BYD Dolphin 2024 review: Cheapest electric car undercuts MG4 and GWM Ora on price and performance?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 มิ.ย. 2024
- The 2024 BYD Dolphin has officially arrived in Australia, where it's looking to make waves by being the most affordable all-electric vehicle (EV) on sale. But, of course, there's more to the small hatchback than just its MG4- and GWM Ora-beating price tag.
The Dolphin also stands out from the crowd with quirky exterior and interior designs, which should help it grab plenty of attention. And under the bonnet, it comes with multiple battery and powertrain options, spanning an entry-level offering and even a Sport flagship that has genuine hot-hatch credentials.
In this expert review, CarsGuide Senior Journalist Tom White gets behind the wheel of the Dolphin for the first time, deep-diving its pricing, features, safety, practicality and after sales supports. He also shares his driving impressions of the plucky EV. Spoiler alert: it's shockingly good.
#BYD #Dolphin #Review
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00:00 Intro
00:59 Pricing and features
03:02 Design
05:04 Practicality
10:07 Under the bonnet
10:45 Efficiency
11:38 Driving
16:58 Safety
17:29 Ownership
18:02 Verdict
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Read Tom's full review: carsgui.de/3SFtk0B
Check out our BYD Dolphin hub: carsgui.de/3SFtlBH
Find more hatchbacks: carsgui.de/3kbB7SL
Visit our EVGuide: carsgui.de/3fotPbM
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Seen it in real life at a BYD shop. I can confirm that it is pretty specced up cars with great interior and tech, definitely better than a high end Corolla tech and interior wise, even if you ignore the fact that it is an EV.
Just ordered the Dolphin Premium in Blue. Can't wait for it to arrive.
It's predominantly a city car. Most people who buy this Ev will use it as their daily commute vehicle and charge their Ev at home if they have that option. At the price point, spending another grand on a decent tyre still makes it more cost-effective than other brands.
The whole philosophy behind BYD EVs is to make their vehicles more familiar to those transitioning to an Ev for the first time.
When considering any Evs, you need to consider price, features, and what you personally need to meet your personal requirements.
You have a 360-degree camera that gives you a birds eye view around the whole car.
There are options for Lane keeping assist. I can turn it completely off in the Atto 3, but have mine set so the steering wheel vibrates only if drifting out of your lane.
For the amount of included features, the dolphin represents good value for money, in my opinion.
Like always, you should compare it against the competitors to see who offers the best features for your personal needs.
There is actually a 3rd model limited to 1,000 vehicles which is the sports model with a fully body kit and different and bigger alloy wheels.
Does the 360 cameras able to record for security while driving?
(I'm hoping it does)
Also if parked, can those cameras do recording that will be a good security deterant for offenders that may want to do dsmage on parked car
The base model is not underpowered - we have it and love it - we have it as a second car usually used in the city and on the freeway - for us the power is just right and the economy is excellent. Barring a bit of tweaking of the software the car is perfect for our needs my partner loves driving it. She loves the pink colour - which is actually really nice - for me the inside is a bit colourful but again my partner absolutely loves it 👍
Which country is this? It will be interesting to see cause we dont have it here yet.
@@rcast3763we do have the Dolphin in both specs in Australia currently. Deliveries begun a week or two ago
Western Australia and we now charge two cars exclusively on solar so for us it’s a complete no brainer - no petrol to buy and no waiting around at the petrol station trying to save a few cents on scandalously priced petrol 👍
@swanny6627 YT reviewers said its not yet available, but called in Victoria available in Dandenong only which is too far from us.
Can’t you get it delivered to your local MyCar - they are available and they seem to have stock on some of the colours - variants as far as I can tell.
BYD will be a really huge brand in Australia within 5 years as people realise they are excellent value for money and are no intimidating if you come from an ICE car.
Not a Ev person , took a test drive of Atto3 and was v impressed . purchased one within 2 weeks . Evs are smooth .
So the 345 litres boot space is when false floor is placed or when false floor is removed?
If it's when removed, how much boot space when false floor is placed?
It's when the floor is removed, and there's no figure for when the floor is in place, but it will be significantly less. -Cheers
@@carsguide Wow so it's actually very small compared to another hatch EV in its class😅
The false floor is very handy for storing shopping bags and charging cables out of the way.
In the event thaty you need the extra space, remove the false floor partition. Simples!@@renbangbprd7236
The other 3 comments are bots. Report them .
And also LFP is not lighter. It's cheaper and longer lasting but not lighter.
Energy density is about weight and size.
2 months and 8,000kms later, I'm loving my Dolphin more with every drive
We'd love to hear your thoughts: www.carsguide.com.au/owner-reviews/submit
How many kilometers/miles battery last on full charge ?
@@user-bg8jm9tr3f The base car scores a 44.9kWh battery, granting it a 340km WLTP-certified driving range, while the top-spec Premium ups this to a 60.5kWh unit, delivering a more substantial 427km range.
I would love to see a review of the Seal
Not an EV person. Had an ATTO rental, loved it.
Me too. Drove it for a week while in WA and it came with FREE charging. Saved over a $hundred on "fuel".
@@remakeit2628 yes mine was a rental, so weird just dropping back without having to fill up.
what about compact hatch back cars? Wouldn't they be cheaper?
Out of interest, Tom, how tall are you? Pretty surprised about the rear seat leg room (in a good way).
This thing will sell its wheels off! Great review. Thanks.
Hey @deganellis! Tom is 182cm tall. Thanks for watching 🙂 -CG team
If BYD Dolphin and Atto 3 is A$5000 cheaper...then it will be the end of ICE vehicles.
I think not only a good quality ev cars and good looking but also a unique logo name BYD looks not presenting a nation , seemingly achievement to yourself 😊😊
Push the volume rotary dial and the screen will change to a digital clock 🕒
Can it come without "build your dreams" on the boot?
It will soon is the answer. Apparently BYD is set to tone down the badging in the near future. More on that here: carsgui.de/3FZJCtS
It's simply not worth trying to save a few hundred dollars to get a basic BYD Dolphin. If I want a SUV then I'll simply for for an SUV like Atto 3. If I want a hatchback, then I'll settle for a proper hatchback, not a crossover like heighten hatch. BYD Dolphin is simply too high even with seats at lowest settings. MG 4 feels a lot sportier. Otherwise I'd say either get the top model long range or get a MG 4 Excite 51.
LFP is lighter?? first i knew
Range for price doesnt add up to overpriced for my liking.
The cheapest model has torsion beam rear suspension, so the one you're on is not the cheapest and has multi link rear suspension!
And that cheapest spec 70kw motor 🤔
That's why we should go for MG 4 Excite 51 which has the same multi-link rear.
@@t8polestarcyan22 But lacks basic things such a camera..
@@Aayush2614 If you already have a rear view camera like a MG ZS EV pre-facelift, then that MG 4 Excite 51's camera should suffice or otherwise go for Essence 64.
@@t8polestarcyan22 They are different cars with the MG4 for people who want a sporty drive and the Dolphin who want a comfortable all rounder.
Your knees are to close to the steering wheel.,.looks to tight .
The rise of Chinese cars has been EXTREMELY FAST. BYD will soon rule the entire worlds electric market ❤
What is it with these reviewers Telstra 3 really it's $20,000 dollars more for 20 grand it better be better
When plain and cheap mundane superminis are gone there's only electric supermini Dolphin with a dear price is not very worth it is the reason to catch a one way ticket to cheap public transportation.
Better buy this in China and drive home, you save 20.000. Some people are getting filthy rich for selling these cars.
The Chinese domestic market model is not the same car. It's shorter and doesn't meet Western safety standards.
@@MrBenHaynes Ok, that's indeed a good reaon to triple the price..... but in China the standards are now higher than Europe, that's strange to believe. I will have a look. Too short is stupid, you should go and buy a Seal, not a Dolphin.
Undercuts MG4 by 100 dollars but is a smaller car 😂😂😂😂
'Build Your Dreams' might work in emerging markets like Madagascar and Nigeria ..but to use that on the rear of a car in legacy markets is absurd...people will laugh.
Why nobody dares to compares this car to that of a overpriced n cheaply done Chevy Bolt from GM
I don't have time to wait 1hr for 50kms.
That's on a home charger. Overnight charging gives you 100% for next day.
@@remakeit2628 or I can fill up and be done in 5
🤑 WHAT IS BATTERY REPLACEMENT COST WHAT IS CAR DEPRECIATION ALL A SHOCKER 🤑
Except lithium prices are down 75% YoY
Do your research and stop being a troll, it's likely that the rest of the car gets completely trashed before the battery needs to be replaced. you see plenty of ev with 500k plus on its original battery, can't say the same about ICE engines
@@passby8070 Electric car battery replacent cost will be $30000.00 DOLLARS or so hope you have afterpay on a lexus it is $47000.00 RING THEM UP THEY WILL TELL YOU
@@Clove_Parma Replacement battery cost will be $30000.00 or so on a lexus it is $47000.00 HOPE YOU HAVE AFTER PAY PS RING THEM UP THEY WILL TELL YOU THE PRICE HAAAAAAAAA
EV batteries can last for 10 years. Long after you want to replace an EV.
How many tons of dirt do they dig up to make one battery how much energy does that use even before manufacturing the rest of the vehicle how much fuel does it cost to move from china to Australia what dealer in there right mind would trade an ev in at 5 years old they would be valueless like old mobile phones are id rather recycle an old holden than piss up money and precious resources on an ev seriously
Push start "ignition" ???
Push-start ignition is standard. 👍