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BYD Dolphin
Electric Hatchback
BYD's value-packed electric hatchback for the UK. Two batteries (44.9/60.4 kWh), up to 265 miles WLTP, heated front seats and a heat pump as standard, plus the safe Blade battery - from about £26,195.
*Ex-showroom Price in London
BYD Dolphin EV essentials
BYD Dolphin pros and cons
Pros
- Low starting price for the range and kit on offer
- Up to 265 miles WLTP from the 60.4 kWh battery
- Heated seats and a heat pump standard even on Active
- Safe Blade (LFP) battery and a 5-star Euro NCAP rating
- Spacious, bright cabin with a playful design
- Generous warranty package
Cons
- Entry Active and Boost trims have a smaller 44.9 kWh battery
- Rotating-screen, button-light layout will not suit everyone
- Real-world range (~200-220 miles) is below the WLTP figure
- No factory-fitted dash cam
- Ride can feel firm on poor UK roads
Best for
BYD Dolphin specifications
Battery & Charging
Motor & Performance
Dimensions & Capacity
Comfort & Tech
Safety
Warranty
Features
Battery & Performance
- BYD Blade Battery (LFP) - known for high safety and thermal stability
- Two packs: 44.9 kWh (Active/Boost) and 60.4 kWh (Comfort/Design)
- Up to 265 miles (426 km) WLTP range on the larger battery
- 88 kW DC rapid charging: 10 to 80 percent in about 40 minutes (60.4 kWh)
- 11 kW onboard AC charger: 1 to 100 percent in 6 hr 12 min
- Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging as standard
- Efficiency-boosting heat pump as standard
Comfort & Interior
- Rotating central touchscreen infotainment
- Heated front seats (standard from Active)
- Faux-leather upholstery
- Heated steering wheel (higher trims)
- Panoramic glass roof (Design)
- Wireless smartphone charging (Design)
- Privacy glass and two-tone paint (Design)
- Bright, spacious five-seat cabin
Safety
- 5-star Euro NCAP rating
- Multiple airbags
- Adaptive cruise control (standard)
- Lane keeping assist and lane departure warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind spot detection
- Rear cross traffic alert
- Tyre pressure monitoring
BYD Dolphin trims and pricing
Compare available BYD Dolphin trims, their ex-showroom prices and key configuration details.
About BYD Dolphin
The BYD Dolphin is one of the most talked-about electric cars in the UK – a compact family hatchback that undercuts most rivals on price while throwing in the kind of kit you usually pay extra for. If you have read any BYD Dolphin review, you will have spotted the theme: a lot of car, a long range and a genuinely low starting price, all backed by BYD’s safe Blade battery. For UK buyers shopping in the Volkswagen ID.3 and MG4 space, the Dolphin is impossible to ignore.
There are two batteries. The entry Active and Boost trims use a 44.9 kWh pack (211 and 193 miles WLTP), while the Comfort and Design trims get a larger 60.4 kWh pack good for 265 miles WLTP – around 200 to 220 miles in real-world UK driving. Even the cheapest Active is well equipped, with 16-inch alloys, adaptive cruise control, faux-leather seats, heated front seats, an efficiency-boosting heat pump and vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging. Comfort and Design add 88 kW rapid charging (10 to 80 percent in about 40 minutes) and an 11 kW onboard charger.
Inside, the Dolphin leans into BYD’s playful design, with a rotating central touchscreen and a bright, spacious cabin. Top-spec Design adds two-tone paint, a panoramic glass roof, privacy glass and wireless charging. UK prices run from about £26,195 (Active) to £31,695 (Design). If you want something smaller and cheaper, BYD also sells the city-sized BYD Dolphin Surf – but the regular Dolphin remains the sweet spot for families wanting space, range and value in one go.
Trending news for BYD Dolphin
The BYD Dolphin remains one of the best-value electric hatchbacks in the UK, and BYD has streamlined the line-up so new buyers focus on the long-range 60.4 kWh battery (265 miles WLTP) in Comfort and Design trims, with the 44.9 kWh Active and Boost still offered lower down. UK prices run from about £26,195 to £31,695.
BYD has also broadened its UK hatchback choice with the smaller, cheaper BYD Dolphin Surf city car, giving buyers a lower-cost entry point below the standard Dolphin. With heated front seats and a heat pump standard, the safe Blade battery, a 5-star Euro NCAP rating and a generous warranty, the Dolphin continues to take the fight to the MG4, Volkswagen ID.3 and Renault Megane E-Tech.
BYD Dolphin range and performance
The Dolphin's range depends on the trim. Active and Boost use a 44.9 kWh battery for 211 and 193 miles WLTP respectively, while Comfort and Design get a 60.4 kWh battery good for 265 miles WLTP - realistically around 200 to 220 miles in everyday UK driving.
Performance varies too: the entry Active makes 94 bhp, Boost steps up to 174 bhp, and Comfort and Design make 201 bhp with 310 Nm, dispatching 0-62 mph in around 7 seconds. Top speed is about 100 mph (160 km/h). For most buyers the 60.4 kWh Comfort is the sweet spot, balancing range, pace, price and rapid-charging speed.
BYD Dolphin safety overview
The BYD Dolphin holds a 5-star Euro NCAP rating and comes with a comprehensive safety package, including adaptive cruise control as standard, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and tyre pressure monitoring, plus multiple airbags. Underpinning it is BYD's Blade Battery - an LFP pack engineered for excellent thermal stability and safety. One thing to note for the keyword-conscious: the Dolphin does not come with a factory dash cam, so you would need to add one yourself.
BYD Dolphin battery and charging guide
Charging depends on the battery. The 60.4 kWh Comfort and Design support up to 88 kW DC rapid charging, taking 10 to 80 percent in about 40 minutes - fine for a motorway top-up. The 11 kW onboard AC charger gives a full 1 to 100 percent charge in 6 hours 12 minutes, ideal overnight on a home wallbox. The smaller 44.9 kWh Active and Boost charge a little slower on DC. The Dolphin uses a CCS (Type 2) connector and includes V2L, letting you power appliances or devices straight from the battery.
BYD Dolphin warranty details
BYD backs the Dolphin with a strong UK ownership package: a 6-year or 93,000-mile vehicle warranty, an 8-year or 125,000-mile high-voltage Blade battery warranty, and an 8-year or 93,000-mile drive-unit warranty. The LFP Blade battery is also designed for long life and high safety. Confirm the latest terms and any conditions with your BYD UK dealer at purchase.
EV Running Cost Calculator
*Estimated figures based on entered electricity price, fuel price, mileage and average daily driving. Actual running costs can vary.
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Frequently asked questions about BYD Dolphin
How do you drive the BYD Dolphin?
It is very easy to drive. Like most EVs it is a single-speed automatic - just select Drive and go. You get smooth, instant acceleration, regenerative braking (which tops the battery up as you slow), and drive modes to balance range and response. Light steering and a compact size make it ideal for UK towns and motorways alike.
Does the BYD Dolphin have heated seats?
Yes. Heated front seats are standard across the BYD Dolphin range, even on the entry Active trim - along with an EV heat pump, which warms the cabin efficiently without draining as much range as a normal heater.
Does the BYD Dolphin have a heated steering wheel?
A heated steering wheel is offered on the higher trims of the Dolphin rather than the entry car, pairing nicely with the standard heated front seats for cold UK mornings. Check the exact specification of your chosen trim, as standard kit can change with model-year updates.
Does the BYD Dolphin have a sunroof?
The top-spec Design trim comes with a fixed panoramic glass roof, which floods the cabin with light. It is a fixed glass roof rather than an opening sunroof, and it is not fitted to the lower trims.
Does the BYD Dolphin have a dash cam?
No, the BYD Dolphin does not come with a factory-fitted dash cam in the UK. If you want one, you can fit an aftermarket dash cam - the car's 12V socket and USB ports make this straightforward.
What is the BYD Dolphin Surf?
The BYD Dolphin Surf is a smaller, cheaper city car that sits below the regular Dolphin in BYD's UK range. If you want a compact, lower-cost EV for city use, look at the Dolphin Surf; if you want more space and range for family duties, the standard Dolphin is the better fit.
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Available colours
The BYD Dolphin comes in fun, beach-themed shades like Surfin Blue, Coral Pink and Sleet White, plus Urban Grey and Maris Black, with two-tone roof options on the top Design trim. Colour availability varies by trim, so confirm the options for your chosen Dolphin at order.