2024 BYD Dolphin.
The thing about being in a Witness Protection Programme is this – you need to blend in a bit. Heading out and about will get you noticed or worse, caught. You’ll need a car that’s so unmemorable that it melts into a sea of boxy hatchbacks. Welcome then to the 2024 BYD Dolphin. This small hatch from China skirts all measures of formal identification that even I have difficulty describing it from memory.
“It skirts all measures of formal identification.”
BYD is China’s giant automaker and its assault on Europe has been helped by Chinese Government subsidies helping its cars dominate the home turf. Europe though is not China and brand loyalty of the established OEMs plays against BYD’s ambitions. Or do they? Back in China, European OEMs are finding the eastern market far tougher than it was a few years ago. Their investment is looking sketchy at best. BYD is an industrial monster, a global titan OEM building new plants on a massive scale. In 2023 it spent over $19 billion on Capex, whereas VW spent $15b and Toyota $12b.
“BYD is a monster. In 2023 it spent $19 billion on Capex, whereas VW spent $15 B and Toyota $12 B.”
Speaking of OEMs, Volkswagen’s entry into China saw it enjoy a market share of 40% partnering with SIAC but last year that fell to 14.5 per cent. China is hungry for European, Latin American sales and a slice of the now wobbling United States EV market pie. Does BYD offer enough convincing cars to shake up the European market? Tested here are two models: the BYD Dolphin and BYD Seal.
“Does BYD offer sufficiently convincing products to shake up the European market?”
Both cars were tested in Ireland where a total of three BYD models are on sale – the BYD Atto 3, BYD Dolphin and the BYD Seal. The Dolphin I tested had a subsidised Irish price of €29,318 in Comfort or €31,192 for the Design spec. Claimed range is 427km, 0-100km in 7.1 seconds from a 60.4 kWh Blade Battery (LFP) that consumes 15.9 kWh/100km. BYD claims it will charge 0-80 per cent in 43 minutes.
What is it? The Dolphin is a c-segment small hatch fully electric BEV that BYD ambitiously describes as ‘Ocean Aesthetics’ – hence the name Dolphin. In reality, it’s a nondescript 5 door hatch that has some neat design details like integrated front LED headlights, a forward arcing A-pillar that stops in line with the front axle line and wide rear light cluster spans the car’s hatch.
“To this journalist it’s simply a nondescript 5 door hatch.”
The Dolphin costs €30,000 and you’d be expecting a lot more pizzazz and flair for that price. If you think €30,000 isn’t a lot of money nowadays – don’t be silly, it is. Contrast this with the Renault Clio E-TECH hybrid we tested before. That starts at under €25,000 (in Ireland) and the supposed Chinese value for money mantra loses credibility right away.
“If you think €30,000 isn’t a lot of money nowadays – don’t be silly, it is.
Agreed, the Clio is not a fully electric EV but a hybrid meaning you can still drive it around in electric mode for average weekly commutes. Consider too that the Clio is more appealing to look at, sit in, operate and drive. As for the BYD Dolphin, it’s an average effort for a front wheel drive car but finding the car’s handling limits are easy and the levels of engineering development is less apparent than many of the European rivals. I didn’t like the soggy brakes either, the interior design and never got comfortable in the driver’s seat.
“I’d struggle to recommend the Dolphin to anyone with €30,000 to spend.”
In the end, I’d struggle to recommend the Dolphin to anyone with €30,000 to spend on a fully electric small car. There are better choices on sale. As an overall package the Dolphin never feels as well-rounded as the European and South Korean rivals or even the excellent Dacia Spring BEV. Verdict: 2.5 Stars
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2024 BYD Seal
Immediately the BYD Seal with a rear-wheel drive transmission and a big battery looks better placed to make up lost ground for team China. The Seal is BYD’s opus to the best-in-class Tesla Model 3 and arrives with a base price of €45,986 for the rear wheel drive 230kWh Design version. For comparison, the Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor All-Wheel-Drive is €48,990 (€50,171 before savings) placing it directly in line for a shoot out. For an unknown brand entering a congested EV market, the Seal’s pricing strategy suggests BYD believes it can take on the best EVs globally. Time to find out how close it actually gets.
“The Seal is BDY’s opus to the best in class Tesla Model 3.”
I tested the all wheel drive, dual motor in Excellence AWD spec at €49,836 (after savings) with 390 kWh / 530 hp power. Those hefty numbers translate into a 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds that is one second faster than a Porsche Boxster. The Seal Excellence’s AWD range tops 520km (WLTP) which seems accurate based on the testing I did.
“(The Seal is) almost 1 second faster to 100km/h than a Porsche Boxster.”
The Seal’s styling is confident looking under the design leadership of Wolfgang Egger who worked at Lamborghini, Audi and penned the beautiful Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. The Seal’s exterior design, especially from a company formed in 1995 and which only started making cars in 2005, is a small wonder. Had a European OEM launched the Seal we’d be praising it for the balanced proportions. The low 0.21 drag coefficient is mated to perfectly sensible 19″ wheels.
“The Seal’s exterior from a company only formed in 1995 is a small wonder.”
OEMs are deeply concerned about the speed of China’s product assault and bigger concerns surrounds Gen Z and Millennials. Will they care less where a car comes from compared with legacy OEMs? Even the Seal’s door handles glide in and out when locked and unlocked winning showroom appeal. As you ask, no, it’s not a hatchback but a saloon with a boot.
“Will Gen Z and Millennials care less where a car comes from?”
Back to the Seal Excellence that adds the “3.8s” badge (3.8 seconds) at the back of the car so drivers know how fast you can accelerate. The cabin follows some of Tesla’s less buttons is best approach. Inside, hardware from the Atto 3 has been nicked and put into a Tesla inspired 10.24-inch digital screen that can rotate 90 degrees but this is a gimmick and my focus was to test how well the functions operated. Actions were crisp with little latency once a function was pressed.
There is a second cluster of physical controls in the centre console that harked back to the pre-face lifted Aston Martin Vantage. Everything worked well and nothing stood out as a negative. The seats were covered in a textured suede and felt premium and a comfortable seating position was easy to find. The large panoramic glass roof adds to the impression of space in the back seats. Special mention to those, they were very comfortable and the car offered generous levels of rear legroom. So far so good for the Seal. How well does it drive?
“China’s speed at mastering complex automotive software is uncanny.”
The good news continues as the Seal performs as well and the best European rivals and almost catches Tesla’s Model 3. Much of this is down to a five link rear axle and double wishbone suspension up front. The use of variable dampers keeps the Seal level through bends as does the low centre of gravity. It’s fast too and any four door car at this price that out accelerates a Porsche Boxster has to be seen as a performance bargain. Impressive all round then and if you had questions about how good Chinese cars were, the BYD Seal might be the first model to change your mind. Verdict: 4.5 stars
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Mark Gallivan, Motoring Journalist