Yes, that’s right!  Here is an EV that you can buy in Australia for between $40k and $50k.  With super likable looks and a very neat and compact design, the brand new BYD Dolphin is the Hatchback made for city life, and comes nicely trimmed in two packages. 

In 2021, BYD Auto became recognised as the 2nd-largest producer of Neighbourhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) in the world, which is a U.S. category for battery EVs that are usually built to have a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h), and have a maximum loaded weight of 1360 kg.  BYD has a product assortment incorporating electric and plug-in hybrid cars, buses, trucks, forklifts, electric bicycles, and cutting-edge rechargeable battery production.  So, if anyone can claim they know a bit about EVs, I’d say BYD has plenty of expert know how.

If you want to dip your toes into EV waters, then the new BYD Dolphin might just be the perfect model to get yourself accustomed to the electric way of life.  BYD rate the little Dolphin Dynamic Hatchback capable of making 340 km on a full charge.  And boasting a powerful 44.9 kWh battery that feeds 70 kW of power to the FWD wheels, the Dolphin will happily zip through the waves of city congestion in complete zero-emission bliss.  There is up to 180 Nm of instantly accessible torque, and a 0-100 km/h dash can be performed in 12.3 seconds.

If more power is required, then the new BYD Premium Dolphin Hatch will be the model to go for.  In the Premium model, the battery pack has been boosted out to 60.5 kWh.  This also enhances the driving range out to a claimed 427 km.  However, the biggest and most noticeable jump comes with the power rating now a very healthy 150 kW and the torque a lusty 310 Nm.  This enables the Premium Dolphin model to frisk its way through the 0-100 km/h sprint in a brisk 7 seconds.  Its top speed is 160 km/h.

The 2024 BYD Dolphin Hatch is easy to drive about town, with light steering making it a cakewalk to manoeuvre at slow speeds.  Run into a tight carpark space, and the rear parking sensors along with a full 360 degree view of the car’s immediate outside area makes parking an easy task.   Out on the high-speed zones the Dolphin remains pleasantly composed, though the light steering could be slightly better weighted out here.  This is something that can be, to some extent, adjusted in the driving mode menu.  Oh the joys of electronic steering!

For both BYD Dolphin models, the battery comes with an 8 year/160,000 km warranty.  Being much like a Fiat 500e or the Abarth 500e, the BYD Dynamic Dolphin’s smaller battery pack should be enough to prevent anyone venturing a long way from home.  The lower driving range is fine for urban outings, but the extra capacity of the Premium Dolphin’s bigger battery pack provides a significantly healthier peace of mind when running out of a city/town environment.  BYD also fits the Dolphin out with a special heat pump.  This device helps maintain the vehicle’s driving range when the outside temperature drops – the wintery cold being a recognised problem for EVs in general. 

The 2024 BYD Dolphin Hatch is definitely a reasonably priced hatchback, especially considering the amount of money you have to pay for some other EV brands.  In fact, at the time of writing, the new BYD Dolphin is the cheapest EV Hatchback on the market in Australia.  Boasting a practical 5-door design and a 5-star ANCAP safety rating with seven airbags as part of the package, this is a strong EV with sound credentials for commuting with family and friends.  As well as adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, you’ll find driver fatigue and traffic sign recognition systems are all part of the BYD package. 

Standard equipment on both the BYD Dolphin models includes 16-inch alloy rims, LED headlights and tail-lights, a massive 12.8-inch multimedia touchscreen, built-in satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger pad, electrical adjustment and heating for the front seats, keyless entry with a push-start button for the ignition, climate control, and a comprehensive suite of active safety features. 

At the touch of a button, the big infotainment screen will switch from a landscape view to a portrait view or back again.  Of course, you can individualise the look of the screen, and most people will pick a layout they like the most and stick with it.  The 360 degree camera view of the car’s surrounds is a cool feature too, and it displays nicely up on the large touchscreen showpiece.

The BYD Dolphin has a welcoming interior that is dressed in vegan leather and neoprene trimmings.  On the inside there is plenty to catch the eye.  The rounded cluster of switches below the touchscreen looks cool, and this also houses the gear selector.  Then there is the sweeping air vent surrounds that form part of an eye-catching line across the dashboard.  The styling is pleasant on the eye, and there are some neat touches like the ‘fin’-like door handles and wavy patterns throughout – all pointing toward the natural habitat for a streamlined dolphin.  As far as the name ‘’Dolphin” goes, I reckon it’s a winner and a very suitable name for Australia, with all its wonderful beaches and amazing sea life, not least the various dolphin varieties we have here.

Space inside the little BYD Dolphin Hatch is good.  The refined cabin has enough space with very accommodating seats for four burly adult lads.  The middle rear seat is much narrower than the outer two, so it’s only really suitable for small people.  The ISOFIX points are easily accessible, and you’ll find two in the back seats and one on the front passenger seat.  There are heaps of storage compartments and useful features like USB charging ports, cup holders, and bottle holders, too.

When it comes to how much stuff you can get into the boot of the new BYD Dolphin Hatch, you’ll see that it is on a par with most other EV hatchbacks of its type.  The Dolphin’s boot space is 345 litres behind the rear seats, which increases to 1310 litres when the split-folding rear seats are fully folded down. 

What are the BYD Dolphin’s close competitors?  The gorgeous GWM Ora, the Fiat 500e, and MG’s MG4 and ZS EV, are all within a stone’s throw of the Dolphin’s price.  The little BYD Dolphin does have a personality, plenty of performance in Premium form, and a design innovation that makes it a desirable little EV Hatch option.

The 2024 BYD Dolphin Hatch model series includes the:

• Dolphin Dynamic
• Dolphin Premium

For any more information on the new BYD Dolphin models or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of BYD dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!