BYD Dolphin | Review | The most cost-effective EV you can lease?
The BYD Dolphin is potentially a game-changer for those seeking an efficient, stylish EV. Why? Because it's seriously affordable. With prices under £175 per month, it undercuts a host of rivals. But what's it like to live with?
The BYD Dolphin has now been available for more than a year on Leasing.com, and it’s made quite the splash. Not just on the leasing market, but in the UK electric vehicle segment itself.
It’s the cheapest model of BYD’s expanding line-up, and promises exceptional affordability, impressive practicality and innovative features that bely its price-point. And, with prices starting from under £175 per month, there’s no doubt that for an EV it offers great value.
But what’s it really like to live with? After spending a week getting to know it, we think it remains a compelling EV for those on a budget. Here’s our take.
BYD Dolphin – So what is it?
So, the Dolphin is the smallest car currently in BYD’s UK line-up. It’s a hatchback and, dimensionally at least, sits between a Peugeot e-208 and Volkswagen ID.3; somewhere between a supermini and compact hatchback.
Its exterior design is rather minimalist compared to some rivals, although a bold front end includes a full-width light bar. At the back, this is the only BYD that has stuck with the “BUILD YOUR DREAMS” insignia, which runs across the boot lid.
Depending on the trim level you go for, there’s some nice touches too. Our Design model came with a two-tone paint job with a contrasting roof.
All in all, externally it’s a cohesive design that offers a departure from the aesthetic of other affordable EVs. It has a sense of style about it that’s hard to ignore.
BYD Dolphin – What’s it like inside?
Step inside the Dolphin, and you’re met with an unexpectedly premium interior. Our test model featured a 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen that controls everything from navigation to climate settings. It’s compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, making it easy to stay connected. Beneath the screen are physical climate controls – a thoughtful touch for ease of use.
That said, like other BYD models, the touchscreen can be rather fiddly to use until you get used to it. And nice as that rotating feature is, it’s more of a novelty – you’ll probably find yourself sticking to either portrait or landscape – but it’s nice to able to choose.
There’s some funky touches too, like the curvy door handles and neat rotating air vents up on the dash. If you’re looking for the gear selector, it’s the outer-most control on the button bar – nice touch. In the centre console you’ll also find a wireless charger (spec dependent) as well as a large, open stowage area.
On the subject of storage, the cabin feels spacious for a car of its size, with a surprising amount of rear legroom. The same is true when it comes to head room. The Dolphin sits quite high, and the roof line also ensures a healthy amount of space on the inside.
The flat floor and clever design mean that even taller passengers can sit comfortably in the back. There’s also plenty of storage space, including a decent-sized 345-litre boot. That’s more than the MG 4 offers, and not far off the Volkswagen ID.3.
The driving position is adjustable and offers good visibility, but some drivers might miss having reach adjustment on the steering wheel. The digital driver display is small, which some people might not get along with.
Certain icons can be difficult to see, although it seems to be an improvement compared with the Atto 3 we drove last year.
Overall, the Dolphin feels well thought out and a step ahead of many of its competitors in terms of interior quality and comfort.
BYD Dolphin – What about the driving experience?
There are three options to choose from when it comes to the powertrain. At the lower end of the range you’ll find Active-trimmed cars. These get a 44.9kWh battery that produces around 95hp. There’s Boost trim, which ups power to 180hp. Towards the top of the trim levels, you’ll find Comfort and Design. These produce 205hp and use a larger 60kWh battery.
Whichever option you go for, you get that torquey acceleration we’ve come to expect from an EV. There’s a big power difference between the lowest and highest power option, and the more potent models can scrabble around for grip if you’re quick off the mark. Whether pootling around town or on the motorway, the Dolphin feels more polished than the Atto 3 did to drive.
There’s very little road noise, and the ride is impressive too. Only the biggest potholes will be felt in the cabin. Around town, there’s plenty of driving aids on offer including parking sensors and a panoramic-view camera.
The only complaint we had was that compared with some other EVs, the regenerative brakes aren’t able to bring you to a complete stand still as easily as they should, which makes “one-pedal driving” more of a challenge than other EVs.
There are several driving modes on offer, including “Sport”. Choose this mode and the steering gets heavier and you get quicker throttle response. While it’ll never be the most fun car in the world to drive, you’ll find it will handle twisty roads with ease.
The 205hp model gets from 0-62mph in around 7 seconds, which makes it a quick car for its class. So, unlike some small EVs, the Dolphin doesn’t feel out of its depth on faster roads. It remains stable at speed, although wind noise becomes noticeable on the motorway.
BYD Dolphin – How about range and charging?
We found the Dolphin to be really efficient in the real world, which might be because all models get a heat pump as standard – certainly not a given on an EV in this price category.
Models that feature the larger 60kWh battery offer up to 265 miles of range according to WLTP stats. After a week of testing in winter conditions, we were able to eek out around 200 miles between charges, so not too bad.
However, it’s the smaller battery models are technically the most efficient. While official range drops to 211 miles, when its comes to miles per kWh, it can muster over 4.5. But this efficiency is arguably offset by the different charge rates of the two batteries: the smaller version can charge at 7kW via a home charger; the larger battery up to 11kW.
With a WLTP range of up to 265 miles, the Dolphin offers one of the best ranges in its class. This makes it ideal not just for city driving but also for weekend road trips. During our week of testing, it consistently delivered around 205 miles in mixed driving conditions – impressive for a car in this price bracket.
BYD Dolphin – So should you lease one?
The BYD Dolphin is a game-changer for those seeking an affordable, efficient, and stylish EV. It’s well-equipped, practical, and boasts one of the most competitive ranges in its class. While it doesn’t quite rival premium EVs in refinement, it more than makes up for it with its value proposition.
If you’re after a cost-effective electric car that’s packed with features and ideal for both family life and the occasional longer journey, the Dolphin should be high on your list. Check out the latest leasing deals now by hitting the button below.
