Byd Dolphin: a test of a Chinese electric compact

In front of the Byd Dolphin has a closed grilleas is common in electric, hybrid vehicles large LED lights which gives it a sleek look, accentuated by short overhanging rays and side lines that clearly highlight the marine mammal’s profile.

To embellish the line, the designers inserted a sharp profile around the grille and created large ribs to strengthen the sides. At the back, smooth and well-integrated lines and a full-width light strip where dai dell’azienda “Build Your Dreams”.

With a length of 4.29 meters and a width of 1.77 meters, the Dolphin has a wheelbase of 2.7 meters which allows for increased accommodation and interior comfort.

Inside the Dolphin stands out for its modern design. The passenger compartment is large, and oh impressive 12.5-inch display in the middle of the dashboard that acts as a control center for various functions of the car and can be placed vertically or horizontally according to the preferences of the occupants. Instead, we get a small screen to support driving information – maybe even too much – visible through the edge of the steering wheel.

The dashboard is characterized by smooth and extended curves with the precise intention of recalling the waves of the sea. There “battery” of physical bonds in the central console allows simplified interaction with the vehicle and also includes gear control via the selector on the left.

The attention paid to detail to create a welcoming and modern environment is obvious, and thanks to the features of the e-platform 3.0, the space for passengers – especially the rear – is very large.

The passenger compartment is designed for 5 people and has large storage pockets. The seats are made of sustainable vegan leather and have an ergonomic design, and the front seats are heated and electrically adjustable. The rear bench can be divided in a ratio of 60:40 and allows you to expand the amount of the seat. trunk from 345 to 1,310 liters when it is completely dropped.

Under the hood, Byd’s Dolphin hides modern technology. The model we tested was the Comfort version which has a larger battery pack and a list price set at 33,790 euros (in February 2024 it was subject to a reduction of 2,000 euros).

In this case e-platform 3.0 supports one 60.4 kWh Blade battery which allows you to increase the density by reducing the weight and volume of the assembly. The battery pack ensuresfreedom of 427 km in the WLTP cycle, with the possibility of charging the car with direct current up to 100 kW, going from 30% to 80% of the energy available in less than 30 minutes.

During our test we managed to achieve an average consumption of less than 14 kWh/100 km, demonstrating the incredible efficiency of the Dolphin. With a maximum power of 204 HP, the small Byd accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 7 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 160 km / h. Thanks to 4 ways to drive provided (Sport, Normal, Economy and Snow) it is possible to change the response to the trigger and adjust the characteristics of the Dolphin’s output to the needs of the moment, but even in normal conditions the small Byd always seems very reactive and – too. thanks to the non-exaggerated footprint of the tires – it enjoys light “tire wear”.

With a regenerative braking system that can recover energy when stopping and decelerating, The heat pump increases the thermal efficiency of the battery up to 15% and ensures better management in different weather conditions.

Dolphin is equipped as standard with many safety and driving assistance functions: from forward collision warning system to autonomous emergency braking, from lane departure prevention to lane keeping system. There is also a system for detecting blind spots and recognition of road signs for intelligent control of speed limits, which are added 360° panoramic camera drive safely.

Even if the body design will not please everyone, the good performance and safety features in line with models from the most prestigious brands make the Byd Dolphin an attractive proposition in the electric car market, especially in the version with a 60.4 kWh battery – like the one in on our market. test – which proved good autonomy for non-urban use only.