Shoot at ID3 and MG 4
The Chinese BYD offers three models in the Netherlands: the Atto 3, the Han and the Tang. The brand will soon add two interesting newcomers: the BYD Dolphin and the BYD Seal. In this article, we’ll discuss the first. That is immediately interesting. The BYD Dolphin promises to be a direct competitor of the Volkswagen ID3 and MG 4 Electric.
Highlights BYD Dolphin
- Competitor for Volkswagen ID3 and MG 4 Electric
- 204 hp on the front wheels
- Up to 427 kilometers of range
- This year in Europe
You can already get three models from the Chinese BYD in the Netherlands via importer Louwman: the Atto 3, the Han and the Tang. The former is an electric crossover, the Han an electric sedan and the Tang an SUV with three rows of seats and up to seven seats. In China, BYD sells a huge number of models that you don’t know in Europe, including the Dolphin. AutoWeek already fished up patent drawings of that electric hatchback registered in Europe that suggested that the BYD Dolphin would also come to our corner of the world. What seems? We were right. BYD confirms that the BYD Dolphin is coming to Europe!
BYD Dolphin.
The BYD Dolphin was already introduced to the Chinese public in April 2021, but is now leaving its home country. And pretty soon. According to BYD, it will open the Dolphin’s European order books in the summer and the first units will arrive this way as early as the fourth quarter of this year. Like the BYD Seal, the Dolphin is part of BYD’s Ocean model line, a series of cars drawn according to the Ocean Aesthetics design language and with involvement from none other than Wolfgang Egger. But, what does he have to offer?
Shooting at Volkswagen ID3 and MG 4 Electric
BYD describes the Dolphin as a C-segment electric hatchback. In any case, its dimensions fit perfectly with that. It is 4.29 meters long and has a 2.7 meter long wheelbase. That makes it several centimeters longer than the Volkswagen ID3 and several millimeters longer than the MG 4 Electric. The distance between the front and rear axles of the Dolphin is a negligible 5 mm greater than that of the MG 4 Electric, but 6.5 centimeters less than that of the ID3. The luggage space of the BYD Dolphin is slightly smaller at 345 liters than that of the ID3 (385 liters) and MG 4 Electric (350-363 liters). If you throw the back seat flat, the Dolphin 1.310 offers storage fun. The platform of the Dolphin is not unknown. The e-Platform 3.0 base of the Dolphin is also under the Atto 3.
BYD Dolphin.
Up to 427 kilometers of range
Just like the Volkswagen ID3 and MG 4 Electric, the BYD Dolphin comes on the market with a 204 hp electric motor. Unlike its competitors, the Dolphin is front-wheel drive. The Dolphin buzzes to 100 km/h in 7 counts. Its top speed is 160 km/h. In the bottom is a 60-kWh Blade Battery, which gives the electric hatchback an electric range of 427 kilometers (WLTP). Fast charging is possible with a maximum of 88 kW and a heat pump is standard, as well as Vehicle to Load (V2L) technology that enables charging of other devices with a maximum of 3.3 kW. The Dolphin stands on 16- or 17-inch light metal and the exterior is available in two colors, BYD offers seven color combinations for this.
BYD Dolphin.
Interior
The BYD Dolphin can accommodate five occupants. The dashboard has a strikingly playful design with its graceful lines. Behind the wheel is a relatively small digital set of instruments and centrally in the dashboard we find a large infotainment display that, just like the Atto 3, can be placed both vertically and horizontally. You choose the direction of travel with a switch that is housed in the center tunnel.
In terms of equipment, BYD seems to have things well organized. The BYD Dolphin gets met vegan leather upholstered and heated sports seats in the front. The driver’s seat is six-way electrically adjustable, the co-driver’s seat four-way. Depending on the version, the Dolphin is available with a large panoramic glass roof.
BYD Dolphin.
As you can expect from a new model in 2023, the list of passive and active safety systems is a long one. Things like Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Rear Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Brake, Lane Departure Prevention and Emergency Lane Keeping Assist are standard. The same goes for intelligent adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera.
Prices and extensive information regarding the Dutch market will follow later.
.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl