Everything you need to know about the 2023 BYD Dolphin in Australia: Pricing, grades, specifications, power outputs and driving range
The BYD Dolphin will be available in three model grades with prices starting from $38,890 plus on-road costs. While that makes the Dolphin $100 cheaper than its closest rival, the MG4, the difference is more dramatic once drive-away costs are factored in.
Buying the cheapest BYD Dolphin Dynamic is about $800 cheaper than buying the cheapest MG4 Excite with the smaller battery pack. The Dolphin also undercuts the cheapest GWM-Ora by about $5500.
The cheapest state to buy the Dolphin is Tasmania, where it costs $39,489.57 to drive-away. The most expensive state is Western Australia, where it will cost $41,810.05.
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However, that’s without factoring in potential rebates and incentives, such as the $3000 rebate in NSW and a potential $6000 rebate in Queensland, which would make the Dolphin as cheap as $34,399.85 drive-away.
The entry-level Dolphin Dynamic comes with a modest 70kW/180Nm electric motor driving the front wheels. The dash to 100km/h is more of a stroll, taking a leisurely 12.3 seconds. The EV range from the 44.9kWh battery is 340km according to the WLTP standard.
Standard equipment for the Dolphin Dynamic includes 16-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, smart key entry, panoramic sunroof, tyre pressure monitors, satellite-navigation and a rotating 12.8-inch central infotainment screen incorporating Apple CarPlay (but no Android Auto).
The BYD Dolphin Premium is another $6000 (from $44,890 plus on-road costs) and gets a bigger battery and more powerful motor to produce 150kW and 310Nm. It lowers the 0-100km/h time to 7.0 seconds. The 60.48kWh battery is claimed to provide 427km of range.
The Dolphin Premium also steps up to 17-inch wheels with tyres that are 10mm wider. It can also accept a higher charge power (80kW versus 60kW for the Dynamic), although the larger battery pack means overall charging times are likely to be similar.
The Dolphin is available in four colours: white, blue, pink and grey.
BYD also announced it would have a Dolphin Sport.
BYD says it will only import 1000 of the Dolphin Sports into the country.
Few details are known, although Todd says it will accelerate to 100km/h in less than seven seconds.
A computer generated image on the BYD website showed a car with aggressive side skirts, larger wheels with what look like semi-slick tyres and a broader track with wheel arch flares There are also various blue highlights.
BYD says that “final features and finishes may vary” for the limited run that is due in 2024.
The head of local importer EV Direct, Luke Todd, says the BYD Dolphin Sport is a “tuned vehicle” and described it as a “hot hatch” with a “premium design”.
BYD Dolphin pricing vs MG4 vs GWM-Ora
| BYD Dolphin Dynamic | MG4 51 Excite | GWM-Ora | |
| NSW | $39,991.57 | $40,709 | $45,550 |
| Victoria | $41,331.60 | $42,127 | $47,234 |
| Queensland | $40,399.85 | $41,197 | $46,114 |
| South Australia | $41,099.64 | $41,711 | $46,891 |
| ACT | $39,556.20 | $40,287 | $45,137 |
| Tasmania | $39,489.57 | $40,284 | $45,090 |
| Western Australia | $41,810.05 | $42,618 | $47,891 |
| Northern Territory | $39,536.30 | $40,289 | $44,490 |
Tony. Thank you for your precise wrap up of the new Dolphin. I think BYD are smart enough to know it will fill a gap in the present market – a second car for the family re kids drop off to school & sports. Also for short runs about the suburbs. The price is the key – being the cheapest.
I have an Atto 3 and it is marvellous. Love the heated seats and the excellent ride & road holding. So many features for the price, we nick name it “the mercedes”. It is the only SUV I have come across in the EVs. Being a tall person I have plenty of head space, and with a bad back, I do like the height of it to get in to. A Tesla would not suit me at all. Not the price either.
Teslas goal is to move us to sustainable transport and energy and are innovating so quickly that other companies making BEVs are following them. Their competitors are fossil fuel and ice companies. Any ev sale is a win for them, because it’s one less ice vehicle sold. Similarly other companies selling BEVs such as BYD and MG aren’t really competitors with each other as demand far exceeds supply, particularly at the more affordable end of the market that they will sell every vehicle they make.
Uninformed journalists and so called experts seeking clicks by mentioning competition with Tesla gets old fast and doesn’t help their reputation.
It sounded exciting… China EV’s … until I watched YouTube channel by Serpentza (lived in China many years, operates a news channel) specifically talking about BYD: “China’s Flagship EV’s are Exploding in Huge Numbers” and “Covered Up – China’s Sold a Lie”. Also interesting: “China is Throwing Away Fields of Electric Cars”. Quality control may be an issue.