BYD Dolphin Active (2023 - )

If you're in the market for a small hatchback but have yet to hear of BYD, then you might be glad you read about it today. BYD isn’t a new manufacturer - the Chinese brand has been around for around two decades - but it’s relatively new to the UK. We Brits tend to be suspicious of new automotive brands. But you might change your mind when you see what the new trims of the all-electric BYD Dolphin have to offer.

It was already available in two higher-spec grades, but in all honesty, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the new entry-level Active model was at the top of the range.

Sixteen-inch wheels, a 12.8-inch rotatable infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, digital radio, voice control and a five-inch digital instrument cluster are all included as standard – and that’s just the start. You also get four-way electric adjustment in the front seats, a 360-degree camera, automatic LED headlights, rear parking sensors, keyless entry/start, and a heat pump, which will enable you to warm up the cabin on a cold morning before you even get in. In truth, higher trims don't get much more, with the next model up, the also-new Boost, getting larger 17-inch wheels and a multi-link rear axle to aid cornering. 

For the two grades that already exist, Comfort models add heated front seats, folding door mirrors, and a couple of extra speakers, while the flagship Design boasts a panoramic roof, privacy glass, and wireless smartphone charger to an already generous list. BYD’s initials stand for ‘Build Your Dreams’ – damn accurate, too, given the impressive equipment list. But the real difference between the models is range and clout. While the new existing Comfort and Design models have a 60.4kWh battery and produce 204PS, the new Active and Boost models have a smaller 44.9kWh battery and generate 95PS and 176PS respectively, meaning they cost quite a bit less. We are interested in the new entry-level Active trim, so let’s see if it’s up to the job.
 

If seeing the equipment list has satisfied you that BYD means business with the Dolphin, wait until you see its styling. It looks unique but doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. The front end features a body-coloured panel in place of a grille, with silver borders surrounding the panel’s underside and the headlights. Two curved black lines sit underneath, marking the borders of a cutout in the bodywork that accommodates some thin air intakes. Another silver strip at the bottom sits beneath a wide lower grille. Various creases around the sides and a black line weaving up and down the doors add more character.

The rear also features black boomerang-shaped décor and a panel which runs across the tailgate, connecting the taillights. Stepping inside, the Dolphin is even more impressive, with a sculpted dashboard which looks like a figure of ‘8’ lying down on its side, wrapping around the two outer air vents. In the middle, there are two more freestanding air vents shaped like jet engines, which sit next to a large 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen. The screen is landscape, but at the push of a button, it'll rotate into a portrait orientation if you prefer. That is not something we've seen on many cars, let alone a small family hatchback. 

Furthermore, the infotainment system is pleasingly good to use, offering crisp graphics, a responsive interface and an intuitive menu layout. Climate control settings form part of the touchscreen interface, which is less than convenient than having physical buttons to adjust the temperature on the move. This, plus a lack of silver or brighter colours in the cabin to brighten things up, offers a couple of downsides. Nevertheless, it’s a lovely-looking interior that beats plenty of rivals. Many manufacturers consider a small family hatchback unworthy of such sophistication. The small, thin digital instrument display merely adds to the impressiveness.
 

Given that the Active model has the least power, it takes the longest to reach 62mph from a standing start - 12.3 seconds. That is quite a lot, especially for an electric car. Unless you're driving exclusively at rush hour when accelerating beyond 10mph is often impossible, you'll likely be seeking more poke. Even more so, given the next trim up, Boost sprints to 62mph in 7.5 seconds, almost 40% quicker. However, the even more potent (and more expensive) Comfort and Design models only shave 0.5 seconds off the Boost's time. 

The Active model, then, needs to be worked hard to achieve any performance, and on balance, we’d pick the Boost. That said, performance in a straight line is one thing, but it can quickly go to waste if it's not backed up by decent agility in the bends, and, that's true of the Dolphin. The handling isn’t terrible – there's plenty of grip, and the steering is precise and weights up around corners. But, the suspension is clearly set up for softness, meaning plenty of body lean around faster bends, robbing it of agility. The result is understeer if you're going too quickly, and it's not difficult to overdo it in the Dolphin.

It’s definitely set up for absorption, especially since the Active is the only model in the range with a less handling-focused torsion beam rear axle.

It does a worthy job of ironing out potholes and speed bumps, though. This is helped by the Active version being the only model in the lineup to feature 16-inch alloys, with other models getting 17-inch rims. If you’re driving normally, however, you won’t have any problems, but people seeking fun behind the wheel should look elsewhere.
 

You shouldn't expect lots of room in a small hatchback – unless you're buying a BYD Dolphin, seemingly. There is plenty of space up front, and even though it's not the biggest car in the world, there's enough shoulder room for two adults to sit comfortably in the two front seats.

Even taller occupants won't struggle for headroom or legroom, and the back is alright, too, despite the apparent slope in the roofline.

If you’re tall and sit in the back and a tall person sits in front, you might find yourself forced to sit upright, which might get a little bit uncomfortable on a longer journey. But it’s surprisingly spacious for a small car. Fitting two adults in the front and two in the rear, or three children, is more than manageable. Finding a good driving position is simple, too, made even easier by the electrically adjustable front seats, which are standard on all models. Lumbar support is notably absent, however, and visibility isn’t great out of the front, given the pillars' size. 

There is also a second pillar near the door mirrors. It is even worse out of the rear, where the combination of a sloping roof, roof spoiler, thin rear window and thick back pillars obstruct your view. Rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera are standard on all models - the latter is rarely included on a car like this, let alone at entry level - while the top two trims get front parking sensors, too. Boot space measures 345 litres, increasing to 1,310 litres with the rear seats folded down. 

They only fold in a 60:40 configuration rather than the even more versatile 40:20:40 arrangement, but the latter probably asks too much for a car in this class. The boot floor is height-adjustable, meaning you can remove the loading lip and gain some underfloor storage in the process.
 

The Dolphin Active's 44.9kWh battery has a claimed range of 211 miles, which is 18 miles more than the Boost version, which has the same battery. Opting for the larger 60.4kWh batteries in the Comfort and Design models increases the range to 265 miles. However, all these figures should be taken with a pinch of salt, as you'll be doing well if you achieve 75% of them in practice. 

A 10-80% top-up of electricity takes around 40 minutes in all versions. Like all electric cars, Benefit In Kind tax rates are as low as they can get in the Dolphin, making it an ideal choice, financially speaking, as a company car. Road tax is still free for the moment until the Government begins charging electric cars next year.

We have yet to get reliability information for the UK market as BYD is still too new in this part of the world, although early studies indicate it’s reasonably good. BYD must believe in its cars, though, as it offers a six-year, 93,750-mile warranty. The battery and drive unit are covered for eight years, up to 93,750 and 125,000 miles, respectively.
 

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, and the cabin design is simply lovely. Equipment levels will raise those eyebrows even more, with electrically adjustable seats and a 360-degree camera among luxuries rarely found in small hatchbacks, let alone at entry level.

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 81PS. The top two models offer less value for money. 

Unless you want something closer to a hot hatch, the BYD Dolphin is very tempting - and this new cut-price Active model will only increase its appeal.