BYD Dolphin – Back to Basics

BYD Dolphin Active – €29,990

Opening the door of this BYD Dolphin is very easy thanks to standard keyless entry, but it is still somewhat disappointing. It turns out that BYD does not supply the crazy interior colors with which the Dolphin was initially presented. Instead of the moody beige, the crazy purple or the pleasantly crazy pink and white, we find a black interior in every version of the BYD Dolphin. Too bad, because the lighter colors immediately make this look a bit more high-quality.

Absolutely love this color scheme? Bad luck: in practice the interior is always black

Yet there is also good news, because the animal-free ‘leather’ that is in the more expensive versions is also used for the basic version of the Dolphin. This also applies to the electric seat adjustment. The BYD Dolphin Active, as that version is called, is visually difficult to distinguish from the more expensive Boost and Comfort. On the outside there is really only one clue: the Active has 16-inch wheels, the others have 17-inch wheels. Top version Design has unique wheels and a two-tone carriage, so you can pick that out.

There is plenty to choose from when it comes to colours, as the special exterior colors are fortunately available. They are even free, or rather included in the price. Dolphin Active buyers can therefore choose between ‘Urban Grey’, ‘Cream White’, ‘Amethyst Purple’ and ‘Coral Pink’ (all in the photo gallery), without exceeding the 30,000 euro limit. The LED headlights, LED taillights, LED daytime running lights and LED puddle lights in the exterior mirrors are all standard. The Active does not have privacy glass or a panoramic roof, because those things are only on the Design. The exterior mirrors are always electrically adjustable and heated, but only fold electrically on the two most expensive versions.

Rotating screen

Although the interior looks complete and certainly is, there are still a few important equipment differences. For example, the entry-level car does not have seat heating, which can be a drawback in an electric car. As a plaster on the wound, there is fully automatic climate control, which can be operated via the 12.8-inch rotating screen, which is also standard. Rotating screen, yes, because at the push of a button the touchscreen also turns from a horizontal to a vertical position in this simplest BYD.

The audio sound is less than in more expensive versions due to 4 instead of 6 speakers, but otherwise this infotainment with Android Auto, Apple Carplay and built-in Here navigation is completely complete. Is there anything else to complain about? Yes, but mainly about little things. For example, the Dolphin Active has parking sensors at the rear, but they are missing at the front. It also works without a wireless phone charger.

Smallest battery, but heat pump

However, we are not there yet, because the main difference with other Dolphins is subcutaneous. The BYD Dolphin Active shares its (net) 44.9 kWh battery with the Boost, but with 95 hp it has the lowest power of all. The 0-100 sprint of 12.3 seconds is certainly far from impressive for an EV, at least not in a positive sense. With that battery capacity, this electric hatchback can travel 340 kilometers, partly thanks to a standard heat pump. That is more than the more expensive Boost, which sacrifices some range to its larger wheels. Vehicle-to-Load functionality is reserved for the most expensive Design version and fast charging is possible with the versions with the small battery with a maximum of 60 instead of 88 kW. At the regular charging station, the Active is the slowest-charging Dolphin, because this is the only version that does not have a three-phase charger.

Are we there then? Almost, but not quite. The BYD Dolphin Active is also the only version with a simple torsion beam rear, while all other versions have a multi-link rear suspension. So expect less refined driving, but then you also drive for 30 grand – minus subsidy – in an electric hatchback with quite a bit of interior space.