Key Points
- Dolphin EV priced from $38,890
- Up to 427km driving range, two Blade Battery sizes
- Rivals MG 4, GWM Ora
The BYD Dolphin electric hatch will launch in September, with a Toyota Corolla-rivalling price tag.
Priced from $38,890 to $44,890 before on-road costs, the Dolphin EV provides between 340km to 427km of claimed WLTP driving range depending on the variant. Pre-orders are now open online.
For context, Dolphin electric hatch matches the price of traditional petrol-engined small cars, including the top-spec Toyota Corolla ZR Hybrid ($38,120), Mazda 3 G25 Astina ($42,320), and Hyundai i30 Hatch N-Line Premium ($37,300).
It’s sized in between the Toyota Yaris and Corolla hatchbacks, with a longer wheelbase than the latter due to BYD’s third-generation dedicated EV platform. Additionally, it brings more standard features than the budget-friendly MG4 electric hatch ($38,990) and undercuts the BYD Atto 3 small SUV by $9121.
The affordable BYD electric car is eligible for most Australian electric car incentives, including the fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemption for company fleets and novated leases.
The BYD Dolphin directly rivals the growing list of electric hatches, including the MG4 and GWM Ora, in addition to the BYD Atto 3 and MG ZS EV small electric SUVs. More expensive electric small car alternatives include the Nissan Leaf, Cupra Born, and Volvo EX30.
BYD Dolphin Specs: Range, Charging and Size
The BYD electric small car is offered in two variants differentiated by a standard range or extended range battery size – each with different powertrains.
All are front-wheel-driven and adopt the Shenzhen carmaker’s thin lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery cells, which are claimed to be safer, durable and longer lasting.
The Dynamic standard range provides up to 340km of claimed WLTP driving range with a single front-mounted electric motor able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in a gradual 12.3 seconds claimed.
Opting for the Extended Range battery increases range to 427km, with a more powerful electric motor and slightly faster maximum DC charging capability.
BYD Dolphin Price, Models and Features
The Dolphin EV is offered in two highly-specified variants in Australia – Dynamic and Premium. A limited-run Dolphin Sport will land in 2024.
BYD Dolphin Dynamic price: $38,890 before on-road costs
The BYD Dolphin electric car is priced from $38,890 before on-road costs for the Dynamic standard range model. Key features include a 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen capable of receiving over-the-air (OTA) software updates, wired Apple CarPlay (Android Auto appears to be missing at launch), an energy efficient heat pump, PM2.5 air filter, and all active safety assistance systems as standard.
Dynamic features:
| Battery | 45kWh usable LFP Blade Battery |
| Exterior | 16-inch alloy wheels |
| Full LED head- and tail lights | |
| Heated, electrically folding wing mirrors | |
| Interior | Two-tone synthetic leather seats |
| Six-way electrically adjustable driver seat | |
| Four-way electrically adjustable front passenger seat | |
| Heated front seats | |
| Height adjustable rear seats | |
| Single-zone climate control with PM2.5 air filter | |
| LED interior lights | |
| Ambient lighting | |
| Panoramic glass roof | |
| Technology | 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen with OTA software update capability |
| Wired Apple CarPlay | |
| Built-in maps, BYD voice assistant, FM/DAB radio | |
| 5-inch driver instrument display | |
| Six speakers | |
| Qi wireless charging pad | |
| Keyless entry and start | |
| NFC card key | |
| Heat pump | |
| Exterior V2L adapter | |
| Safety assist | Front auto emergency braking (AEB) with car/pedestrian/cyclist/intersection detection |
| Front cross-traffic assist | |
| Rear collision warning with rear cross-traffic AEB | |
| Blind-spot monitoring | |
| Rear cross-traffic alert | |
| Lane keep assist | |
| Adaptive cruise control | |
| 360-degree camera system | |
| Front and rear parking sensors | |
| Door open warning | |
| Traffic sign recognition |
BYD Dolphin Premium price: $44,890 before on-road costs
Additionally, for $6000 more, the Premium extended range gains features, including larger 17-inch alloy wheels (with a unique design on the Ski White/Urban Grey option), two-tone exterior colours, and longer range LFP-based BYD Blade Battery, and more powerful drivetrain.
Premium adds:
| Battery | 60.5kWh usable LFP Blade Battery |
| Exterior | 17-inch alloy wheels |
| Two-tone exterior colour |
BYD Dolphin Sport: The hot electric hatch variant has been priced from $49,990 before on-roads, but is limited to 1000 units.
It's been promised to launch in 2024 to rival the pricier Cupra Born, featuring:
- Faster sub-7.0 second 0-100km/h acceleration
- Tuned sports suspension
- Performance tyres with 17-inch blue/black alloy wheels
- Matte grey exterior colour with blue accents
- Sports body kit
- Grey/Black interior
BYD Dolphin Options
Dynamic exterior paint – no cost:
- Sand White (Brown/Black interior)
- Urban Grey (Grey/Black interior)
- Coral Pink (Pink/Grey interior)
- Maldive Purple (Brown/Black interior)
Premium two-tone exterior paint – no cost:
- Ski White/Urban Grey (Grey/Black interior)
- Atlantis Grey/Delean Black (Grey/Black interior)
- Coral Pink/Urban Grey (Pink/Grey interior)
- Surf Blue/Urban Grey (Blue/Black interior)
BYD Dolphin Warranty and Servicing
The BYD Dolphin is covered by a six-year/150,000km vehicle warranty and an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty.
However, shorter specific warranties apply to individual parts, such as the touchscreen system, suspension, and air-conditioning filters (outlined in full on page 15 here).
Servicing every 12 months/20,000km, with a free three-month/5000km initial service also needed. Unlike the Atto 3 small SUV, a light distance plan isn't available to choose.
Roadside assistance is included for 12 months only.
BYD electric cars can be serviced at its centres run by Eagers Automotive or select Mycar Tyre and Auto mechanics locations (listed here).
2023 BYD Dolphin servicing costs:
| Standard plan servicing interval (time/distance) | Capped-price servicing cost |
| 12 months/20,000km | $189 |
| 24 months/40,000km | $370 |
| 36 months/60,000km | $189 |
| 48 months/80,000km | $447 |
| 60 months/100,000km | $189 |
How does the BYD Dolphin compare to other EVs?
The BYD Dolphin compares similarly on paper with the GWM Ora, MG4, and BYD Atto 3.
Dynamic Standard Range
The base BYD Dolphin Dynamic is $100 cheaper than the base MG4 51kWh Excite, but has more standard features, a slightly smaller LFP-based battery size, and similar claimed WLTP driving range to all three EVs. Notably, the BYD affordable electric hatch notably the least powerful drivetrain.
Premium Extended Range
The longer range BYD Dolphin Premium is identically-priced to the 64kWh MG4 Excite, but has less range, slower DC fast-charging capability, and a smaller boot. But, it is slightly more powerful off the line and is cheaper than the GWM Ora Extended Range.
Dolphin FAQs
Datawrappers by Danny Thai
Read more👇
2022 BYD Atto 3 Extended Range owner review
About the author
Henry Man
Henry Man is a motoring journalist passionate about the intersection of technology and transportation, with a focus on electric vehicles.
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