BYD Dolphin Mini 2024 Review – International

The 2024 BYD Dolphin Mini arrives on the Brazilian market as the cheapest model from the Chinese brand, priced at 115,800 BRC before incentives – equivalent to about $35,000 in Australian money.

A promotional launch price of 105,800 BRC ($A32,790) has also been announced.

The Dolphin Mini in the crosshairs of other subcompacts such as the Renault Kwid E-Tech, the Caoa Chery iCar and the JAC e-JS1 – none of which are sold Down Under, which makes the Dolphin Mini all the more tantalising a prospect.

The bigger BYD Dolphin hatch is among the most affordable EVs available in Australia, starting from $38,890 plus ORCs, so there’s plenty of room in the low-$30,000s bracket for the smaller Dolphin Mini – which is still to be confirmed for our market.

Despite the low pricing, the Dolphin Mini does not look like an entry-level car. The front features lines inspired by Lamborghini, while at the rear the horizontal lights joined by a plastic strip are reminiscent of the brand’s most expensive cars.

The plastic inserts on the doors and C-pillars, as well as details such as the spoiler at the rear and the 16-inch alloy wheels, make the Dolphin Mini appear sportier than the very high profile of the body suggests, which is a compromise between hatches and small SUVs.

The result is a photogenic car, which looks even more beautiful in person. These are exotic lines, of course. But tailored to please those who don’t agree that a subcompact necessarily needs to be a car with a cute design (and am I wrong?).

Speaking of dimensions, the 2024 BYD Dolphin Mini measures 3780mm long, 1500mm wide (measured without the mirrors) and 1580mm high, with a wheelbase of 2500mm.

These are numbers that place the Dolphin Mini below traditional compact hatchbacks and just above its main competitor in Brazil, the Renault Kwid E-Tech.

By comparison, the larger BYD Dolphin hatch on sale in Australia measures 4290mm long, 1770mm wide and 1570mm high, resting on a 2700mm wheelbase.

The 2024 BYD Dolphin Mini debuts in Brazil with a unique equipment package.

The list of comfort items includes air-conditioning, electric windows, locks and mirrors, leather seats with electric adjustment for the driver, steering column adjustable for height and depth, a digital dashboard, multimedia centre with 10.1-inch screen, in-person key and a wireless phone charger.

The safety package has LED headlights and tail-lights with automatic lighting, automatic speed controller, driving mode selector with three adjustment options (Eco, Normal and Sport), a reversing camera and rear parking sensors.

Side and curtain airbags (for a total of six airbags across the cabin), in addition to the obligatory traction and stability controls, complete the list.

Just like the more expensive BYD electric cars, the 2024 BYD Dolphin Mini is not as intuitive a car to use in the first few minutes of contact.

So, it was a pleasant surprise to learn that the on-board voice assistant – activated by a button on the steering wheel or by the activation word “Hi, BYD” – works very well and allows you to access various features without having to repeat the same command several times.

It is possible, for example, to change the sound system volume, air-conditioning temperature, fan speed and even the direction of the air flow. All of this using generic phrases, such as “I’m cold” or “I’m going deaf”.

It would be nice if the Echo Dot I have at home worked with the same efficiency to turn off or turn on the lights…

And with an internet connection, it is possible to transform BYD’s voice assistant into a virtual assistant. That’s an uncommon feature in subcompacts (even electric ones) and which is rare even in the most expensive combustion-engined compacts.

Other notable standard tech features on the Dolphin Mini include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, over-the-air (OTA) updates and satellite navigation, to name a few.

The 2024 BYD Dolphin Mini has a front-mounted electric motor that produces 55kW of power and 135Nm of torque.

That’s only a modest output, even for a city hatch that tips the scales at just 1239kg.

The official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 14.9 seconds, while top speed is rated at 130km/h.

At launch, the 2024 BYD Dolphin Mini is fitted standard with a 38kWh lithium-ferrous phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade’ battery that provides for a claimed 280km driving range, based on the PBEV standard used in Brazil.

That’s a considerable range when compared to other entry-level EVs in the Brazilian market, all of which have a sub-200km range.

The Dolphin Mini can be recharged at a DC charging port up to 40kW, with a top-up from 30 to 80 per cent taking a claimed 30 minutes. AC charging up to 6.6kW is available.

The performance figures already make it clear that the 2024 BYD Dolphin Mini is a car more suitable for urban use than for long-distance touring. I confess that I was betting it would be a boring car to drive, but I was completely mistaken…

The driving position is high, but the electrically adjustable seat has a good range of adjustment and the steering column has a very precise adjustment system too.

In short, it’s an easy car to find the ideal driving position, even with oddities like the strange gearshift control, via a kind of switch on the dashboard.

Forget the exciting and extreme acceleration from standstill that we’ve come to appreciate from more powerful EVs. The Dolphin Mini feels underpowered by comparison.

But, considering its remit as a city runner, there’s much to like about the way the Dolphin Mini goes about its business.

The light steering and small dimensions make for easy manoeuvring, and you can easily negotiate narrow streets and slow-moving traffic.

Even on higher-speed roads, the Dolphin Mini proves to be very stable and follows traffic well.

Overall, the smallest BYD EV behaves very close to that of a good compact hatch with a conventional 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine.

The driving mode selector has three setting options, but I didn’t feel any major variations in the car’s dynamic behaviour.

Just in case, I rode 100 per cent of the time with the Sport option selected. After all, the important thing is to never stop believing.

The sensitivity setting of the energy regeneration system also doesn’t change much, as the performance is timid even at the most extreme setting.

On the other hand, the hydraulic brakes are very efficient.

Based around a front MacPherson strut/rear torsion beam set-up, the suspension tuning was the point that I least liked about the Dolphin Mini.

Softer at the rear than at the front, it works silently and absorbs light irregularities in the asphalt well. But things change on less well-preserved roads. The short travel causes the car to bounce on poorer quality surfaces – all of this accompanied by a characteristic dry knocking noise in the suspension.

When opening the door of the 2024 BYD Dolphin Mini for the first time, two things catch your attention in the cabin: the first is the fact that the subcompact is practically a replica of the brand’s larger models. Of course, with simplifications.

The sinuous, marine-inspired lines are still present on the dash panel and doors, but the 7.0-inch digital instrument panel has a low-resolution screen, even though it displays useful information such as energy consumption and tyre pressure.

The central infotainment system, in turn, has a broad range of features and replicates the interface found on more expensive BYD models. But it has a small (by the brand’s standards) 10.1-inch screen. Rotating, of course.

The finish is also simpler than on models like the Dolphin and Seal, with a more extensive application of rigid plastics. But it is a level above its competitors.

There is a good variation in colours and textures and the presence of soft-touch materials on various surfaces, including (look!) on the rear door panels – a rarity in subcompact and compact cars sold in Brazil.

Another point that draws attention is the internal space. Despite the cabin being narrow – because of this, the Dolphin Mini debuts in Brazil approved for four occupants only – the available legroom places the BYD city car at the level of larger compact hatchbacks.

In my test, my son’s car seat fits comfortably in the back seat. And there was still room for one more passenger in the front seat – something that doesn’t happen in other subcompacts and even in some traditional compacts.

On the other hand, prioritising space for passengers meant BYD designers have sacrificed a little space in the boot: there is 230 litres of capacity.

In reality, it gets the job done with everyday use. It easily carries three compact suitcases, or the weekly shopping for a family of two adults and a baby.

Whether due to their small size or low range, entry-level EVs in Brazil are usually an option only for those who don’t want to spend so much to take the first step into the world of battery-powered cars.

They would be, at most, a good second car for the family.

Offering good internal space for a subcompact, a decent level of equipment and a range close to that of larger electric cars, the 2024 BYD Dolphin Mini arrives on the market breaking down these barriers. It could easily slot in as the only car in the household.

Most importantly, the very competitive price places the BYD Dolphin Mini as a genuine alternative to traditional combustion-engined city cars.

It doesn’t give up technology and the convenience of larger EVs, and could be just the ticket for people who need a car for daily city use and drive alone most of the time.

If given the green light for Australia, and priced in the low $30,000s, the Dolphin Mini is certain to attract plenty of interest.

Images: Ricardo Rollo

2024 BYD Dolphin Mini at a glance:
Price: $32,990 est (plus on-road costs)
Available: Late 2024 (estimated)
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 55kW/135Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 38kWh lithium-ferrous phosphate
Range: 280km (PBEV)
Energy consumption: Not available
Safety rating: Not tested