The new BYD Dolphin – the first model in what its Chinese automaker calls its ‘Ocean’ series – has arrived in Ireland and is available from BYD dealerships in Dublin and Cork for just under €30k.
Taking its place alongside the BYD Atto 3 SUV (which launched here last April), the battery powered Dolphin is a compact C-segment hatchback whose wide range of standard features and competitive price offering will likely appeal to eco-friendly Irish motorists keen to embrace lower-cost, emissions-free, all-electric motoring.
Soon to be followed here by the new Seal – the second model in BYD’s ‘Ocean’ series – the Dolphin is built on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, and powered by its highly efficient 60.4 kWh LFP Blade Battery. The Dolphin boasts a range of 427km (WLTP) with a claimed 30 to 80 per cent fast charging speed of 29 minutes.
Available in a choice of four trim levels – Active, Boost, Comfort & Design – each Dolphin comes equipped with a wide range of standard specifications tagged to a competitive price offering that – in the case of first-arrivals Comfort and Design models – begins from €29,318 after state subsidies.
Information regarding Active and Boost models will be announced nearer to their market entry early next year.
BYD has given the Dolphin a two-tone body available in seven colour combinations, echoing the colours inside and out to create a feeling of exclusivity.
Measuring 4,290 mm long, 1,570 mm high, and 1,770 mm wide, with wing mirrors unfolded, its long 2,700 mm wheelbase and short front/rear overhangs combine to give it a more spacious appearance, optimised for space and passenger comfort.
Inside, the Dolphin has space for five occupants, with ergonomically designed sports seats and headrests made from vegan leather. Front seats have six-way electric adjustment for the driver and four-way electric adjustment for the front passenger.
Seats have shoulder and back support, optimised with body-hugging wings for a more comfortable, wraparound ride. Rear seats provide generous legroom for passengers.
Rear seats split 60:40 allow its 345-litre boot to expand to 1,310 litres when both seats are folded flat. One standard element is a 3.3kW external discharge ‘vehicle-to-load’ facility which can be used to charge accessories and power external devices.
Standard across the board is an abundance of safety and advanced driver assistance features. Cutting-edge lighting technology provides a broader beam of light to enhance visibility when driving at night, with high beam assist, adaptive front headlights and ‘follow me home’ lighting as standard.
All models come equipped with Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Rear Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Brake, Lane Departure Prevention and Emergency Lane Keeping Assist.
Adding to this is Adaptive Cruise Control and Intelligent Cruise Control. A panoramic camera gives the driver 360-degrees visibility for safe vehicle manoeuvring.
Additional driver aids include Blind Spot Detection System, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill Decent Control, Automatic Vehicle Hold, and Traffic Sign Recognition with Intelligent Speed Limit Control.
