BYD Dolphin review (UK): price, range, charging, verdict

The BYD Dolphin is a five-door electric hatchback that costs £30,195 in Comfort trim in November 2026, with a 60.4 kWh battery and 265 miles of WLTP range. It is roomy, well equipped and comes with a long warranty, but it charges slowly by current standards and cheaper rivals now match or beat it on range for the money.

The Dolphin went on sale in the UK in 2023. EV Compared has not driven it: this review rests on BYD’s published data, government and Euro NCAP figures, and the UK reviews named below. Our guide to BYD’s UK prices and range covers the rest of the line-up.

Verdict: who should buy the BYD Dolphin, and who should not?

Buy a Dolphin if you want a lot of space and equipment in a small car and you can charge at home. The Comfort gives you 265 miles of WLTP range, a heat pump, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control and heated and ventilated front seats for £30,195, and on an off-peak home tariff it costs 1.5p a mile to run. UK testers agree the rear seat is roomy for a car 4,290 mm long, and the six-year warranty is longer than most rivals offer.

Do not buy one if you often use public rapid chargers on long trips. The 88 kW peak is slow next to rivals, and Auto Express timed 41 minutes for a 10 to 80% charge. Skip it, too, if you need boot space or enjoy driving: the 345-litre boot is smaller than the MG4 Urban’s, and several testers found the car dull on a twisty road. And if your budget is nearer £24,000, the MG4 Urban and Volkswagen ID. Polo cost several thousand pounds less.

What is the BYD Dolphin, and how is it different from the Dolphin Surf?

The BYD Dolphin is a five-seat, front-wheel-drive electric hatchback built by BYD, the Chinese maker of the Blade battery it uses. It measures 4,290 mm long, 1,770 mm wide and 1,570 mm tall on a 2,700 mm wheelbase, according to BYD’s UK press site.

BYD’s UK media site says the 60.4 kWh Dolphin went on sale in summer 2023, with deliveries from the end of that year, and the cheaper 44.9 kWh Active and Boost followed in the third quarter of 2024. Both batteries use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells.

The name causes confusion. The BYD Dolphin Surf is a separate, smaller and cheaper electric city car, not a trim of this one.

The Dolphin G DM-i is different again: a plug-in hybrid with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, which went on sale in the UK in July 2026, with up to 25 miles of electric range on the Active and 65 miles on the other trims, according to Auto Express. If you want a car that never needs petrol, the fully electric Dolphin reviewed here is the one to compare; the plug-in hybrid suits drivers who cannot charge at home and still cover long distances.

How much is the BYD Dolphin in the UK, and which trim should you choose?

The BYD Dolphin Comfort costs £30,195 and the Design £31,695 in November 2026, on the prices BYD lists on its UK media site. Both have the 60.4 kWh battery, the 150 kW motor and 265 miles of WLTP range. BYD’s media site still lists the 44.9 kWh Active at £26,195 and Boost at £27,195, but Drive’s review says those two are no longer in BYD’s new-car line-up and Auto Express says only the 60.4 kWh car remains, so for most buyers they are now used-car choices.

Trim	Price (Nov 2026)	Battery (usable)	WLTP range	Power	AC / DC charging	Price per mile of range
Active	£26,195	44.9 kWh	211 miles	70 kW	7 kW / 65 kW	£124
Boost	£27,195	44.9 kWh	193 miles	130 kW	11 kW / 65 kW	£141
Comfort	£30,195	60.4 kWh	265 miles	150 kW	11 kW / 88 kW	£114
Design	£31,695	60.4 kWh	265 miles	150 kW	11 kW / 88 kW	£120

Price per mile of range is EV Compared’s figure: list price divided by WLTP miles, as set out in our methodology. On that measure the Comfort is the best value in the range.

No Dolphin is on the government’s list of cars eligible for the Electric Car Grant, so there is no grant discount at the dealer. BYD’s own offer for orders placed from 7 October to 31 December 2026 is finance down to 0% APR representative on a 49-month PCP on all Dolphin models, at participating retailers.

Comfort. Drive lists 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, keyless entry, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, a heat pump, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control and a 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. BYD adds vehicle-to-load at up to 3.3 kW, so you can run small appliances or charge an e-bike from the car.

Design. For £1,500 more, BYD’s specification adds a panoramic glass roof, rear privacy glass, wireless phone charging and a vehicle-to-load power strip, and Drive notes tri-colour alloys and two-tone paint. Drive’s Al Suttie describes most of these extras as cosmetic, while Auto Express names the Design its best buy for the extra equipment. Carbuyer picks the Comfort.

Our view, from the data: choose the Comfort. The Design adds nothing to range, charging or performance, and a glass roof and phone pad are easy to live without.

Active and Boost. If you find one, the Active has a 70 kW motor, 211 miles of WLTP range and 7 kW AC charging, and the Boost a 130 kW motor and 193 miles. Both charge at up to 65 kW on DC. The Boost trades range for pace, which makes the Active the more sensible of the two.

What is the BYD Dolphin’s range, WLTP versus real world?

The 60.4 kWh Dolphin has a WLTP range of 265 miles, which works out at 4.39 miles per kWh on the official test. That is EV Compared’s figure, from WLTP range divided by usable battery capacity. The 44.9 kWh Active manages 211 miles (4.7 miles per kWh) and the more powerful Boost 193 miles (4.3 miles per kWh).

Testers’ real-world results fall about 10% short of the official figure. Auto Express recorded about 4 miles per kWh, which its testers called “pretty mediocre by current standards”, and its long-term Design was good for about 242 miles. Carwow’s test also returned 4.0 miles per kWh, or roughly 240 miles from a charge. Electrifying.com expected 180 to 220 miles in mixed driving when it reviewed the car in 2024. Our BYD Dolphin range and charging guide goes into more detail.

A heat pump is standard on every Dolphin, according to BYD, which helps in winter because it warms the cabin with less energy than a resistive heater. Range still falls in cold weather and charging slows when the battery is cold; our explainer on why EVs charge more slowly in cold weather sets out why.

How fast does the BYD Dolphin charge, and what does a full charge cost?

The 60.4 kWh Dolphin charges at up to 88 kW on a public rapid charger, and BYD quotes 29 minutes for 30 to 80%. Testers measured longer 10 to 80% times: Carwow quotes 36 minutes and Auto Express 41 minutes. The Active and Boost peak at 65 kW, with BYD quoting 28 minutes for 30 to 80% on their smaller battery.

Where you charge	Dolphin Comfort or Design (60.4 kWh)	Dolphin Active or Boost (44.9 kWh)
Full charge at home, off-peak (6.5p/kWh)	£3.93	£2.92
Full charge at home, price cap rate (26.32p/kWh)	£15.90	£11.82
Full charge on a public rapid charger (82p/kWh)	£49.53	£36.82
0 to 100% on a 7 kW wallbox (EV Compared)	About 8.6 hours	About 6.4 hours
Peak DC charging	88 kW	65 kW
30 to 80% (BYD)	29 minutes	28 minutes

Costs are EV Compared’s figures from usable battery capacity and ignore charging losses; the wallbox time uses the slower of 7 kW and the car’s onboard charger. The 6.5p rate is Intelligent Octopus Go’s smart charging rate, 26.32p is Ofgem’s average Direct Debit unit rate from October to December 2026, and 82p is Zapmap’s average for rapid and ultra-rapid chargers in October 2026.

The Comfort, Design and Boost accept 11 kW on AC, so on a three-phase supply they fill faster than on a 7 kW wallbox. Every version fills overnight at home. For choosing a home wallbox, our partner site Best Chargers compares chargers and installation.

Rapid charging is the Dolphin’s weak spot. Electrifying.com pointed out that 88 kW was already below the 100 kW of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric and Peugeot e-208 when the car launched, and Auto Express notes that the MG4 Long Range does 10 to 80% in 24 minutes. On a long motorway trip, testers’ times suggest around 40 minutes at each stop.

If you do use public chargers, a roaming card such as Octopus Electroverse lets you pay on many UK networks from one app, though at 82p/kWh a rapid charge still costs more than 12 times as much as an off-peak charge at home.

What does the BYD Dolphin cost to run?

Charged at home on a 6.5p/kWh off-peak tariff, a Dolphin Comfort or Design costs 1.5p a mile, or £119 over 8,000 miles. Those figures use the WLTP efficiency of 4.39 miles per kWh and ignore charging losses.

How you charge	Comfort or Design: pence per mile	Comfort or Design: 8,000 miles	Active: pence per mile	Active: 8,000 miles
Home, off-peak at 6.5p/kWh	1.5p	£119	1.4p	£111
Home, price cap rate of 26.32p/kWh	6.0p	£480	5.6p	£448
Public rapid charger at 82p/kWh	18.7p	£1,495	17.4p	£1,396

The gap is the main reason the Dolphin suits drivers with a driveway. Over 8,000 miles, relying on rapid chargers costs about £1,376 more than charging at home off-peak.

Insurance. UK sources disagree on the group. Drive lists the Comfort and Design in group 33, and Auto Express in group 30 for both trims, which it says is higher than the Renault 5 but similar to the MG4.

Vehicle tax. Electric cars pay £10 in the first year and the standard rate of £200 a year from the second year, according to gov.uk. Every Dolphin is well under the £50,000 list price at which the expensive car supplement applies.

Depreciation. Auto Express estimates the Dolphin keeps about 39 to 42% of its value after three years or 36,000 miles, better than the MG4 but behind the Renault 5. That is good news if you are buying used; Carwow lists used Dolphins from £18,995.

How big is the boot, and how practical is the BYD Dolphin inside?

The Dolphin’s boot holds 345 litres with the rear seats up and 1,310 litres with them folded, according to BYD. Auto Express measured slightly more, 364 litres, but still called the boot small and the load lip high. The MG4 Urban’s 577 litres and the Volkswagen ID. Polo’s 441 litres are both bigger, while the Corsa Electric’s 267 litres is smaller.

The cabin is the stronger story. Carwow’s Tom Wiltshire found good space for four adults and a roomy back seat, Auto Express rates the rear as roomy with three Isofix points, and Drive’s Al Suttie highlights generous rear legroom. The 2,700 mm wheelbase is long for a car of this size.

Inside, the 12.8-inch touchscreen rotates between landscape and portrait. Auto Express found it clear, responsive and easy to use, but disliked the touchscreen-only climate controls; Carwow said the menus hide key functions, and Drive found the infotainment menus poorly organised. Carwow also notes thick pillars that limit visibility. Auto Express flags the unusual shape of the front seats, where the fixed headrest can push you into an awkward backrest angle.

What the testers say about the BYD Dolphin

UK reviewers agree the Dolphin is roomy, comfortable and well equipped, and less polished to drive than the best rivals. The summaries below are their findings, not EV Compared’s.

Auto Express gave the Dolphin 4 out of 5 in a February 2026 review by Shane Wilkinson, with long-term notes from Andy Pringle. The verdict: it “doesn’t excel when it comes to driving thrills, but it does offer fine value for money”. Testers found the soft suspension handled speed bumps and potholes well, but noted body lean on twisty roads, intrusive stability control, easy wheelspin and noticeable wind and road noise on the motorway. Pringle summed up the long-term Design: “The combination of an easy EV transmission with a smooth ride makes this a great city car.”

Carwow’s Tom Wiltshire, in a review updated in March 2026, concludes that “the BYD Dolphin isn’t the bargain it once was”. Wiltshire praises the standard equipment, the rear space and the heat pump, but found the suspension thuds over sharp potholes in town, the regenerative braking weak and the interior quality mixed. Carwow says the MG4 offers more range and better driving for similar money.

Drive calls the Dolphin “a strong choice if you want a practical and comfortable electric hatchback without paying for a premium badge”. Al Suttie found the ride comfortable and refinement good, but criticised a brake pedal that makes smooth stops difficult, poorly organised infotainment menus and the 88 kW charging peak. Drive recommends the Comfort.

Carbuyer rated the Dolphin 4.3 out of 5 in September 2024 and named it Carbuyer Car of the Year 2024. Richard Ingram and Charlie Harvey called it “an extraordinarily talented small electric car” and said its low price should not put buyers off, while noting the boot is not the biggest and that the safety aids can be intrusive.

Electrifying.com reviewed the launch car in January 2024. Mike Askew praised the range, the standard heat pump and vehicle-to-load and the spacious rear seat, but found little feedback through the steering, front wheels that squirm under hard acceleration, and a secondary display that felt cheap.

Is the BYD Dolphin safe and reliable?

The Dolphin has a five-star Euro NCAP rating. Euro NCAP published it on 25 October 2023, with scores of 89% for adult occupants, 87% for child occupants, 85% for vulnerable road users and 79% for safety assist. It tested a Design, and the rating covers all four trims in both left and right-hand drive.

Reliability evidence is mixed. There is no long-term reliability study specific to the Dolphin yet, but Carwow reports that BYD finished 30th of 31 brands in the 2025 Driver Power owner survey, and Auto Express gives the same 30th-of-31 placing. The warranty is BYD’s answer: six years or 150,000 km on the car, eight years or 150,000 km on the electric drive unit, and, since January 2026, eight years or 250,000 km on the Blade battery with a guaranteed 70% state of health, according to BYD. The battery extension applies to existing owners as well as new cars in the UK.

To check whether a particular Dolphin, new or used, has an outstanding safety recall, use the DVSA’s vehicle recall checker with its registration number before you buy.

Which rivals should you compare with the BYD Dolphin?

The closest rivals on price are the MG4 Urban, Volkswagen ID. Polo, Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa Electric, all of which cost less than the Dolphin Comfort, and the Renault Megane E-Tech, which costs less and goes further.

Car	List price (Nov 2026)	WLTP range	Peak DC charging	Boot
MG4 Urban Comfort Standard Range 42.8kWh	£23,495	201 miles	82 kW	577 litres
Volkswagen ID. Polo Life 37kWh 116PS	£23,945	200 miles	Not in our data	441 litres
Peugeot E-208 Allure Electric 50kWh 136	£25,055	225 miles	100 kW	309 litres
BYD Dolphin Active 44.9kWh	£26,195	211 miles	65 kW	345 litres
BYD Dolphin Boost 44.9kWh	£27,195	193 miles	65 kW	345 litres
Vauxhall Corsa Electric YES 100kW (136PS) 50kWh	£27,505	221 miles	100 kW	267 litres
Renault Megane E-Tech Techno 220hp Comfort Range 67kWh	£28,445	306 miles	165 kW	440 litres
BYD Dolphin Comfort 60.4kWh	£30,195	265 miles	88 kW	345 litres
BYD Dolphin Design 60.4kWh	£31,695	265 miles	88 kW	345 litres

On list price per mile of WLTP range, the Dolphin Comfort’s £114 compares with £93 for the Renault Megane E-Tech, £111 for the Peugeot e-208, £117 for the MG4 Urban, £120 for the ID. Polo and £124 for the Corsa Electric. Charged at home off-peak, the Comfort’s 1.5p a mile is slightly above those rivals’ 1.2p to 1.4p, by our calculation.

Renault Megane E-Tech. The updated Megane costs £1,750 less than the Dolphin Comfort, goes 306 miles on the WLTP test and charges at up to 165 kW, with a bigger 440-litre boot. Renault’s price includes the Electric Car Grant, which the Dolphin does not get.

MG4 Urban. At £23,495 the MG4 Urban is £6,700 cheaper than the Comfort, with 201 miles of WLTP range and a 577-litre boot, though that figure is measured to the roof and includes underfloor space. Its 82 kW charging peak is close to the Dolphin’s.

Volkswagen ID. Polo. The new ID. Polo starts at £23,945 with 200 miles of WLTP range and a 441-litre boot, and its 52 kWh, 211 PS versions qualify for the Electric Car Grant. At 4,053 mm it is 237 mm shorter than the Dolphin.

Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa Electric. Both charge at up to 100 kW and cost less than the Comfort, but at around 4,060 mm long they are smaller cars, and the Corsa’s 267-litre boot is the smallest here.

Other BYDs. If you want a higher driving position, the BYD Atto 3 is the brand’s compact electric SUV.

For a bigger budget, the BYD Seal is a larger, more powerful electric saloon.

Should you buy a BYD Dolphin?

Yes, if you want a roomy, comfortable electric hatchback with a long kit list and a long warranty, and you can charge at home. The Comfort gives you 265 miles of WLTP range, a heat pump, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control and heated and ventilated seats for £30,195, and it costs 1.5p a mile on an off-peak home tariff. Small families who need four proper seats more than a big boot, and drivers who mainly cover town and commuter miles, will find a lot to like. A used Active is worth a look if your budget is tighter, provided 211 miles of WLTP range and 65 kW charging suit your driving.

No, if you regularly drive long distances on rapid chargers: 88 kW and a 10 to 80% time of around 40 minutes in testers’ hands will add time to every stop. No, too, if you need boot space or want a car that is fun on a back road. And if price is the priority, the MG4 Urban and Volkswagen ID. Polo cost thousands less, while the Renault Megane E-Tech costs less and goes further.

This verdict rests on published data and the UK reviews cited above; EV Compared has not driven the BYD Dolphin.