1. Introduction
The BYD Dolphin is an all-electric hatchback Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has produced since 2021. It sits above the Seagull in the Chinese market under the Ocean Series.
The Dolphin EV has significantly contributed to BYD’s exports to overseas markets, including Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia, since 2023.
It is one of the most affordable electric vehicles currently available in the market, making it a popular option among budget-conscious customers.
2. New Features in 2024
The 2024 BYD Dolphin boasts new battery options and a longer range for a lower starting price. It comes with an NEDC-rated driving range of up to 405 km between charges with a 44.9 kWh BYD Blade Battery. Moreover, it now has ventilated front seats and independent suspension.
3. Design and Aesthetics:
A. Exterior design and style
The 2024 BYD Dolphin is a compact five-door hatchback with a more conservative design than other models in the market. It also features short overhangs at the front and rear wheels, giving it a sporty appearance.
It also has a tall waistline that gives the model a boxy build, expanding the passengers’ headroom. The C-pillar features a distinctive textured design that helped break up the otherwise flat side panels. All variants have LED headlights and taillights, providing good nighttime visibility.
B. Interior design and materials
The Dolphin sports a clean, minimalist design focusing on the large central touchscreen. Its digital instrument cluster displays key driving data behind the steering wheel in a compact 5″ display in addition to the enormous rotatable 12.8-inch touchscreen.
As for the materials, BYD seems to use a high-quality vegan leather alternative. Other interior surfaces also seem to combine plastics and soft-touch materials for a more comfortable feel.
C. Build quality and fit and finish
While not all materials used in the BYD Dolphin are premium, it seems to avoid the cheap feel often found in budget cars. It uses a combination of hard and soft plastics with different textures to build an enticing interior. The car also has tight gaps between panels, and no squeaks or rattles have been reported yet.
D. Ergonomics and comfort
The 2024 BYD Dolphin focused on comfort and ergonomics with heated and power-adjustable front seats. It also features vegan leather seats with Alcantara-like inserts. The three-spoke, flat-bottom steering wheel is wrapped in the same soft leatherette material.
E. Cargo space and Storage
The 2024 BYD Dolphin offers a decent cargo space for its size, offering 345 liters (12.2 cubic feet) behind the rear seats. If you fold down the rear seats, the space expands to 1,310 liters (46.4 cubic feet).
It also comes with multiple interior storage compartments, such as a glove box, door pockets, cupholders, and a center console storage. A handy storage compartment is also available behind the central control screen.
4. Performance and Driving Dynamics:
A. Powertrain and battery specifications
| BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Active | BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Boost | BYD DOLPHIN 60.4 kWh | |
| Total Power | 70 kW (95 PS) | 130 kW (177 PS) | 150 kW (204 PS) |
| Total Torque | 180 Nm | No Data | 310 Nm |
| Drive | Front | Front | Front |
| Nominal Capacity * | 46.0 kWh | 46.0 kWh | 62.0 kWh |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | Lithium-ion | Lithium-ion |
| Number of Cells | 104 | 104 | 126 |
| Architecture | 400 V | 400 V | 400 V |
| Warranty Period | 8 years | 8 years | 8 years |
| Warranty Mileage | 200,000 km | 200,000 km | 200,000 km |
| Useable Capacity | 44.9 kWh | 44.9 kWh | 60.5 kWh |
| Cathode Material | LFP | LFP | LFP |
| Pack Configuration | 104s1p | 104s1p | 126s1p |
| Nominal Voltage | 333 V | 333 V | 403 V |
| Form Factor | Prismatic | Prismatic | Prismatic |
| Name / Reference | BYD BLADE | BYD BLADE | BYD BLADE |
B. Acceleration and top speed
| BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Active | BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Boost | BYD DOLPHIN 60.4 kWh | |
| Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h * | 10.0 sec | 8.0 sec | 7.0 sec |
| Top Speed | 150 km/h | 160 km/h | 160 km/h |
C. Handling and ride quality
Its flexible suspension offers a smooth ride at low speeds. It also absorbs bumps and road imperfections well. However, it may still feel bouncy on uneven surfaces at higher speeds.
D. Braking performance
The car seems to have enough braking power to safely bring the car to a halt. However, the brake pedal feel can be inconsistent with a lack of feedback at the top of the pedal travel and grabby brakes during more sudden stops.
E. Regenerative braking
The 2024 BYD Dolphin offers regenerative braking, but it does not offer the aggressive single-pedal driving function of other electric vehicles. It has two regenerative braking settings: standard and high.
5. Range, Charging, and Efficiency:
A. EPA-estimated range and real-world range
| BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Active | BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Boost | BYD DOLPHIN 60.4 kWh | |
| EPA Range | – | – | – |
| Electric Range * | 255 km | 255 km | 340 km |
| Real Range Estimation between 180 – 385 km | BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Active | BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Boost | BYD DOLPHIN 60.4 kWh |
| City – Cold Weather * | 255 km | 255 km | 340 km |
| Highway – Cold Weather * | 180 km | 180 km | 240 km |
| Combined – Cold Weather * | 215 km | 215 km | 285 km |
| City – Mild Weather * | 385 km | 380 km | 505 km |
| Highway – Mild Weather * | 230 km | 230 km | 305 km |
| Combined – Mild Weather * | 295 km | 290 km | 390 km |
B. Charging options and infrastructure
Home / Destination
| BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Active | BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Boost | BYD DOLPHIN 60.4 kWh | |
| Charge Port | Type 2 | Type 2 | Type 2 |
| Port Location | Right Side – Front | Right Side – Front | Right Side – Front |
| Charge Power | 7.4 kW AC | 7.4 kW AC | 11 kW AC |
| Charge Time (0->255 km) | 7h15m | 7h15m | 6h30m |
| Charge Speed | 36 km/h | 36 km/h | 53 km/h |
Fast Charging
| BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Active | BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Boost | BYD DOLPHIN 60.4 kWh | |
| Fastcharge Port | CCS | CCS | CCS |
| FC Port Location | Right Side – Front | Right Side – Front | Right Side – Front |
| Fastcharge Power (max) | 60 kW DC | 60 kW DC | 88 kW DC |
| Fastcharge Power (10-80%) | 50 kW DC | 50 kW DC | 65 kW DC |
| Fastcharge Time (25->204 km) | 40 min | 40 min | 41 min |
| Fastcharge Speed | 260 km/h | 260 km/h | 340 km/h |
| Autocharge Supported | Yes | Yes |
C. Charging times for various charging levels (Level 1, Level 2, DC Fast Charging)
BYD Dolphin 44.9 kWh Active and BYD Dolphin 44.9 kWh Boost
Home and Destination Charging (0 -> 100%): Type 2 (Mennekes – IEC 62196)
| Charging Point | Max. Power | Power | Time | Rate |
| Wall Plug (2.3 kW) | 230V / 1x10A | 2.3 kW | 23 hours | 11 km/h |
| 1-phase 16A (3.7 kW) | 230V / 1x16A | 3.7 kW | 14h30m | 18 km/h |
| 1-phase 32A (7.4 kW) | 230V / 1x32A | 7.4 kW | 7h15m | 35 km/h |
| 3-phase 16A (11 kW) | 230V / 1x16A | 3.7 kW † | 14h30m | 18 km/h |
| 3-phase 32A (22 kW) | 230V / 1x32A | 7.4 kW † | 7h15m | 35 km/h |
† = Limited by on-board charger, vehicle cannot charge faster.
Fast Charging (10 -> 80%): Combined Charging System (CCS Combo 2)
| Charging Point | Max. Power | Avg. Power | Time | Rate |
| CCS (50 kW DC) | 50 kW | 40 kW † | 50 min | 210 km/h |
| CCS (100 kW DC) | 60 kW † | 50 kW † | 40 min | 260 km/h |
| CCS (150 kW DC) | 60 kW † | 50 kW † | 40 min | 260 km/h |
D. Energy consumption and efficiency
| EVDB Real Range | BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Active | BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Boost | BYD DOLPHIN 60.4 kWh |
| Range * | 255 km | 255 km | 340 km |
| Vehicle Consumption * | 176 Wh/km | 176 Wh/km | 178 Wh/km |
| CO2 Emissions | 0 g/km | 0 g/km | g/km |
| Vehicle Fuel Equivalent * | 2.0 l/100km | 2.0 l/100km | 2.0 l/0 100km |
| WLTP Ratings | BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Active | BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Boost | BYD DOLPHIN 60.4 kWh |
| Range * | 340 km | 310 km | 427 km |
| Rated Consumption * | 150 Wh/km | 150 Wh/km | 150 Wh/km |
| Vehicle Consumption * | 132 Wh/km | 145 Wh/km | 142 Wh/km |
| CO2 Emissions | 0 g/km | 0 g/km | 0 g/km |
| Rated Fuel Equivalent * | 1.7 l/100km | 1.7 l/100km | 1.8 l/100km |
| Vehicle Fuel Equivalent * | 1.5 l/100km | 1.6 l/100km | 1.6 l/100km |
6. Infotainment and Connectivity:
A. Dashboard and instrument cluster
The center console features a dominant 12.8″ touchscreen that can be rotated vertically or horizontally. It is likely the main hub for the car’s infotainment system and climate controls. The driver also gets a 5-inch digital instrument cluster displaying essential driving information.
B. Infotainment system and features
The 2024 BYD Dolphin offers a cutting-edge 12.8″ rotating touchscreen infotainment system and a 5-inch digital rotating display.
The infotainment system has built-in navigation, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and voice assistance. It also has multiple USB ports and a wireless phone charging pad.
C. Smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto)
It is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
D. Over-the-air software updates
BYD offers software updates to the 2024 Dolphin to improve and optimize various features.
7. Safety and Driver Assistance:
A. Driver assistance and safety systems (ADAS)
- Anti-Lock Braking System
- Brake Assist
- EBD
- Vehicle Stability Control System
- Traction Control
- Crash Sensor
- Driver Airbag
- Passenger Airbag
- Curtain Airbags
- Side Airbag-Front
- Seat Belt Warning
- Rear Seat Belts
- Height Adjustable Front Seat Belts
- Child Safety Locks
- ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts
- Day & Night Rear View Mirror
- Parking Sensors
- Rear Parking Sensors
- Emergency Stop Signal
- Hill-Start Assist Control
- Front Impact Beams
- Side Impact Beams
- Engine Check Warning
- Tyre Pressure Monitor
- Electric Parking Brake
- Speed Sensing Door Locks
8. Reliability, Maintenance, and Warranty:
A. Reliability and build quality concerns
The Dolphin is built on a proven platform that other BYD models also use. The car feels solid and well-assembled, and although the cabin materials are not premium, they do not feel cheap.
B. Maintenance and service requirements
The 2024 BYD Dolphin needs servicing every 12 months or 20,000km, whichever occurs first.
EVDirect offers pricing for the initial 8 years or 160,000km via its standard service plan: $189, $370, $189, $447, $189, $370, $189, and $447.
C. Warranty coverage and options
The BYD Dolphin offers a six-year, 150,000km vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty.
D. Insurance costs and considerations
No available data.
E. Resale value and depreciation
No available data.
9. Comparison to Competitors:
A. Compare the reviewed EV to its key competitors
| BYD DOLPHIN 60.4 kWh | MG MG4 Electric 64 kWh | |
| Total Power | 150 kW (204 PS) | 150 kW (204 PS) |
| Total Torque | 310 Nm | 250 Nm |
| Drive | Front | Rear |
| Nominal Capacity * | 62.0 kWh | 64.0 kWh |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | Lithium-ion |
| Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h * | 7.0 sec | 7.9 sec |
| Top Speed | 160 km/h | 160 km/h |
| Electric Range * | 340 km | 360 km |
| Price (Germany) | €32,990 | €39,990 |
The BYD Dolphin, with a 60.4 kWh usable capacity, has a total of 150 kW (204 PS) like the MG MG4 Electric 64 kWh. However, the latter has more powerful capabilities than the BYD EV. Considering that the BYD Dolphin is more affordable than the MG4, it is only natural.
10. Variants and Pricing:
A. Available trims, options, and pricing
| BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Active | BYD DOLPHIN 44.9 kWh Boost | BYD DOLPHIN 60.4 kWh | |
| United Kingdom * | £26,000 | £28,500 | £30,195 |
| The Netherlands | €29,990 | €32,990 | €35,490 |
| Germany * | €28,000 | €30,000 | €32,990 |
The BYD Dolphin starts at a very affordable price point compared to other electric vehicles in the market. Despite its affordability, it comes with a unique design with efficiency and safety.
11. Conclusion
Overall, the 2024 BYD Dolphin is a compelling option for those looking for a cheap, feature-rich electric car. It also offers numerous safety and advanced driver assistance features to assure owners while driving.
The BYD Dolphin could be a good option if you’re looking for an affordable electric car. However, it’s important to do your research and consider the potential drawbacks before deciding.
