Dive into the Future: Unleashing the 426km Cruising Range of the BYD Dolphin Comfort – A Test Drive Review

The electric hatchback Dolphin is BYD’s next move after At3, which is making an offensive in the UK. Competing models include the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric. The company aims to gain market share with a three-unit configuration including the mid-class saloon Seal.

BYD calls its lineup the Ocean Series. Although it is characterized by styling influenced by the beauty of marine life, the dolphin is not a very organic shape. In the case of a calm body color, it is understated and looks cohesive.

There is a wide range of paint color options, including pink and purple. BYD wants you to like the look and features, not the price.

The basic framework of Dolphin is BYD’s e-Platform 3.0. Blade-shaped lithium iron phosphate batteries, manufactured in-house, are placed under the floor. You can choose between 44.9kWh and 60.4kWh capacity.

In the case of active and boost grades, the smaller drive battery is installed. The larger one is listed in the comfort and design grades. Fast charging is not fast, with a maximum of 65kW for the former and 88kW for the latter.

The most affordable one is the 95ps active. It has a cruising range of 339km and accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 12.3 seconds. The UK price is 26,195 pounds (approximately 5,030,000 yen), and the cost performance is high.

The top-grade design with a 60.4kWh drive battery costs £31,695 (approximately 6,090,000 yen). Since the basic equipment is better, the cheaper grade is probably better.

The interior of the car is larger than it looks, and it is highly practical.

Although the Dolphin is compact, when you sit in the driver’s seat, there is more space inside than it looks. Although the lumbar support is weak, the power seat has a wide adjustment range, making it easy to find a natural driving position.

There are accessory compartments in various places, and it seems easy to use. There is also a large storage area on the door panel side. The tray in the center of the dashboard is perfect for storing your smartphone or sunglasses. The location of the USB-C port has also been carefully thought out.

BYD Dolphin Comfort (UK version)

The interior design is not as unique as At3. Touchable parts, such as the top of the door panel, are soft-treated. The scientific smell of resin remained a little strong.

In the center of the dashboard is a 12.8-inch touch monitor that can be rotated vertically or horizontally. The display is clear and the response is quick. It is possible to link with a smartphone, but only when the monitor is oriented horizontally, and only by wire.

The infotainment system is broken up into too many submenus and may not be able to take advantage of the large screen. While driving, the icons are small and it is difficult to adjust the air conditioner temperature. Turning off the driver assistance system when it is not needed requires digging into the submenus.

The space on the rear seat side is wide enough that even adults 180 cm tall will not be dissatisfied. The luggage compartment capacity is 345L, which is large for this class. I also like that the height of the floor can be adjusted. I think it is very practical.

No dissatisfaction with power performance.Driving enjoyment is not high.

Image The cruising range of 426 km is impressive BYD Dolphin Comfort What are the competing size EVs? Total 151 sheets