practical, original and quality interior

With the economic side clarified, let us go straight to the interior of the BYD Dolphin. And the sensation other cars from the brand have already given us is repeated, such as the Atto 3, with which it shares its platform: a quality far superior to what you expect from a Chinese car at its price. Not at as high a level as the Atto 3, which is larger, has SUV bodywork and is also more expensive, by around 5,500 euros when comparing prices without discounts. But it is above alternatives of Chinese origin such as the MG4, and it is perfectly comparable to its more expensive European rivals.

Once behind the wheel I would highlight the seats, which confirm their imposing look with great comfort and excellent support. Also the large rotating multimedia screen -it can be placed horizontally or vertically with the press of a button- which is already a hallmark of the brand, the multitude of compartments for emptying your pockets, and the mid-height button panel on the central console with rotary controls that integrate the transmission control, driving modes or the level of regenerative braking, which in the end you tend not to use while driving because it is not very handy.

The interior space is good for the size of the car, with rear seats that are perfectly usable and a completely flat floor. And the boot, with 345 litres of capacity, is also around average for cars of its size. With the rear seats folded down the volume increases to 1,310 litres.

Behind the wheel of the 204 hp BYD Dolphin with 427 km of range

With compact dimensions, a power output that until very recently was more typical of a GTI, and a WLTP-homologated range of almost 430 km, this version of the Dolphin is not only ideal for moving with agility and comfort in urban traffic, where real-world range will approach 500 km, but it is also a car with which you can consider travelling. In this case it is advisable to plan legs of around 300 km between charges, leaving a clear margin, since at a moderate pace and driving efficiently it is not difficult to exceed 350 km of real range. During the first contact, in mixed use on country roads and motorways, combining the Sport, Normal and Eco modes and not holding back on the accelerator when necessary, the on-board computer recorded an average consumption of 16.5 kWh/100 km, which would not be hard to bring down to 16 “flat”.

Beyond the good performance, with an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7 seconds and a top speed limited to 160 km/h, the Dolphin stands out for the sense of comfort it conveys when driven. Like other powerful front-wheel-drive electric cars you have to be careful when accelerating if the wheels are turned and, especially, on wet asphalt so that it does not lose traction; but the Dolphin is not a car that invites fast driving; for that, a better choice would be, for example, a Cupra Born. The fairly soft suspension and the steering feel make it clear that this is a car with a practical focus, where passenger comfort and ease of driving take priority.

As for charging times, with the 11 kW three-phase charger it takes just over 6 hours to reach 100% battery capacity, and it accepts fast charging at up to 150 kW, which allows going from 10 to 80% capacity in 40 minutes, or from 30% to 80% in under half an hour.

BYD Dolphin – Image gallery

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackBYD Dolphin2 versions · from 36,690 €