What is it?

BYD is becoming more and more popular here in the UK, ever since it launched here in March 2023.

Once an acronym you’d never even heard of - Build Your Dreams - it’s now a name that is beginning to thrive with the introduction of new EVs and plug-in hybrid models.

The Dolphin is the smallest and cheapest vehicle in the firm’s model line-up and now with the release of a new Active trim level – it has made the most affordable car in the BYD family even better value for money. We’ve been testing this new budget-friendly model to see if it takes it to the top of the EV segment..

What’s new?

It’s a race against time for car manufacturers to produce affordable EVs, and with the Dolphin’s new starting price at £26,195 – it’s competitively priced. There are other electric cars on the market like the Citroen e-C3 and Dacia Spring which are cheaper, but they are smaller cars with fewer standard features and lower ranges.

BYD began its life as a battery technology firm. So it’s no surprise then that it would lead into the electric vehicle market with cars like this Dolphin and the Seal. Furthermore, the company’s use of blade battery technology has meant that the powertrains for its cars are free from harmful resources such as cobalt.

What’s under the bonnet?

The powertrain driving the Dolphin Active is simple and easy to comprehend as it comes with a 44.9kWh battery pack that BYD claims can do a total of 211 miles on a single charge. It comes with front-wheel-drive and there is an electric motor which produces 94bhp and although that doesn’t sound like a lot of grunt, because the battery pack is lighter, it means that you can go further distances between trips to the plug.

DC 100kW rapid charging is compatible with the car managing to go from 30 to 80 per cent charge in 28 minutes. However, this entry-level Active can only charge at a maximum speed of 65kW, making it not as speedy to charge compared to a Volkswagen ID.3 for example.

What’s it like to drive?

The way the car drives is simple and effortless, which is what you want when it comes to driving and owning an EV – especially if this is your first foray into the world of electric vehicles. Power from the 94bhp electric motor is adequate and although it won’t set the world alight, it’s smooth and perfectly accepted for day-to-day use. Also, the ride quality is good with only the very largest bumps upsetting the car’s rather comfortable setup.

Forward visibility can be a chore when it comes to manoeuvring and approaching junctions due to the fat front A-pillars which obscure other vehicles when driving around town, but keeping with the urban streets, due to its smaller sized proportions, the Dolphin is a doddle to feed its way through some of the UK’s narrow roads and tight gaps in traffic. Refinement is also pretty good with only the faintest of wind and road noise entering the cabin as well.

How does it look?

At first glance, the BYD has a fairly simplistic yet quirky design and although that may not be for everyone, for most, the Dolphin is an inoffensive and sober-looking car. Styling cues like the full-width light bar and angular door creases keep the car looking interesting and modern without looking over the top in its design.

The floating roof design does give the car an added unique look and although the shape won’t be in favour of every buyer, the Dolphin does stick to looking like a hatchback and not trying to play a part in the SUV role.

What’s it like inside?

The interior doesn’t differentiate from any other hatchback, in fact, it’s a pleasant place to sit and doesn’t confuse form with function. Thanks to the flat floor, rear passengers get plenty of head and leg room and it makes it more comfortable for a third person to sit in the middle seat.

Up front, there is a mixture of hard and soft-touch materials, but the design is stylish and different without looking too fussy and unattractive – meanwhile, there are physical buttons for the volume control and fan speed. Everything is intuitive to operate and has a simplistic and user-friendly approach.

Boot space stands at 345 litres, which isn’t too bad. A lot of space is taken up with the underfloor storage where you have somewhere to put your charging cables, and the space does increase further if you fold the rear seats down, extending the capacity to 1,310 litres.

What’s the spec like?

When an unknown manufacturer enters the UK market, it’s always uncertain whether it will succeed. But, even though BYD is new to the UK, it’s not new in China and other markets around the world and with its cars, a decent amount of standard equipment will always entice a buyer, regardless if they’re familiar with the badge on its bonnet. The entry-level model that we’re driving features a large central screen which can be rotated landscape or portrait as well as includes wireless Apple CarPlay.

However, one irritation is that when you have your phone connected to the screen, you lose the shortcut buttons for the heating and ventilation system, making it more of a fiddle than it needs to be. However, the Dolphin is a safe place to be with autonomous emergency braking, emergency lane keep assist, Isofix child seat anchor points and adaptive cruise control all coming as standard – and it achieved a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, too.

Verdict

This new Active trim level for the Dolphin is a smart move from BYD. Not only are its vehicles proving popular on our roads, but introducing cheap and more affordable models will only push sales figures up and beyond for the firm to become top of the chart.

The Dolphin’s rivals should take note of what attracts many buyers to cars in the first place - value for money. Its excellent raft of standard goodies should hopefully bump sales even further, making the company even more successful here on our shores.