BYD Dolphin

Europe is witnessing a change in the way we move. Electric cars represent the future of the Old Continent. As of 2035, with some exceptions, the sale of thermal vehicles will be prohibited. This has allowed China, the largest producer of electric cars in the world, to land on the Old Continent with such interesting products as the BYD DolphinAn urban car capable of mobilizing the masses, unveiled in 2023 and subsequently updated in mid-2025.

We have tested this car:

BYD Dolphin 204 CV Design 60,4 kWh test (with video)

Although the electric car still does not represent the highest percentage of sales, in a few years the panorama will change radically. The price continues to be a limiting factor in its expansion, but little by little Asian brands and models arrive willing to break the economic barrier with interesting and well-presented products. BYD wants to position itself as a reference thanks to products such as the Dophin, the BYD Act 3 or BYD Inn, among others.

And, in the BYD Dolphin of 2026 It arrived with some changes to the interior equipment, comfort, and cargo capacity, as we will see…

Technical characteristics of the BYD Dolphin

In just a few years, the Chinese automobile industry has evolved more than in all previous decades. China is the largest producer of new energy cars and the batteries that power them. BYD It is one of the most prominent companies on the market, capable of offering the same technologies as other traditional brands. The Dolphin has an outstanding range of all of them, including the e-Platform 3.0 architecture that we can see in other models like the BYD Seal.

In China, BYD offers a wide range of products, but in Europe the Dolphin ranks as the smallest model in the range. Due to its measurements we can place it perfectly in segment B. Externally it reaches 4,29 meters long, 1,77 meters wide (without mirrors) and 1,57 meters high. To all these measures we must add a wheelbase of 2,62 meters.

This is a generous enough wheelbase for five adults to travel in some comfort, including the three passengers sitting in a fairly wide rear row with plenty of legroom. Regarding load capacity, The BYD Dolphin offers a trunk with a minimum capacity of 364 liters, expandable to a maximum of 1.329 liters if we completely fold down the second row of seats.

BYD Dolphin mechanical range and gearboxes

The Dolphin focuses its entire activity on 100% electric engines. Despite having a wide variety of engines at launch, over time BYD has been getting rid of much of the offer, including the less powerful, lower-range, and low-priced variants. Starting mid-2025, the range will focus exclusively on the most powerful engine of all, which also offers the best approved range. It is unknown whether these entry-level versions will be available again over time.

. It has a single engine installed on the front axle with 204 horsepower and 290 Nm of torque. It is powered by a BYD Blade-type LFP battery that has 60,4 kWh of gross capacity. Thanks to her The approved range in the WLTP cycle is 427 kilometers.Its top speed is 160 km/h and it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in exactly 7 seconds. For recharging, it uses high-power chargers: up to 110 kW in direct current and up to 11 kW in alternating current. It can go from 10% to 80% of battery capacity in 35 minutes.

In terms of mechanics, the only improvement in the 2026 BYD Dolphin is the DC fast charging power, which has increased from 110 kW to the 60 kWh battery. Everything else remains the same…

BYD Dolphin Equipment

Do not make the mistake of thinking that the BYD Dolphin is a low-class car because nothing is further from the truth. From inside the Chinese utility offers a good presentation. It has a lot of technology and a good choice in terms of materials that give off a feeling of quality that is superior to the category standard.

The Dolphin not only offers the most extensive mechanical range in the family, it also offers the most complete range of equipment with different levels that allow greater customization by buyers. The offer revolves around the finishes: Comfort and Design. The main differences between them focus on the mechanical section, although there are also discrepancies in terms of design, technology and interior finishes.

As for equipment, the Dolphin can offer a full system load, equal to or better than any directly rival model. Technologies such as digital instrumentation or the main screen of the multimedia system with a size of 15,6 inches stand out. To this we must add other details such as the 360-degree parking camera, panoramic roof, heat pump air conditioning, connectivity for mobile devices and assistants with a level 2 autonomous driving.

The new features incorporated in 2026 have been a 8.8″ digital instrument cluster instead of the previous 5 inchesimproving visibility. A heated steering wheel and a rain sensor (highly anticipated in European versions) are also added.

BYD Dolphin test on video

The BYD Dolphin according to Euro NCAP

The Chinese improvement in car development focuses not only on quality and equipment, but also on safety. In 2023 The BYD Dolphin undergoes the usual Euro NCAP tests and receives a five-star rating.The highest possible score. The results by category are as follows: 89 out of 100 for adult passenger protection, 87 out of 100 for child passenger protection, 85 out of 10 for pedestrian vulnerability, and 79 out of 100 for driver assistance systems. These ratings remain valid after the 2025 range update, as there are no changes to the vehicle's structure.

BYD Dolphin Rivals

Although the BYD Dolphin is a new model in our market, as soon as it arrives it already has to face a series of models that have been on sale for much longer than it. Its rivals are found in the European electric B segment, one of the fastest growing in recent years. In it we find models such as: Peugeot e-208, Opel Corsa-e, MG4, Hyundai Kona Electric y Volkswagen ID.3, among others. The Dolphin stands out for its balance and good value for money.

Highlight

Equipment
Interior space
Value for money

To improve

Price of the most complete versions
Designer
Load power

BYD Dolphin Price

When setting valuations, BYD has prioritized affordable costs for low and intermediate finishes, being the most interesting. In Spain, the BYD Dolphin has a minimum price of 37.340 euros, with no offers or discounts for the MOVES III Plan. This amount is associated with a Comfort trim model. The most expensive unit is the Dolphin Design, with a minimum price of €39.340, without any offers or discounts. The brand offers substantial discounts that can reduce prices by almost €13.000.