Summary
The BYD Dolphin is a compact family-sized hatchback and the second model from Chinese all-electric brand BYD set to arrive in UK showrooms.
The Dolphin is around the same length as the mid-sized Volkswagen ID.3, though its width is more comparable to supermini-size hatchbacks like the Peugeot e-208. This added length makes the BYD’s cabin more spacious than many of its similarly-priced rivals.
“The spacious interior is a huge highlight”, argues Parker‘s Tom Wiltshire, who also praises the Dolphin for its “interesting” cabin design and its ride quality, which is reportedly “more comfortable than many rivals.” Car adds that the BYD “comes packed full of equipment”, while Pete Tullin of Business Car asserts that the hatchback’s biggest draw will be its low price point.
That said, the Top Gear team found the car “intensely frustrating” to drive, citing slow acceleration and understeer, while other reviewers pointed out that alternatives offer better driving dynamics, more user-friendly infotainment, and higher-quality cabin materials.
As of January 2025, the BYD Dolphin holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 76%. It scores top marks for its excellent safety rating, low running costs and zero tailpipe emissions. However, its media reviews have been poor.
Dolphin highlights
- Comfortable and tech-laden interior
- Spacious cabin
- Affordable price tag
Dolphin lowlights
- Alternatives offer more boot space
- Not very fun to drive
- Brakes sensitivity takes some getting used to
Key specifications
Body style: Small hatchback
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £25,490 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2023
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: 60kWh Design
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The second car from BYD offers affordable entry into electric motoring. The compact BYD Dolphin has its quirks, but its affordability really opens up EV motoring to a much wider potential audience.”
Author: Andrew Charman
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“BYD’s smallest, cheapest offering still manages to score big on space and value. It’s far from the last word in involvement but then, none of its rivals can claim to be much fun either. And away from epic B-roads, customers should find plenty of appeal in the Dolphin’s packaging, bigger battery range, in-car tech and solid build quality. It’s a really impressive compact EV, at an attractive price.”
Author: John McIlroy
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“With competitive prices, reasonable range and a comfortable ride, it’s definitely a viable option for many, but it falls short in too many areas to be considered a class leader.”
Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Dolphin’s biggest incentive will be its price point. It has a sticker price similar to a basic MG4, while offering considerably more range and equipment as well as being considerably cheaper than the likes of a Vauxhall Corsa Electric or Volkswagen ID.3.”
Author: Pete Tullin
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Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Dolphin confirms that BYD is a manufacturer worth taking seriously. It’s comfortable, handles tidily enough, has an attractive interior and comes packed full of equipment.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.6 / 10
“Don’t write the BYD Dolphin off just because it’s cheap – this is an extraordinarily talented small electric car.”
Author: Richard Ingram, Charlie Harvey
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Dolphin is a well-priced, well-equipped and practical electric hatchback, although you don’t get auto wipers and some of the interior materials aren’t quite as soft-touch as they look.”
Read review
Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BYD Dolphin may be one of the cheapest electric cars on sale, but it delivers in many areas – making it something of an EV bargain.”
Author: Tom Jervis, John McIlroy
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Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The ride quality appears to be well resolved while its low centre of gravity allows it to switch directions keenly and cleanly. On the downside, the steering offers little in the way of feedback and feels rather artificial.”
Author: Mike Askew
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BYD Dolphin is cheap by electric car standards, but doesn’t feel it. It’s thoroughly well resolved, combining laudable interior comfort, space and build quality with impressive performance and a respectable range. There’s very little not to like.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.2 / 10
“The Dolphin’s spacious interior is a huge highlight, providing more space for passengers than many cars from the class above. We also like the interesting design and appealing materials inside, while the ride is more comfortable than many rivals. Given the bargain pricing, it’s well worth considering.”
Author: Tom Wiltshire
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Regit
Model reviewed: Boost
Score: 8 / 10
“The BYD Dolphin Boost is surprisingly impressive. It is very charitably equipped, offers great value for money compared with some competitors.”
Author: Tim Barnes-Clay
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Model reviewed: 45kWh Active
Score: 7 / 10
“The BYD Dolphin is bound to raise a few eyebrows for all the right reasons – especially in this new Active version. It has a level of elegance and sophistication that nobody would expect from a Chinese export. However, the handling isn’t great, and the performance in the Active model is a bit lacklustre. So, unless an extra 20 miles of range is important, we’d happily sacrifice that to buy the other newly introduced model, the Boost, with its extra 81hp.
Author: Tim Barnes-Clay
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“There are things that some owners will absolutely adore, though, from the cutesy naming to the flamboyant colour schemes and dolphin-fin door handles.”
Author: Will Dron
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“The Chinese firm launches its new, small EV, complete with a weird marine-themed name. The price might be right, but there’s lots that isn’t.”
Author: Andrew English
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“The BYD Dolphin simply feels unfinished. The dampers and springs need to actually work together to do more than just jellify potholes, and the steering needs a slug of optimism that it might actually turn the car when you want it to.”
Author: Tom Ford
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Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: October 2023
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 89%
Child protection: 87%
Vulnerable road users: 85%
Safety assist: 79%
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
Model tested: Design FWD Automatic
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: February 2024
Read the full Green NCAP review
Energy Efficiency Index: 9.6 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 9.9 / 10
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the BYD Dolphin to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Dolphin, we’ll publish the results here.
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
EV models | 233 miles | B | 192 – 265 miles | B – B |
Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
EV models | 4.4 m/KWh | B | 4.3 – 4.6 m/KWh | A – B |
The BYD Dolphin should be a fairly cheap car to own and run, according to the limited data we currently have available.
Electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of fuel economy on a petrol or diesel car) is good, which helps the Dolphin to achieve a decent driving range despite a relatively small battery.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the BYD Dolphin has received.
2023
- Carbuyer Awards – Car of the Year + Best Small Electric Car
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the BYD Dolphin, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Cupra Born | DS 3 E-Tense | Honda e | Kia Soul EV | MG 4 | Mini Electric | Ora Funky Cat | Peugeot e-208 | Renault Zoe | Smart #1 | Vauxhall Corsa Electric | Volkswagen ID.3
More information
More news, reviews and information about BYD at The Car Expert
Buy a BYD Dolphin
If you’re looking to buy a new or used BYD Dolphin, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more

Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
Lease a BYD Dolphin
If you’re looking to lease a new BYD Dolphin, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a BYD Dolphin
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
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Car subscriptions from Wagonex.
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Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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