The review
All EV Sales editorial review. Researched from official specifications, safety ratings and published expert reviews; not a first-hand owner review. Key facts Price from: A$29,990 (Essential, Australia, before on-roads) · £30,230 (Comfort, UK) Official range: 340–427 km (WLTP, Australia) · 265 miles (WLTP, UK 60 kWh) 0–100 km/h: 12.3 seconds (Essential) · 7.0 seconds (Premium) Peak DC charging: 60 kW (Essential) · 80 kW (Premium, Australia) · 88 kW (UK 60 kWh) Safety: 5 stars Euro NCAP (2023) · 5 stars ANCAP (2023) Overview The Dolphin is BYD's small electric hatchback, sold across Europe, Asia and Australia. In Australia it is one of the cheapest EVs on sale, with a limited-time A$28,888 drive-away offer running to mid-December 2026. It is not sold in the US. It suits city drivers and small households who want lots of equipment for the money. Design & Interior The cabin has a playful, curvy design with a rotating 12.8-inch touchscreen as its centrepiece. Equipment is generous, including a 360-degree camera, and the Premium adds a glass roof. Reviewers find the menus confusing at first. Material quality is mixed, with some hard, shiny plastics. Thick front pillars restrict the view at junctions. The seats are comfortable over distance but lack lumbar adjustment. Driving The Essential uses a 70 kW motor and feels leisurely, taking 12.3 seconds to reach 100 km/h. The 150 kW Premium is brisk at 7.0 seconds. Steering is light, which suits town driving. Reviewers disagree on the ride: some find it soft and floaty, while others report it thumps over potholes. Regenerative braking is weaker than many rivals, and the MG4 is widely seen as the better car to drive. Range & Charging Australian WLTP ratings are 340 km for the Essential and 427 km for the 60.5 kWh Premium. UK versions now use the larger battery and are rated at 265 miles, with testers seeing around 240 miles in normal use. Efficiency is good for the class. Charging is the weak point: the DC peak of 60–88 kW is slow, and a 10–80% top-up takes about 35–40 minutes. A heat pump helps winter range. Practicality For a car of its length, rear space is impressive, and six-foot adults fit comfortably in the back on a flat floor. The 345-litre boot is competitive for a small hatch and grows to 1,310 litres with the seats folded. Vehicle-to-load output is available. Australian buyers get a six-year or 150,000 km vehicle warranty and eight years or 160,000 km on the battery. Safety Euro NCAP awarded five stars in 2023. Scores were 89% for adult occupants, 87% for children, 85% for vulnerable road users and 79% for safety assist. ANCAP also gave five stars in 2023 for all variants. Euro NCAP rated driver chest protection as marginal in the offset crash. Blind-spot monitoring and autonomous emergency braking are standard, but several reviewers find the assistance alerts intrusive. Verdict The Dolphin delivers a roomy cabin, generous equipment and full five-star safety at a price few rivals match in Australia. It is a strong choice for mostly urban driving. Slow DC charging, an unremarkable drive and mixed interior quality are the drawbacks. In the UK it is less of a bargain, and the MG4 and Renault 4 are worth comparing. How we rated it Range 3.0 (efficient, but modest range and slow charging) · Performance 3.0 (brisk Premium, slow Essential, soft handling) · Safety 4.5 (five stars from both bodies, nagging alerts) · Comfort 3.5 (spacious rear, mixed ride and seat support) · Overall 4.0 (average 3.5, raised half a star for strong Australian value). Sources Euro NCAP 2023 assessment: https://www.euroncap.com/assessments/byd/dolphin/1040/ ANCAP rating: https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/byd/dolphin/6d3f38 CarsGuide, 2026 Australian prices: https://www.carsguide.com.au/byd/dolphin/price/2026 Drive, Essential price offer: https://www.drive.com.au/news/2026-byd-dolphin-essential-price-slashed-by-up-to-4400/ Evee, Australian specifications: https://www.evee.com.au/blog/2026-byd-dolphin-australia-price-specs-range/ NRMA, charging details: https://www.mynrma.com.au/open-road/car-reviews/byd/byd-dolphin RAC Drive review (UK specs): https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/car-reviews/byd/dolphin/dolphin/ Carwow review (UK price): https://www.carwow.co.uk/byd/dolphin