BYD Dolphin Review 2025

The electric vehicle (EV) market is evolving fast, and while established names like Tesla, Polestar, and Volkswagen have dominated the conversation, there’s a new player making a serious splash – BYD. Hailing from China and already one of the world’s biggest EV manufacturers, BYD brought the Dolphin, its compact electric hatchback, to the UK market in 2023. The BYD Dolphin is packed with tech, competitively priced, and cleverly designed to compete amongst budget-friendly EVs. But is it standing out or just getting lost in the crowd? Time to dive in and find out.

BYD Dolphin Exterior & Dimensions

The BYD Dolphin isn’t shy about making a first impression – and honestly, why should it be? This is an electric car that clearly wants to be noticed. With its bold styling, futuristic curves, and playful colour palette, the Dolphin stands out from the crowd of conservative city hatchbacks. The front end is sleek and expressive, with a full-width LED light bar and sharply styled headlamps giving it a slightly cheeky but confident face. There’s even a subtle “grille” design, though it’s mostly decorative.

The side profile is smooth and aerodynamic, with strong character lines and a rising window line that gives it a dynamic stance. It’s the kind of electric car that looks like it’s in motion even when it’s parked. It’s funky, it’s fresh, and it’s unashamedly modern. To the rear it’s minimalist with wraparound taillights and Dolphin badging.

When it comes to dimensions, the BYD Dolphin EV is compact - but it's smartly proportioned. Measuring 4,290mm in length, 1,770mm in width, and 1,570mm in height, with a 2,700mm wheelbase, it sits in the sweet spot between city runabout and practical hatchback. It’s slightly longer than a Renault Zoe, a bit taller than a VW Polo, and just short enough to make parking stress-free.

BYD Dolphin Interior & Tech

Step inside the BYD Dolphin car, and you’ll quickly realise this isn’t your average budget EV. The interior has a distinct personality – playful, modern, and packed with clever features. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to the often bland and black-plastic-heavy cabins in this price range. BYD clearly wants the Dolphin to feel fun and futuristic, and GB Vehicle Leasing feel it largely succeeds.

The most eye-catching feature is undoubtedly the 12.8” rotating touchscreen in the centre of the dash. Yes, you read that right – it literally rotates between portrait and landscape modes with the touch of a button. Whether you want a wider view for maps or a taller screen for scrolling menus, the choice is yours. The display itself is crisp and responsive, with BYD’s custom operating system that’s intuitive and refreshingly quick. It supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth streaming and has a built-in navigation system. You also get a wireless charging pad, USB-C ports, and ambient interior lighting in higher trims.

Additionally, the BYD Dolphin hatchback offers impressive interior comfort for a compact EV. The seats are supportive and well-cushioned, with soft-touch materials and vegan leather upholstery available on higher trims. There's plenty of headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers, thanks to the flat floor and long wheelbase.

BYD Dolphin Boot Space & Practicality

Despite its compact footprint, the BYD Dolphin EV makes smart use of its interior space, delivering more practicality than you might expect from a car in this class. One of the Dolphin’s biggest strengths is how well it balances a city-friendly size with genuine everyday usability.

First, the BYD Dolphin electric car has 345 litres of boot space with the rear seats up - which is on par with or better than most superminis. Notably this is also more than electric rivals like the Vauxhall Corsa Electric or Renault Zoe. Fold the rear seats down (in a handy 60:40 split), and that expands to an impressive 1,310 litres. While there’s no frunk, the Dolphin does offer underfloor boot storage – ideal for storing charging cables or muddy shoes.

Inside the BYD Dolphin's cabin, smart storage solutions are thoughtfully integrated. There are generously sized door bins, a decent glovebox and a large floating centre console with open storage underneath. Rear-seat passengers benefit from the Dolphin’s completely flat floor, which means no awkward leg-tangling for the middle-seat occupant. The long wheelbase allows for surprisingly generous rear legroom, even for taller adults, making it a practical choice for families or ride-sharing. Also, isofix points on both outer rear seats make fitting child seats straightforward.

BYD Dolphin Electric Range, Charging & Performance

The BYD Dolphin electric car might be small, but it packs a serious punch when it comes to electric range. Depending on the trim you go for, there are two battery sizes available in the UK: a 44.9kWh unit in the Active and Boost trims, and a larger 60.4kWh Blade Battery in the Comfort and Design models.

Starting with electric range, the 44.9kWh battery offers up to 211 miles (WLTP) in the entry-level Active model and around 193 miles in the more powerful Boost version. The larger 60.4kWh battery bumps that up to a very respectable 265 miles on a single charge. This places it squarely on par with competitors like the MG4, while undercutting more expensive options such as the VW ID.3. Real-world range, of course, will vary depending on your driving style, terrain, and weather. But in urban and mixed driving, the Dolphin feels efficient and consistent.

When it comes to charging, the BYD Dolphin isn’t the fastest in the game, but it holds its own. The 60.4kWh models support up to 88kW DC fast charging, meaning a 30% to 80% top-up takes just under 30 minutes – ideal for a quick coffee stop. AC charging via a home wallbox is rated up to 11kW, so a full charge overnight is easy and hassle-free. The smaller battery models charge a bit slower.

Performance-wise, the Dolphin covers a wide spectrum. The entry-level Active model produces 94bhp, offering a relaxed 0–62mph time of around 12.3 seconds – fine for city cruising, but not especially punchy. Step up to the BYD Dolphin Boost with 174bhp, and the time drops to 7.2 seconds, offering a much more responsive feel.

But it’s the BYD Dolphin Comfort and Design trims that bring the most excitement. With 201bhp and 310Nm of torque, they hit 0–62mph in just 7.0 seconds, delivering that instant EV torque for nippy overtakes and fun city driving. The handling is light and agile, perfect for tight turns and navigating urban traffic.

BYD Dolphin Price UK & Specifications

One of the most attractive features of the BYD Dolphin car is, without a doubt, its price tag. BYD has cleverly positioned this all-electric hatchback as an affordable EV without skimping on tech or quality. With four trim levels available in the UK - Active, Boost, Comfort, and Design - there’s a Dolphin for a range of budgets and needs.

The entry-level BYD Dolphin Active model comes with the smaller 44.9kWh battery and has a starting price from £25,490. It still includes a 12.8" rotating touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 16" alloy wheels, and a good set of driver assists. Up from this, the Boost model starts from £26,990 and keeps the same 44.9kWh battery. It offers enhanced acceleration, larger 17" alloy wheels, and a touch of extra style. It's the best choice if you want zippier performance on a budget.

Stepping up to the Comfort trim gets you the larger 60.4kWh Blade Battery, a much-improved 265-mile range, and a more powerful 201bhp motor. Starting from £29,490, features like 17" alloy wheels, climate control, heated front seats, and adaptive cruise control come as standard. Lastly, the BYD Dolphin design model starting from £30,990 and has the best value in terms of features. It includes all Comfort equipment, plus extras like a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera and wireless phone charging.

When you compare it to other EVs like the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, Renault Zoe, or even the entry-level MG4, the Dolphin is very competitively priced. For budget-conscious buyers who don’t want to compromise on equipment or performance, the Dolphin swims in a league of its own.

BYD Dolphin Leasing

​Leasing the BYD Dolphin is an attractive option for UK drivers seeking an affordable and feature-rich electric vehicle. Each trim level provides different performance and feature options, giving you the flexibility to select a model that aligns with your needs and budget. BYD Dolphin leasing also provides flexibility in terms of contract length and mileage. At GB Vehicle Leasing, most lease terms range from 24 to 48 months, with annual mileage allowances typically starting at 5,000 miles.

With rapid advancements in EV tech, leasing lets you upgrade every few years to the latest models with better range, features, and efficiency. Plus, electric cars have fewer moving parts, meaning lower maintenance costs. With low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax for company cars, leasing an EV is a cost-effective, low-risk path to a greener future.

BYD Dolphin Safety & Reliability

The BYD Dolphin electric car may be a budget-friendly option, but when it comes to safety, it doesn’t cut corners. It’s built on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, designed with a strong focus on safety and efficiency. The Dolphin comes loaded with an impressive suite of active safety features, even on the entry-level trims. Standard safety tech includes features like automatic emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning, lane keep assist and traffic sign recognition. The range-topping BYD Dolphin design model adds features like a 360-degree camera system, which makes tight city parking a breeze and adds another layer of visibility and confidence.

As for reliability, BYD has already proven itself in other markets, including China and parts of Europe. In the UK, the Dolphin comes with a 6-year/93,750-mile vehicle warranty and an 8-year/125,000-mile battery warranty, which speaks volumes about BYD’s confidence in its tech. Moreover, the bodywork comes with a 12-year, unlimited mileage anti-corrosion warranty.

Conclusion: A Splash of Genius?

The BYD Dolphin hatchback truly stands out as an electric vehicle that punches well above its weight. With its fun design, impressive tech, and strong performance, it brings a refreshing change to a market full of lookalike EVs. From its affordable price to its solid range and the top-notch interior, the Dolphin is packed with surprises. While it’s not without limitations – especially in terms of towing capacity and high-speed thrills - the Dolphin is a solid all-rounder that gets the basics right. So, if you’re seeking an efficient, fun, and eco-friendly car, this is definitely worth considering. Based on this, GB Vehicle Leasing feel the BYD Dolphin deserves a score of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Interested in our BYD Dolphin lease offers? Discover the ideal electric car lease deal with GB Vehicle Leasing! Whether you're looking for the latest models or the best value, we’re here to help. Call us today at 0161 667 5338 or request a free, no-obligation quote to get started. If you found this BYD Dolphin review helpful, be sure to check out our other engaging and informative car reviews here.