Is This The New King Of Cheap Electric Cars?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 พ.ค. 2024
- Jack has a first look at the BYD Dolphin, the latest small, affordable EV to arrive in Europe from China. With state-of-the-art battery tech, ample tech included and extremely high build quality, could this be the new king of affordable EVs?
00:00 Finally another cheap EV!
01:01 Meet the Dolphin
2:38 Exterior walkaround
4:34 Battery geekery
5:53 Safe but cheerful design
6:30 Funky interior!
9:09 Rear seat Jack test
11:15 Initial thoughts?
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#BYD #Dolphin #EV #electriccar #evs - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
I took a leap of faith here in Australia after extensive research into BYD as a company. They have been manufacturing ice vehicles since 2005 and pure electric vehicles since 2010.
I own a BYD Atto 3 extended range, and I'm extremely happy with my purchase, every other Ev was over 55 grand here in Australia, so at just over 50 grand at the time the online order books opened and because I chose Surf blue as my colour which cost 700 aussie dollars more before a state Ev rebate of 3 grand made the final price 47,700 Australia dollars.
The build quality of BYD vehicles is exceptional, and this same build quality can be found in all its models it sells.
A lot of Australians are eagerly awaiting this vehicle to go on sale here and the price as the MG4 is only available here currently with the largest battery which has the price still out of reach of most people.
If the BYD seagull comes here in 2024, with an affordable price in the low 30s, this will be extremely popular here. Price is still the factor that prevents people from transitioning to an Ev.
In China, there are numerous options for mini cars available, but none can match Seagull's combination of price and features offered by BYD. This makes Seagull a formidable competitor in its category. However, the high demand for Seagull cars could potentially lead to BYD being unable to meet the demand in the domestic market, which could result in longer waiting times for overseas customers.
@Leon I agree we might not see it arriving in Australia until 2025. The saving grace will be if they start producing the seagull at the Thailand plant for righthand drive countries.
My leap of faith was into the BYD T3 minivan (ETP3 in Europe/UK).
AUD$35k picked it up in Sydney, drove it 4,000km to Perth Feb/Mar 2022, and since last Nov I've been working as a courier with it. 240-260km range (and there is a choice of fast chargers nearby if they push my limits :)
Interestingly the battery seems not to have degraded at all in the 14 months and 28,000km, still taking around 46.5kWh to fill the 44.9kWh LFP Blade battery.
Very happy with my basic utility vehicle.
Waiting for the Sea Lion ...should be out in 2024..will be a long term lease or buy for me .. thinking 5 years plus..will be bigger than that Atto 3 .. should be about the same size as a model y so not extremely large like a full size SUV..more small mix size
Just one thing. The Atto 3 is the only BYD on sale in Oz currently, so have you seen other models somewhere else to indicate that the same build quality can be found in all its models? Or do you mean in all Atto 3 models the quality is the same?
BYD Seagull is on sale now in China. BYD reduced its price from 78,900 RMB~95,800 RMB to 73,800 RMB ~ 89,800 RMB (€9,600 ~ €11,760). So far there is no rumor saying Seagull is coming to Europe. For the moment, BYD can't even meet the needs from the Chinese customers.
Don't expect the prices in China to make it to the UK or Europe. Spoken to BYD and they are marking the prices up considerably.
Nice position to be in.
Shame, I was just thinking "I'll wait for the Seagull"...
Seagull is not suitable for motorway speeds, merging or long hills at high speed
@@justcallmewendy7207 it's not BYD fault. It's the local distributor in UK and Europe that hike up the price.
Please note that the chinese BYD Dolplhin is smaller (around 4,10m in length) and with different engines (95cv or 177cv) and battery pack. It's a B-segment car. In Europe, we get "another" BYD Dolphin, which instead is a C segment car (4,29m in length) and with more powerful engines and a bigger battery pack.
Had the pleasure of sitting in this exact car yesterday at Fully Charged Live. Have to say I was really impressed with the build quality from what I felt from the driver's seat. I was expecting this to feel cheap and nasty, like an MG3 I've had as a courtesy car recently. That wasn't the case at all - everything felt solid, well put together and good quality. I say that as someone who's owned over 100 cars (i've bought and sold a lot), and this is really up there in terms of fit and finish.
Was there any price attached to this car and what size car does this compare to I’m your opinion?
If you really want to experience “feel cheap,” try an MGB.
I've test drove a MG4 and I really want one!
The "seagull" model is sold as even cheaper. We as a consumer can only benefit from a price war on EV. 😊
Smart man w the smart comment
The Wuling Air Mini EV was launched yesterday by MG in India starting at about 9800 USD. It carries a 17Kwh battery pack and has four seats & two doors.
Compared to this, the base model of the already available Tata Tiago EV starts at about 10,500, has 5 seats, 5 doors and carries a battery pack of 24kwh.
@@atulmalhotra2303 so quote starting price for both brands, then bottom spec for Wuling and top spec for Tata? ;)
@@ChengJiaStat To be honest, the Wuling Air is a bit lacking in my opinion. Not much bigger in size or range than the Wuling Mini EV, but much more expensive. What I don't get is why SAIC decided to send the Air over to India, when the 5 door Wuling Bingo is also now on the market, and costs essentially the same. Unless you absolutely need a 3 meter long car and cannot go any bigger, why would anyone pick the Air over the Bingo? You can certainly argue the Tiago is more useful than the Air, because it is a proper 5 door hatch, but the Tata is a total piece of crap compared to the BIngo.
@@tren133 lol sorry I haven’t really looked at wuling… I live in the US so… only choice I have is Tesla unfortunately
I've been waiting for this. Believe it or not but this is honestly my dream car bar-none at this point, it's just SO perfect for my needs. Currently using a Renault Zoe and want something compact and extremely practical and not RWD (lots of snow here so FWD is a lot more stable).
the ID2.ALL will be FWD starting at 22K pound, even if it get up to 27K by the time it arrives it will be competitive with the Dolphin and the MG4. Even though the BYD designer has Alfa Romeo merits I think the Dolphin looks like 🐬
it doesn't matter if the car is FWD or RWD, the safety (I believe you're referring to) is given by other factors and not which wheels are driven. Our experience with RWD in snow with all season tires (Twingo ZE) has been perfect. I couldn't make the car misbehave and there haven't been any problems on snow, ice or slippery roads. FWD is worse on snow because the front tires have to put the power down and steer at the same time. So the grip that the tire has to the road will be split between accelerating and steering. RWD doesn't have this issue, the front tires manage just steering and the rear tires manage just the power. And when the cars have 50/50 weight distribution, like the MG4, Tesla Model 3 or even Peugeot e208 (FWD) you don't have the advantage of more weight on an axle, but you're going to have the advantage when starting off because the weight shifts to the back, so more grip to keep going and more grip on the front to keep steering.
Don't discredit cars just because you believe FWD is better, because in snowy conditions it isn't such a benefit as one might believe. And RWD isn't such a curse. IMO AWD would be best, but I digress.
I agree with ndc55, rear wheel drive is better with EVs because where the wait is. Polestar have found this and are changing to rear wheel drive.
A good EV with allseason tyres (or winter) like Crossclimate 2 from Michelin works well in heavy winters. (Tip!)
@@MrGoogle87 Would never put Central European winter tires/all season tires like the Michelin CrossClimate 2 on my car, their performance is nowhere near good enough for our winters, especially on ice their performance is dangerously poor.
Studded winter tires or one of the new modern studless Nordic winter tires like the Continental VikingContact 7 that perform similarly to studded winter tires on ice are the only ones that offer acceptable performance here, none here would even think about running all-season tires.
This is the most beautifully shot video of the Dolphin online. The lighting, the camo style, camera work makes the budget car look premium. BYD should pay you guys for this!
Boy, really enjoy watching Jack's reviews...His passion and style are simply infectious and convincing! In fact, Jack and Elliot are my two most favorable EV hosts (Sam Evans the Electric Vikings ranks 3rd 😄）Way to go - The Fully Charged Show!
Totally agree. Great report.
I do like Jack,some say he's the only Fully changed presenter without an active National trust membership.....
We need more options like this in the US. its not huge, its affordable, and the range isnt an issue for day-to-day driving. Its enough car for someone with no kids and just needs to get around town.
no way, national security
@@user-xy8nk5pk6f ??? What does that have to do with anything?
Depends if your not taking reports from inside China about BYD cars catching on fire in large numbers.
How many times must we say it.
Hatchbacks don't sell well in the USA and is therefore not offered there.
Jack rocking the classic 90's part.
Which boyband though? :D
... jealous??
And the classic 90’s style. Gotta love it!!!
small detail: SMALL WHEELS! We needed China to come and break the "hot wheels" style hahaha. Smaller wheels are cheaper, use cheaper tyres, don't add a lot of unsprung mass and don't need 10% of the power of the car to get up to speed. Very efficient for EVs!
Nope those taller squishy sidewalls that may ride better can also be less energy efficient not more. 👍🏻
@@4literv6 Real-world data says otherwise - and there's mentions of it on several Fully Charged reviews passim. Small wheels/tall tyres are great for comfort and efficiency, but are less good for sporty driving, where the compliance in the tyre leads to reduced road feel. Obviously, if you run those tall tyres underinflated, then you'll lose efficiency.
@@theelectricmonk3909 In this car, comfort and efficiency should have a greater emphasis than sporty driving or road feel.
Heck, my ND Miata has 16" rims with 50 profile tyres on them and they still provide plenty of road feel without sacrificing comfort.
I pulled 225/45R17's off my Kia Cerato/Forte and replaced with base spec 205/55R16's for an improvement in comfort and efficiency.
So... I just got an MG4 a few weeks ago (and it's mostly brilliant BTW). Haven't had any problems with range so far. There are a few little software niggles that need resolving - e.g. occasional scary-sounding warnings popping up like "Auto hold system fault, please consult your dealer" (it works fine, it doesn't seem to like being parked nose-down on a hill is all), and the radio keeps switching from Radio to "BT Music" - which my brain reads as British Telecom, took me a week to work out it meant BlueTooth...), and of course the infamous "forget all your driving settings & revert to defaults" every time you get in. And honestly, they are minor niggles.
The Dolphin's interior does look, somehow, a little more sturdy than the MG's, although honestly I actually prefer the look of the MG (inside and out - exterior in particular I think the MG is much better than the Dolphin, but I get that looks are totally subjective). If the undisclosed price is, indeed, less than the MG4, then I expect it'll be a serious contender for the "car as an appliance" market. I think the MG4 will still sell well to those who like to drive, though. I have to say, it does drive REALLY well - apart from when "lane departure assist" grabs hold of the wheel!
Oh, yeah, another minor niggle: The road-sign reader (which supposedly keeps track of speed limits by reading the signs at the side of the road) is clueless! Best ignored...
All impressive so far, but price is clearly crucial. From what I've read, I suspect we'll have to wait for the BYD Seagull - or an equivalent rival - before we have an electric car that's truly affordable for most people, at least in the UK and Europe.
That's quite interesting, with BYD being a battery builder first and a car builder second. It's kind of the electric equivalent of Honda, who build engines first and then find things to use them in. I saw a BYD here in Perth, Australia, the other day! :-)
I really like the look of those saloon cars, but I'm particularly interested in that ultra squishy little hatchback. My broke millennial backside may actually be able to buy one!
And yet their batteries are catching fire in china like mad!
@@burnzy3210 Source?
Same here that little car looks fun. I'd be on the waiting list as soon as it was announced. Providing the price was not too much higher.
@@johnknight9150 lol shhhhhhhh. 🤫
@@ChengJiaStat Are you the person in Perth with the BYD, or are you a fellow broke millennial? ;-)
I really like the overall look of the dolphin, outside and in.. holding my breath on the price to see whether it will actually be affordable though.
Yes, it's all there for me as well. An electric Honda Jazz! It all comes down to price/value equation. At $35K AUD, I'm in tomorrow. At $40K AUD, I'll drive ICE for a couple more years.
@@MrBenHaynes is there a clear agenda when it will be on sale oversea?
I saw this at FCL. I was there all weekend but never managed to sit in it as it was so popular. Looks exactly what people have been asking for. Agree with Jack, European car companies have got a lot of catching up to do and very quickly, otherwise they won't be around.
Renault assembles 60 vehicles in 1 HR, that is ok, to load and unload 25 K to 30 K containers from a ship, a system needs to be able to do 1k per hour. Hamburg is quite automated, Singapore & China.
4:53 _> "Lithium Ion Phosphate battery, No Cobalt, therefore it's more ENERGY DENSE"_
Weird, i was prettysure it was *entirely the opposite:* LiFePo4 batteries (in this car) are typically LESS energy dense than normal Lithium Ion batteries. LiFePo4's advantage tho is that they are more robust & degrade slower, they are very tough batteries. But their disadvantage is their lower energy density.
ps: am still waiting for this (BYD Dolphin) and/or the BYD Seagull to come to Aus, so i can replace my ICE car.
EA1, Dolphin, Atto2. I don't care what they call it, just get it here EV Direct!
This is the first time I’ve seen one of your videos, and I must say that you are an outstanding presenter-smart, articulate, and unusually imaginative with your descriptions and assessments. Kudos to you!
Jack, keep up the good work your doing in presenting new EVs. You, are in my mind very very good at your job.
Another rather entertaining Jack review. Nicely done once again... nice work on the music mixing on point particularly during the intro too!
I checked this out at Farnborough. All I can say is that BYD is the one to watch!
You're the best reviewer Jack - that perfect balance of info and tainment ;)
I can't remember what Elliot said about the interior but I do know compared to the other reviews I've seen you're the first one I've heard that has been far more interested in gushing about the practicality of the buttons than being entirely sidetracked by things like guitar strings and muscle toned elements etc. so thank you for that, much appreciated and informative.
Although I think someone mentioned some design elements were being tweaked for the Western market, so not sure if guitar strings still needs to be on the list of any potential buyers with children concerns or not. XD
When I received my new Alienware gaming laptop, I noticed its battery was manufactured by BYD. That gives me some confidence that this battery won't catch fire or turn into a spicy pillow anytime soon.
This car reminds me of my Bolt EV. GM is pulling the plug on the Bolt because it's moving on to Ultium and big trucks and SUVs (bigger profit margins). Maybe the BYD will be sold in the U.S. some day so I can replace my Bolt with this. I would de-badge it though because who really needs that long name across the entire back?
Yeah, that was incredibly disappointing news to hear. I don't want to drive a boat, electric or otherwise! Like... what's left?
BYD actually revealed a few new design concept cars at the Shanghai Auto show and the cars only have the BYD badge on the back instead of the “Build Your Dreams” and it looks so much better
General Motors is making a grave error with their decision to cease production of the Chevy Bolt EV (and to stop offering Apple CarPlay on future EVs). Speaking as one, not every American wants to drive a pick up truck or full-size SUV. Shame on them.
@@ahoog69 Agreed....... Or is that 'Greed' ?
You can debadge other BYDs, but not the Dolphin, since on the Dolphin the "Build Your Dreams" text is not a badge but integrated inside the rear light bar. I kinda like it actually, but it does look like future BYDs will no longer have the script on the back of the cars.
I really hope they keep the camo touches, that looks brilliant!
My wife has an Atto3. A fantastic car. The biggest con IMHO is the front wheels drive. For a car with 150N torque, the original Atlas tyres caused a lot of slipping and skidding, especially in wet weather and uphill starting at a traffic light. Even after I replaced them with better Continental UC6 tyres (the optional upgrade in the Chinese market) for her car, it still happens.
Please, BYD, rear wheels drive only for EV cars.
I like it - it is reminiscent of my BMW i3 (which i adore) in some ways - especially with the two tone paint and the way the LED's wrap under the headlights. I'm loving it's a proper small hatch and promises a bit of fun/performance - really like this. One day when I'm ready to change my i3 (at the moment no plans at all) it may well be one of my choices.
Would like to see this in usa.
Yeah, just send more money to China instead of buying a car made in the USA… thanks.
A Chinese car loaded with sensors? National security concern! The congress surely needs a break from the constant China-induced seizures though...
What I heard in Germany (might differ for the UK), is that the Dolphin will be a bit more expensive than the MG4 for the same battery size, around 38k. That's around 1k more than the MG4. On paper the MG4 does have more inside storage space though and also quite a bit faster charging speeds (the MG4 is around 15 minutes faster from 10-80%).
Ouch. It launched for the rough equivalent of 10k Euros in China. My pessimistic guess was that it would cost three times as much in the west... but I guess they're going for four times instead. Might as well scalp the incentives and make big margin while there are no competitors to undercut, or something along those lines...
@@streetwind. I think you are mixing the Dolphin (shown here) with the Seagull. The Dolphin in the lowest price introduced was around 16k Euro and around 19k with big battery. So 38k Euro is double the price which is still too much of a difference but apparently transport, toll tax etc are adding quite much up.
BYD Sales in Europe are A DISASTER. (Unless you drive a bus).
The EU version is also slightly bigger, with a stronger engine and a larger battery pack. The size difference is more apparant on the front of the car (hood), not the inside or trunk.
@@jojacobs4355 unfortunately it’s way way off the mark regards price. BYD sold only 85 cars in Germany!
Jack is my favourite member of East 17 ;) lol great look, great review thanks :)
The Design and shape reminds me a lot of the BMW i3. Even the headlights, two color (with black on top) and the black trim line in front ist reminiscent of the BMW i3 facelift models.
it looks like a car my daughter would love as her first Car
Instead of (Hyundai's) "My first Pony", we present (BYD's) "My first Dolphin". Neato!
Looks amazing. Looking forward to seeing the price.
LFP batteries are not more power dense than Lithium batteries with Cobalt.
True.
It's how they've designed this battery, it's the blade design rather than using cells that makes it more dense.
@@jezbrown5446 It's less energy dense than nickel/cobalt chemistries in blade/prismatic format. But it's safer. Frankly, nickel chemistries just aren't safe except in cylinders.
Also, claiming that LFP blades are more dense than NMC cylinders requires comparing BYD's marketing vs real-world NMC cylinders, which you obviously shouldn't do.
It is a pity that these affordable EVs from China once sold in Europe are getting too expensive.
Don’t buy them and next year they will be cheaper.
Things get less affordable when you slap on the cost of shipping, import taxes, overheads of setting up UK dealerships.
I think part of the issue is last 10 years we've got used to ordering direct from China from websites like Aliexpress etc, thus seeing how cheap products truly are once buying direct from China. Now they want to sell us their EV's, at a huge markup. I can import a 20ft container for under 1000gbp, car tax is 10%. I get there's always sales and garage fees but I feel in UK majority of people are just happy to put up with higher prices. Interesting times ahead.
Wish that BYD brought this model into Malaysia. If this is cheaper then the BYD Atto 3. Then I'm begging BYD to have this model in Malaysia too.. I mean Rm160k is a bit much for me as I can only afford Rm70k. But if I can get a Rm80-100k BYD full EV. Then yes
they announced the price here in New Zealand last week and it's waaaay overpriced. $49990 NZD....about 10k more than we were hoping for
Just saw someone's vblog about a taxi ride in Hong Kong, an early model of BYD's electric car that had 630,000+ miles on the same battery by the time it left the manufacturer. Quite impressive.
Been waiting for the Dolphin so long in Australia that I'm now eyeing the Seagull and neither of them have got here yet. XD Granted if the Carver or some other enclosed micro vehicle would like to make it's way to our shores first I'm all ears! I really don't need to swap my current five seater out for another one.
Love this one, nice to see it in the UK at last. Not a fan of the two tone but that's quibbling. Hoping the price is better than your guess, you need to explain the difference from its price in China. Are there middle men / dealers taking a cut? If the supply increases perhaps it will come down? As passive consumers in the UK we are often exploited rather than in control of our economy. Good car though, needed.
Much as we all want cars like this to disrupt the usual UK pricing structure, it will probably end up at "the going rate", like the Ora Cat before it - We were told the Cat would be around £25k at launch, but it costs £32k, just like its main competitors, the top trim Renault Zoe & MG4
You have to add 10% import duty, then 20% VAT on top of that, plus there's transport costs. There's also standards compliance and other factors which mean the UK/EU market cars are likely to be more expensive to manufacture in the first place. However, I do suspect that profits are rather higher (for BYD and everyone else) on cars exported to the UK/EU, hence the £15k (or more) difference between the Chinese and UK/EU prices.
These are marketed as E2 in latin America, where lots are used as Uber rides. I'm 6'1" and I fit comfortably in the back. It drives well, and is comfortable. I think the interior is a bit ropey to be honest but for the money you can overlook that. I'm a big fan, and slightly worried for our own producers!
Around what prices?
This is gonna sound very ignorant but what EV brands are being produced in Latin America?
@@ChengJiaStat I'm British
@@BryanSeigneur0 I'm in Uruguay, they're around $36,000 US. This is very cheap given exorbitant tax on new cars here.
@@tomom2011 Haha my bad. Was assuming you knew about Latin American car market. I live in California so technically I’m closer to them than you are :facepalm:
What a lot of people dont know, is that back seat headroom can be easily solved with an angle grinder. 👍
We are already sitting on the floor in so many of these vehicles with low roof lines. The members of the new vehicle concept teams must all be five feet tall.
Great review 👍🏻 can’t wait for this to go on sale, I want this to be my first electric ⚡️ car 🚗 looks fab inside and out but just need to know the price and get saving 😂👍🏻😂
Pity it's earmarked for Europe for €30k, if it was more equivalent to what it's being sold in China for (€15k) that might have shaken up the market.
Curse you trade war and the B thing that cannot be named or blamed
Why does a Tesla start at £40,000 in the UK? Tesla's starting price in China is 230,000 yuan (£26,600)
BTW, Any sign of the Wuling Bingo Coming to Europe? I like the look of that. See you at Farnborough.😀
Love your work 👍
Aren't the dealers going to jack the price up way beyond BYD's initial great value?
That's for sure.
Excited for this to be released in Australia
We've wait a long, long time BYD,
Through the Co-vid and the good.
I have to celebrate you, Dolphin
I have to praise you like I should.
As someone who is 5'3", my position has always been that if tall people don't have enough headroom in the backseat... they should have volunteered to drive.
5:00 LFP cells are generally less power dense than nickel chemistries, not more so? The reason the Blade battery is a success is because LFP needs less thermal management and BYD package it cleverly, fitting more active material into the same space.
We really need super mini EVs like this. BYD have the pricing of the Atto 3 completely wrong in the UK. The Dolphin with the small battery should start at £20k
It's clearly a smaller interior than an MG4 which is a bigger class of vehicle. You can fit a Jack in the back of an MG4 without contortion
Good point on the Atto 3 pricing, it's the same here in France where each version comes in at about €1K cheaper than the Kia Niro EV and Renault Megan e-tech equivalents...which in themselves are way too expensive, not enough to make a big impact.....all EVs in that category are on average €10k more expensive than their ICE equivalents (Nissan Qashqai, VW T-Roc, Peugeot 3008 etc). IMO BYD will be content with small volumes and high margins for about 18 months while they establish the brand and build up their manuf capacity..then they will discount heavily and be a real problem for the traditional OEMs.
@@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270 at the moment, I think every EV except the MG4 is overpriced by at least €5-6k
It might be good if Fully Charged mentioned the crash test results for these smaller lighter vehicles, especially if they have a long range with an intermediate battery size, I’m guessing they used a lot of plastic to save on weight as LFP batteries aren’t particularly energy dense.
Hopefully the price will come in the right side of 30k...still out of reach of the average worker though 😕
Will be interested to see how reliable & rust free they remain after your average British winter.
The current crop of Chinese EVs should be rattling a few cages with the legacy car makers... definitely filling a gap in the market.
Reminds me of an ev version of the Prius C. I'm very interested!
Waiting for this in Australia
The BYD seagull
Is a bit smaller, but better design and much cheaper.
Dolphin and Seagull look interesting. Sadly, America's hooked on big, fat, tall SUVs and pickups ☹️
I was actually really liking the look of the camo and I didn't even realize that's what it was until he mentioned. I'd keep it on tbh.
I am somewhat interested in this car. at first glance it looks like it would fit most my needs. but I fear it might be a bit to low seated to my likings. Hope I'll get to try one out.
Can the "Build Your Dreams" wording be easily removed from the back, or is that part of the taillight assembly?
According to some other videos: all you need is a hairdryer and some dental floss.
It's part of the taillight. Why would you want to remove it? Don't you want to build your dreams? 😁
@@deepseer Yeah that's how it's typically done, but this one is right across the taillights, so I wasn't sure if it was part of that assembly or just a regular badge.
They can make even cheaper by removing the sunroof. Who use it anyway. Then they can make a little more head room on the back. We need a model “T” of a car, just a good quality on motor to taque you from point A to B. Who cares about all that cameras? Just give me a option if I want it.
BYD Seagull fills that gap, although it does have cameras, adaptive cruise control, etc. Demand is expected to be very high in China at $10k, and no word yet on when it will be exported.
I'd question the usefulness of an inductive charger in a car as it only really works when a: your phone is naked (no armor, no covering) b: the car is not moving as every time you hit a bump, the phone will momentarily stop charging so to get a consistent and fast charge you plug it to a USB cable
The fiat Centoventi EV concept was first shown in 2019. If the European car makers are late to the party with small EV's it was by choice not lack of ability. You can't blame BYD for seeing the open goal.
Oh how *amazing* it would be if BYD would sell the Dolphin here in the US?!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE?
It’s unlikely to happen in our lifetime… (and I’m in my 30s)
@@ChengJiaStat Understood - but we can hope against hope?
I grew up in China but moved to the US decades ago. My experience tells me that the folks in these two countries are more alike than they are willing to admit. The fact that the people have been manipulated by their politicians to hate each other so that they can hold on to their own power is really tragic.
@@ChengJiaStat so true, sick of politicians from both countries.
BYD CEO had a clear message about case of the USA trade war risk, not prepared for head to north America market.
I love the car. BYD is conquering the world with its models.
What materials did they use on the inside? Anything re-used plastics from the ocean?
Couple of questions though
1) Does it have OTA updates?
2) App connectivity ?
3) Apple car play?
Another great review of a very very interesting car. Can't wait for your "drive" review!
I cant wait for the BYD Dolphin to come to New Zealand, but knowing us, the price would probably bump up to $50,0000.....
The Atto 3 is one of the most popular electric cars in NZ, they're everywhere!
@@jezbrown5446 I forgot to add the word 'dolphin' in there lol yess the atto 3 is really good! But I want a smaller car, dolphin seems perfect for my use
@@WrathChild-NZ it's honestly not much smaller, it sits lower, so the profile is that or a car and not a crossover SUV, but they're about the same length and the Dolphin is surprisingly roomy inside. It's got very similar dimensions to the MG4 or ID3.. but probably a 'fancier' interior.
thanks, yet another car to add to my list, looks good, let's wait for the price in UK.
Does not mean it will be cheap in the UK, look at the stupid price of the ora funky cat....way over priced. The lease cost just for 5k miles a year too is over £320 a month ..MG4 is £260
Totally agree on this. This channel amongst others bigged up the Ora cat as to be an affordable EV in the UK. Ended up to be very over priced
These reviews are the tail waggin the dog. They boost interest and sales than price. You rarely see a negative review.
And who are you supporting if you buy the BYD?
@@cybertrk its not like the MG is owned by the archbishop of canterbury.
That's the problem, right there. £something a month. While people keep buying these things with monthly payments, they will keep on setting the price at £30k. It's a licence to print money for the car companies. Last time I bought a new car (quite a while ago) it was the current equivalent of £17.5k (11.5k back then), diesel, and I paid cash. If there was an electric car that was £18k I'd buy it in a minute next time I needed a replacement car, but I object to being forced to rent a car for hundreds a month because they're too expensive to actually buy. I'm old-school, I want to pay for the car and own it, not rent it from someone that can switch it off over the air - but I'm not paying £30k for a small car.
I'm sold, not on the car, on Jack's style 🔥
Collecting mine tomorrow in MY, cheers!
I think the front looks a bit like the newer SAAB's.
I'm sorry but Jack's comme4 here that the lithium iron phosphate battery here is significantly more power dense than a conventional lithium ion battery is simply false. No LiFePO battery has the same energy density as Li-ion with cobalt.
Yup, he got that wrong. BYD's cell to pack layout is very space efficient though so I think they compare well with a more conventional lithium ion pack volumetric wise.
The new MG Cyberster Looks goood
I would like to see a review of the EV Evolution conversion kits for Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, etc. €5000-10000 plus the cost of installation. The battery capacity and range are anemic, but imagine where EV conversions will be when 200 Wh/kg sodium-ion batteries are the norm. Besides, once the charging network is fully built out there's really no need for long range. 100 km would be more than sufficient for a low-budget commuter car.
That looks like a dif car compared to Elliot's video, perhaps there are some subtle difs and of course that color combo is def striking...a nice looking vehicle.
Why double the price in China? Even allowing for some re-engineering, shiping and local taxes it seems like we are being taken advantage of probably because there is no local competition at this price level. Non the less, European Manufacturers should be worried especially if a price war breaks out. Not everyone wants a premium EV.
Shipping, logistics, incentivizing the local dealerships to carry the models, passing more regulatory tests, ad campaigns… it’s just more expensive to sell a car in developed countries in general.
Jack, thank you for the wonderful video. One thought..., this car is being made in China, where the average height of a man is 5 feet 6 inches, which means that the back seat would not seem all that small to him.
It still too large in london ans paris.
Those Chinese car interiors - they're rather nice. I sat inside the Ora Good/Funky Cat at FCLive 2022 and it was really cute.
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Er... I get that they're older vehicles, but the LEAF and Zöe are at this entry level price points...
You might argue that the Zoe with its zero NCAP isn't "high quality", and that the LEAF with its lack of thermal management and 2018-era interior is also not "high quality". But I still feel they're both "entry level"...
Would love to have a compilation of Jack's jokes that Andy doesn't approve of 🤣
so why are you saying no competition? there is plenty of electric cars in that class... what about peugeot e-208?
Don't the other models start at ID.3 type prices (mid-high 30's)...?
@@logicalChimp as far as I know, e-208 is around 28k
@@DamirSecki it isn't on bespoke architecture and cant get quite the big battery pack that these have.
Look forward to seeing these in Australia. Jack, bring one down when you come to the Everything Electric Show in Feb 2024
Do they not have one on display @ BYD Experience Centre, Darlinghurst NSW?
I was VERY impressed with it when I clamoured through it with my son.
@@MrBenHaynes Hi Ben, maybe they do? I'm in Brisbane and none up here.
That looks like the top spec version we get in China with the black interior and 177HP motor. It is about the same price as the base level MG4 here.
I'd certainly take the top spec Dolphin over the base spec MG4 (even given it's larger body) for equivalent price.
@@MrBenHaynes It depends though. the MG4 is more engaging to drive.
@@jwickerszhI acknowledge the engagement that rear drive (and sharper steering) of the MG4 brings, but it also uses a lot of Kwh/100km for it's size/design. I prefer the value, efficiency and more compact size of the BYD Dolphin. I'd be even happier with the dimensions of the Wuling Bingo (but not the 100km/hr top speed).
@@MrBenHaynes If you do mostly city driving then a smaller size could be beneficial and driving dynamics isn't as relevant there for sure (not that it is actually relevant to all drivers).
@@jwickerszh I drive an MX-5, so dynamics are still important to me. An MG4 with RWD may be a good replacement.
I rather like it. Hope it comes in under £25,000 in the UK
I keep seeing these videos, mostly from the UK, where the MG4 keeps being praised as Europes cheapest EV.... how much does it cost over there? Because here in Sweden the MG4 costs the same or actually marginally more than the ZS EV and thus way more than the MG5... it's not that cheap over here
35k€ for Luxury model
29k€ for Standard model
Uk prices are (iirc) 26k GBP for short-range 'standard' model... up to 32k GBP for the long-range luxury 'Trophy' model.
Wouldn't call it cheap for a basic hatchback. It's not exactly a 1 series is it? EVs are just pricey
ev database says its about £4k cheaper than zs ev
It's not even the UK's cheapest EV. Smart EQ ForTwo and Citroen Ami are 1 and 2 according to AutoCar
Will this be making an appearance at the Fully Charged North? I have just bought tickets as it's in my hometown of Harrogate! Literally a 5 min drive away which is awesome! We are potentially looking at getting a small EV as a second car. We currently have the Kia Sorento PHEV but want to upgrade to the EV9 when it is released! I have potentially been looking at the BMW i3. I work from home so it will literally be used a school run car and small journeys, but I have 3 kids and a dog so can't go too small.
Had a quick look online and the price seems to be somewhere in the range of almost 10k more than the MG...
Stab in the dark but £30k minimum I reckon with the range it's got.
Why is it so expensive? Even the most sophisticated Dolphin car in China costs less than 20,000 pounds.
@@152dade3 shipping, tariffs, many many margins for car dealers, VAT. - there you go.
Greed
Or hope we get the cheaper BYD Seagull
BYD Seagull is on sale now in China. BYD reduced its price from 78,900 RMB~95,800 RMB to 73,800 RMB ~ 89,800 RMB (€9,600 ~ €11,760). So far there is no rumor saying Seagull is coming to Europe. For the moment, BYD can't even meet the needs from the Chinese customers.
Probably the first Chinese car, that looks and feels great, we shall see how much in will cost in Europe. Thank you for the high quality and honest review as always.
BYD Atto 3 is the MG4 rival here in Australia, this should be the next segment down and even cheaper. Won't rival the MG4 it'll sink it in sales volume.
BYD builds great EV's. As do many Chinese brands.
When this becomes available in Europe for below €30.000, it will kill everything VW can build, or Fiat, or Renault.
Lets hope there also will be small Seagull size Cabrio's and Coupe's in the next few years.
its 33k euros start price shorter range one.... nothing to worry in Europe for european manufacturers
@@rcajavus8141 Agree, €33k is overpriced.
The MG4 is already there (isn't it?) and available for less than €30k? I've no idea if it's "killing it" or not, but it deserves to, it's a great car. The Dolphin will only make things worse for VW, BMW, etc.
I like it! Flying armrests like the Gen3 Prius had. Any way you look at it, BYD is coming for Tesla...
All over themselves or in their pants in pure terror like most of the legacy ice dinosaurs? 🤔
Byd sold about 25% more total hybrids&evs in q1 2023 than tesla did just pure evs. Care to guess who made 5x the total profit despite numerous massive price cuts? Hint begins with a T ends with an A and has esl in the middle.
Still the world's ev sales leader to. As Byd is losing ground yoy since late 2021 now to tesla in ev only sales. 😎
I think in terms of sales they are actually bigger than Tesla? It's just that most of those sales are in China
@@dylanadams1455 total sales inc hybrids which are just ice vehicle's with a bigger battery&electric motor.
But in ev only sales, no they are not ahead of tesla, instead they are falling further behind them yoy now as I said since late 2021.
Under half of all byd sales are ev only sales. Vs 100% of teslas are evs. 👍🏻
Shame the camouflage trims aren't an option, I love them!
I want the new BYD Seagull with sodium battery in Australia, ASAP :)
Lithium ion phosphate? Isn’t it iron? More power dense than lithium ion containing cobalt? Has this been verified?
yeah, he slipped up there on the battery chemistry and energy density - most energy dense is NCM (Lithium Nickel Cobalt Manganese ) and NCA (Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium) which Tesla and others use in a 2170 cell form or pouch cell. The LFP blade batteries are coming out at 180wh/Kg with NCM in the 200's. NCA chemistry has a longer lifespan they say.
@@markreed9853 thanks, yeah that’s what I thought. Probably a harmless mistake but it is pretty important to get these things right as an EV reviewer.