Since it came out in 2021, the BYD Dolphin, a battery-electric hatchback from the Chinese car company BYD Auto, has been turning heads. This small electric vehicle is meant to appeal to both city drivers and people who care about the environment. It combines low cost, practicality, and modern technology. The Dolphin is making a name for itself in the global electric vehicle market with its unique “Ocean Aesthetics” design, long range, and low price. Here is a detailed look at why the BYD Dolphin is a great choice for 2025.
Design and Style: Looks like the ocean
The BYD Dolphin uses the company’s “Ocean Aesthetics” design language, which was first shown off in the Dolphin’s pre-production prototype, the BYD EA1 Concept, at Auto Shanghai in 2021. The hatchback’s smooth, flowing lines and sharp creases make me think of how a dolphin moves gracefully when it comes up to the surface of the ocean. The continuous LED headlights across the front grille and the dynamic taillight design give it a modern, cutting-edge look. The Dolphin’s outside looks good and cuts through the air well, which helps it work better.
The Dolphin is different from other small cars because it comes in bright colors like Lime Green, Polar Night Black, Apricity White, and Ice Blue. The global version, which is sold in places like Europe and Australia, is 4,290 mm long, which is about 20 cm longer than the Chinese version. This is because it has better crash structures to meet stricter safety standards. It is in the C-segment category.
The Dolphin’s cabin is modern and roomy, even though the car looks small from the outside. The main feature is a 12.8-inch touchscreen that can be rotated. It has split-screen capabilities and works with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and smart voice control. The futuristic floating center console, which has metal trim, gives the car a high-end but simple look. The Dolphin has a 2,700 mm wheelbase, which gives backseat passengers plenty of room and a flat floor. The trunk has 345 liters of space, but if you fold down the 60:40 split rear seats, it can hold up to 1,310 liters. This makes it useful for small families or people who commute to work in the city.
Performance and Range: Efficient and Able
The Dolphin is built on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 and has a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor. It also has the company’s new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery. This battery is known for being safe, long-lasting, and free of cobalt. It passed tough tests like nail penetration without catching fire.
The Dolphin comes with different powertrain options, but they are not all available in every market:
Standard Range: A 44.9 kWh battery and a 70 kW (95 hp) motor give it a WLTP range of 193–211 miles (310–340 km).
Extended Range: With a 60.4 kWh battery and a 150 kW (201 hp) motor, this car can go up to 265 miles (427 km) on a single charge and go from 0 to 62 mph in 7 seconds.
The Extended Range version, which is only available in higher trims like Comfort and Design, has a separate multi-link rear suspension that makes it easier to handle. Lower trims use a torsion beam setup instead. One of the best things about this battery is that it can charge quickly. With a 100 kW DC charger, it can go from 30% to 80% in 29 minutes. The Dolphin also supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, which lets it send up to 3.3 kW of power to other devices. This makes it a portable power station for camping or other outdoor activities.
The Dolphin is great for driving in cities because it has light steering and a smooth ride. However, it isn’t as fun to drive on twisty roads because its suspension is soft and its body leans. Critics say that cars like the MG4 or Cupra Born are sportier, but the Dolphin is a strong choice for daily driving because it is comfortable and well-made.
Packed with features for safety and technology
The BYD Dolphin is the best in its class because it has so much technology. The car’s 4G intelligent connection system lets it get Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, which keeps the software up to date. The 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen has navigation, Google Maps, and voice control, but some reviewers say the menu system can be hard to use. The tech-savvy cabin is even better with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and a wireless charging pad.
The Dolphin gets a five-star Euro NCAP rating for safety, which is very good. Seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure prevention, rear cross-traffic alert, and a special Child Presence Detection system that keeps kids from being left in the car are all standard features. Adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system make it more appealing, but some people have said that driver assistance systems are too intrusive.
Prices and Value: Affordable Electrification
One of the best things about the BYD Dolphin is how cheap it is. Prices in the UK start at £30,195 for the Comfort trim and go up to £31,695 for the Design trim. However, discounts can bring prices down to £27,993. The starting price for leasing is £268 per month, which makes it a cheaper choice than competitors like the Volkswagen ID.3 or Cupra Born.
The Dolphin costs between AUD 29,990 and AUD 42,890 in Australia. Recent price cuts have made it even more competitive. The Standard Range starts at about USD 15,500 in Thailand and costs about R$149,800 (about USD 26,500) in Brazil. The Dolphin is a great value because of its low prices and high-quality standard equipment.
The Dolphin Surf, which is a smaller version of the BYD Seagull, is even cheaper. In the UK, it starts at £18,650, and in Europe, it starts at €12,500. It has a 200-mile range and is only 3,990 mm long, making it a competitor to budget EVs like the Dacia Spring and Citroën ë-C3.
Effect on the Market and Reception
The BYD Dolphin has been getting more and more popular around the world since it came out. It sold s354,591 units worldwide in 2023, with a lot of demand in China, Brazil, and Europe. BYD’s reputation as a battery innovator and its ability to offer high-end features at a lower price than Western competitors have helped it do well. On the first day of sales in Brazil, the Dolphin sold 300 units, or two every five minutes.
Reviewers like the Dolphin’s price, space, and technology, but they also point out problems like how it handles, how annoying the driver aids are, and how generic the exterior looks. Auto Express praised its comfort and low price, while Top Gear said it was “forgettable to look at” but well-equipped. People have praised the Dolphin Surf for its low price and usefulness, but it has a lot of competition from European cars like the Renault 5.
The Dolphin’s Future
In March 2025, BYD released an updated Dolphin for the Chinese market. It had a new front and back, a body that was 130 mm longer, and advanced driver assistance systems like God’s Eye C and DiPilot 100. These changes are only available in China right now, but they show that BYD is dedicated to making the Dolphin more suitable for global needs.
The Dolphin and Dolphin Surf are ready to take on established car companies as BYD expands its global reach with new factories in Hungary and Brazil. Posts on X show that more and more people are interested, with users praising the Dolphin’s low cost and long range. However, some people are worried about aftersales support in places like Brazil.
Conclusion: The BYD Dolphin is a game-changer in the affordable EV market. It has a mix of style, technology, and usefulness at a price that beats many competitors. It may not be the most exciting car for people who love to drive, but its smooth ride, roomy interior, and strong safety features make it a great choice for people who live in cities and don’t want to spend a lot of money. The Dolphin Surf will help BYD reach more people in the subcompact market. The Dolphin family will make an even bigger splash in 2025. The BYD Dolphin shows that going electric doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, whether you’re interested in its environmentally friendly features or its low price.
