Chinese Byd Dolphin undergoes performance and consumption test – 09/29/2023 – Eduardo Sodré

The questions began as soon as the BYD Dolphin parked at the Circuito Panamericano, a track built by Pirelli in Fausto Elias (interior of São Paulo). The Chinese electric car was a stranger in the nest of sports cars powered by liters of gasoline.

Going with the hatch to the Motorfast Day event, held in August, was the excuse to see how the model would perform in a 240-kilometer road test (round trip).

Best-selling electric car at the moment, the Dolphin costs R$149,800 in the 95 hp version. In October, the Plus option arrives, with 204 hp and greater autonomy, for R$179,800.

BYD’s strategy is similar to that adopted by brands like Volkswagen and Chevrolet with their compacts: establishing different price levels according to engine power and the list of equipment.

This time, the evaluated Dolphin was the “weakest”. Before the trip, the Mauá Institute of Technology took its measurements. The acceleration test from zero to 100 km/h, for example, was completed in 11.8 seconds. The result is slightly lower than that obtained by the Honda City Hatchback 1.5 flex (11 seconds).

The most expensive version of this City sells for R$134,600. Potential customers of this car are already looking closely at models like the Dolphin, especially those that travel more in the city. On the road, however, attention is needed, and this was one of the questions asked at the Panamericano Circuit.

At 90 km/h on a highway, it is possible to travel 306 kilometers until the battery goes from 100% to zero. The calculation is based on the average obtained in the Folha-Mauá test, but this autonomy drops according to the increase in speed. Therefore, it would not be possible to go to the city of Fausto Elias and return to São Paulo without refueling the batteries.

Then came another question: what should I do to get back to the capital since the display indicated 120 km of range? The answer was in the chargers installed on the Pirelli track, a service for which there is still no charge. It was enough to plug the Dolphin in for two hours to have enough energy to return.

Before the trip, it’s time to get used to this BYD. Its cabin is full of excesses, starting with the rotating screen: the driver presses a button located on the steering wheel and that tablet goes from horizontal to vertical.

The tested car had leather-like upholstery with beige or dark gray parts, as well as orange trim. The design of the handles resembles the fins of a dolphin – or dolphin, in English. The hatch is part of the Chinese automaker’s maritime family, which includes the Seal sedan and the Seagull subcompact.

The Dolphin has six airbags, air conditioning, electrically assisted steering and hill start assistant. When maneuvering, cameras create a 3D image of the car and project it onto the multimedia system screen.

The speakers emit a high-pitched noise when the gear selector is activated. It sounds like the tinkling of tubular bells and serves to alert pedestrians of the approaching car. The sound stops at 25 km/h, fortunately.

When you leave the garage, it’s normal life. Lower power electric cars do not have abrupt reactions like those of the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, for example. The Dolphin looks like a good conventional compact car in everyday life.

There is plenty of space for four occupants and a trunk with capacity for 345 liters of luggage. Because of the batteries, the floor is a little higher than normal. This affects rear seat accommodation, but it is tolerable.

After a few kilometers, the driver forgets that he is in a 100% electric car, and that is the secret to success. The BYD Dolphin does not require any adaptations, except for one: while the infrastructure is still insufficient, it is necessary to check if there are charging points available along the trip.

BYD Dolphin

Price: R$ 149.8 thousand
Motor: electric, front
Power: 95 hp
Torque: 18.4 kgfm
Streaming: single gear transmission
Battery: lithium-ion, 44.5 kWh
Tires: 195/60 R16
Weight: 1,405kg
Trunk: 345 liters
Length: 4.13m
Width: 1.77 m
Height: 1.57 m
Wheelbase: 2.70 m
Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h, in seconds): 11.8
Resumption (80 km/h to 120 km/h, in seconds): 20.3 (E), 21.5 (G)
Braking: (80 km/ha 0): 35.3m
Urban consumption (kW/100 km): 12.7
Road consumption (kW/100km): 14.5

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