The automotive landscape has witnessed a surge in electric vehicles, and the BYD Dolphin Premium is one of the latest entrants vying for attention in this fast-evolving arena.
With promises of cutting-edge technology, affordable pricing and a unique, oceanic-inspired design, it could appear as a formidable contender at first glance. However, delving deeper into its layers reveals a mixed bag of characteristics. Some that are quite interesting and some that need adjusting or refining. Let’s get stuck in.
2024 BYD Dolphin Premium: Specifications
Output: 150kW / 310Nm
Gearbox: Single-speed auto
Drive type: Front-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 17×6.5, 205/50
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 1658kg
Power-to-weight: 11.05:1 (kg:kW)
Official range (WLTP): 427km
0-60km/h: 3.83 seconds*
0-100km/h: 7.17 seconds*
60-110km/h: 4.63 seconds*
1/4 mile: 15.44 seconds at 152.8km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.712g*
100-0km/h braking: 42.89.00m in 3.22 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.071g*
Starting price: $44,890
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2024 BYD Dolphin Premium: How much does it cost?
Straight out of the gates, the BYD Dolphin Premium raises eyebrows with a very tempting pricing strategy. In a market already saturated with arguably over-priced electric derivatives of existing models, the Dolphin’s $38,890 entry price is certainly a welcoming surprise.
This example we’re looking at here is the flagship Premium variant, starting from $44,890. What’s the difference? The base model offers a WLTP range of 340km and its front-mounted motor produces just 70kW, while the Premium is rated at 427km and features a 150kW front-mounted motor.
According to the local BYD website there is a hotted-up version on the horizon as well, called the Dolphin Sport. It’s scheduled to arrive some time this year.
2024 BYD Dolphin Premium: Interior & packaging
The interior design is relatively clean and uncluttered, with controls mainly found within a 12.8-inch rotating touch-screen. There are some physical button controls, however, this clean, mostly button-free approach, while aesthetically pleasing, can raise concerns about user-friendliness as it can make basic functions more complicated than necessary. Adjusting the climate control settings, for example, requires multiple selections within the touch-screen, causing a minor distraction for the driver.
The material choices inside the Dolphin Premium also leave room for improvement. While some surfaces boast interesting materials with quirky design details, such as dolphin fin-shaped door handles, others are questionable. Most of the dash is covered in what feels like wetsuit material, but some buttons, such as the gear selector toggle, feel cheap and brittle. It’s a decent effort though considering its starting price.
In terms of packaging, BYD has done well to optimise the available volume. The Dolphin is quite spacious for its class, including in the back. Front and rear cup and bottle holders, multiple charging ports front and rear, and a nice and flat floor create a good perception of open-plan living.
Despite being a budget-focused product, the features list is very impressive. You get a very crisp surround-view camera system, sat-nav, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, and vehicle-to-load (V2L) bi-directional charging all as standard. The base Dynamic variant comes with pretty much everything as well, which leaves only the powertrain as the main difference.
Boot space is rated at 345L and is expandable to 1310L by folding down the 60:40 split-fold rear seats. While back here you might notice the very flimsy parcel shelf which pivots on a simple hinge that looks to be hacked out with scissors.
2024 BYD Dolphin Premium: Powertrain & handling
The Dolphin Premium, with its 150kW motor, has the potential to boast some impressive performance metrics. However, real-world experiences reveal a different story. Acceleration, while commendable, lacks the instantaneous response seen in some of its competitors due to its woeful Linglong tyres. Even so, we timed 0-100km/h in an exciting 7.17 seconds – not far off BYD’s 7.0-second claim.
The tyres measure 205/50, which is too narrow for a little car with 150kW, and they provide terrible longitudinal grip. Seriously, just a hint of throttle causes them to squeal and spin like it’s a new fashion. Ordinarily, this might sound like fun. But here, it’s not, because you don’t even need to be pushing it for it to happen. It’s like driving a 1980s Holden Gemini on wet grass. Except the Gemini is more fun because it’s rear-wheel drive.
Not helping here is the vague and bland steering, even for this humble small car class. There is only basic communication through the wheel, so when it does start spinning the fronts – with the stability/traction control on that is – you’re not always expecting it.
From a driver’s car perspective, it’s clearly not designed to offer the dynamic breadth of some rivals. Even a standard Toyota Corolla is more capable and more competent when pushed. So that’s disappointing. Or it can be, depending on your expectations and priorities.
Where this car is at home is in the city. The soft suspension absorbs worn and patchy roads well, especially at the slower speeds typically experienced in such environments, and the steering and grip issues become irrelevant. And here it can actually be a fun little zipper, scooting from streets and alleys, with more than enough sprinting power to get ahead of the traffic at green lights.
As for the charging, the Dolphin Premium only takes in 80kW of DC fast-charging power, which is a bit low against some rivals. BYD boasts advanced battery tech it calls a Blade Battery. However, it seems the advanced side is more about space efficiency, energy density, and added rigidity rather than charging speed. However, the 60.5kWh unit isn’t massive so a full charge doesn’t take too long anyway, for current EV standards.
2024 BYD Dolphin Premium: Key attractions/reasons to buy
- Affordable: If you’re stepping into the EV world for the first time, the BYD Dolphin could be a great start as the risk is small thanks to its low entry price, compared with other EVs.
- Interesting design: It’s certainly not boring, put it that way. Oceanic by not just its name but also the interior decor; wetsuit-inspired dash trim, dolphin-fin-inspired door handles.
- Roomy inside: Despite looking tiny from the outside, the Dolphin is surprisingly spacious on the inside.
- Rotating touch-screen: At 12.8 inches, it’s big, and it can rotate between portrait and landscape orientation, which is fun, but it’s also pretty easy to navigate and offers good menu flow.
2024 BYD Dolphin Premium: Key considerations before you buy
- Poor handling refinement and longitudinal grip: Terrible tyres and overly soft suspension are the main culprits in our opinion.
- Low charging power: Maxes out at 80kW for DC
- Cheap inside: It is a cheap car, but things like the wobbly gear selector and crudely-hacked parcel shelf are hard to forgive.
2024 BYD Dolphin Premiun: Video
How does it rate against its rivals?
- Price
- Quality look & feel
- Interior tech
- Powertrain performance
- Ride & handling
- X-factor (does it stand out in its class?)
Summary
Look, it definitely has some flaws. But check that starting price; it was never going to set new benchmarks for interior quality or driving dynamics. With a vey soft ride and below-par tyres, this package thrives in city or inner-suburban environments best. Some of the features and interior design elements are commendable and fun, too.
