The BYD Dolphin brings plenty to the table beyond its price.
The pitch is hard to ignore: a compact electric family car for under 30 thousand euros. That single promise was enough for BYD to firmly capture the attention of many people in Portugal. I didn’t test the Dolphin’s entry-level version, unfortunately, but I did spend time with the most comprehensively equipped variant to find out what this small Chinese family hatch is really worth.
Either way, the BYD Dolphin’s selling points don’t begin and end with cost - and, as you’ll see further on, price may not even be its strongest card. Despite the friendly name, this Dolphin is clearly aiming to swim in the “shark tank” of the 100% electric car segment.
In this video, I explain why, point by point:
Quality front and centre
Preconceptions about Chinese cars still exist, and there’s only one reliable way to tackle that perception: deliver genuine quality. That’s exactly what you find inside the BYD Dolphin, with good-grade materials and tight, careful assembly. It isn’t jaw-dropping, but it sits comfortably above what many people might expect.
Yes, the design will divide opinion - inside and out. Even so, the overall quality is in line with what we expect (and demand) from the leading mainstream European brands.
To give a concrete comparison, I still prefer the Renault Mégane E-Tech cabin across the board - though it’s priced differently - but the BYD Dolphin certainly doesn’t embarrass itself.
As I show in the video, there are some genuinely interesting touches, such as the infotainment system’s rotating screen - a pointless but entertaining feature - as well as multiple USB-C ports. On the flip side, there are weaker points too: the infotainment menus offer far too many options, the layout feels confusing, and it doesn’t include wireless Apple Car Play.
Those niggles become easier to overlook once you check the standard equipment list. It’s extremely generous, with nothing essential missing. That’s especially true of the version I tested - the most expensive one - priced at 37.690 euros.
At that figure, you get the largest battery pack available at 60,4 kWh, 150 Kw (204cv) of maximum power, heated seats, a panoramic roof, and 360º cameras, among plenty of other features. In fact, even the base Dolphin comes as standard with electrically adjustable seats, plus several other items that are unusual at this price point.
Everything is good, except for one thing
As I mention in the video, the new BYD Dolphin is built on the brand’s latest 3.0 platform. It’s the same foundation used for other models, such as the Atto 3 SUV.
It’s a fresh platform with plenty of strengths, including solid body control and - even more impressive - a very comfortable ride. Still, even the best fabric can stain. In this case, the “stain” is the traffic sign recognition system, which is constantly feeding incorrect information. I explain everything in the highlighted video:
Beyond that, the Dolphin earns praise across the board, with comfort being the standout feature. The motor’s response also feels convincing.
Competitive price
Anyone planning to buy the cheapest BYD Dolphin will need to wait until January. Only then will the entry-level version arrive in Portugal for the promised 29.900 euros. The car I tested was priced higher: 37.690 euros.
That’s an appealing number, but it also places the Dolphin in direct competition with cars such as the Peugeot e-2008 in mid-range trims, or the Renault Mégane E-tech in its entry specification. As noted earlier, the Dolphin’s answer is a very extensive equipment package.
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