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The battle to bring electric car prices in Australia down continues to rage with BYD offering one of the most affordable EVs thanks to the arrival of its Dolphin hatch.
Going toe-to-toe with the GWM Ora and MG's MG4 and ZS EV, this city-sized five-door is full of personality, performance and design innovation.
The line-up currently starts at $29,990 for the Dolphin Essential and ranges through to $36,990 for the range-topping Dolphin Premium.
The Dolphin's interior consists of electrical adjust seats, a large rotating 12.8-inch multimedia touchscreen dominating the dash, synthetic leather and neoprene trim, as well as various nods to its name like floating 'fin' door handles and wavy patterns throughout.
Standard equipment on the Dolphin includes 16-inch alloys, LED headlights and tail-lights, a massive 12.8-inch multimedia touchscreen with built-in nav as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a wireless phone charger electrical adjust and heating for the front seats, keyless entry with push-start ignition, climate control, and a comprehensive suite of active safety items.
Floor mats and window tint are available as separate accessories.
Boot space, regardless of variant, is 345 litres, or 1130L with the second row seats folded down.
Year | Body Type | Braked Capacity from | Braked Capacity to |
---|---|---|---|
2025
|
Body Type: Hatchback | Braked Capacity from: 0kg |
Braked Capacity to:
0kg
|
2024
|
Body Type: Hatchback | Braked Capacity from: 0kg |
Braked Capacity to:
0kg
|
2023
|
Body Type: Hatchback | Braked Capacity from: 0kg |
Braked Capacity to:
0kg
|
The Dolphin is capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in 12.3 seconds for the base Dynamic or 7.0 seconds for the Premium. Maximum speed is 160km/h.
The BYD Dolphin can be charged according to two different methods at home, the fastest being through a 7kW AC wall unit. These can cost anywhere from $800 to $2000, with additional charges depending on your energy provider and the state you live in. On average in Australia, at home costs range between 21 to 36 cents per kW, while there are no additional charges if your charger is hooked up to a renewable source such as solar. The overall charging time on the Dynamic variant is six hours, while that time extends to eight hours on the Premium variant. The other method is a standard AC wall socket, which charges at a standard rate of 240V. BYD says this will take 23 hours on the Dynamic or 30 hours on the Premium. The quickest method overall is at a public charging point. A DC fast charger with 50kW capacity will see a 0-80 per cent charge in 45 minutes on the Dynamic variant, rising to 60 minutes on the Premium variant. A DC fast charger with 100kW+ capacity will see that time drop to 36 minutes on both variants. Costs depend greatly depending on location, whether it is a peak period or not, and what the charger’s capacity is, though you should never pay more than $40 for a full charge.
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There are two motor choices in the Dolphin range. The Dynamic variant is offered with 70kW/180Nm, while the Premium outputs 150kW/310Nm
The BYD Dolphin is a five-seat hatchback, with electrical adjust and heating for front passengers, with trim consisting of synthetic leather and neoprene.
Year | Body Type | Fuel Consumption* | Engine | Fuel Type | Transmission |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025
|
Body Type: Hatchback | Fuel Consumption: — | Engine: — | Fuel Type: Electric |
Transmission:
1 SP AUTO
|
2024
|
Body Type: Hatchback | Fuel Consumption: — | Engine: — | Fuel Type: Electric |
Transmission:
1 SP AUTO
|
2023
|
Body Type: Hatchback | Fuel Consumption: — | Engine: — | Fuel Type: Electric |
Transmission:
1 SP AUTO
|
The base Dolphin Dynamic can travel 340km on a single charge, while the top-spec Premium can travel 427km, according to the WLTP standard.