BYD has enjoyed enviable success in Malaysia. Rarely does a non-national car receive 1,000 booking in just 10 days after launch. But that is exactly what the BYD Atto 3 achieved just earlier this year.
And now, hot on the heels of the undeniable success of the Atto 3, BYD Malaysia is at it again with the launch of the BYD Dolphin.
The Dolphin is part of BYD’s Ocean series which also includes the soon to be introduced Seal as well. The Ocean series models are underpinned by the e-Platform 3.0, which BYD is particularly proud of as it integrates BYD’s propriety blade batteries – now widely regarded as the best batteries for EV’s in terms of safety and range. New Tesla cars too run on BYD’s blade batteries.
But the Dolphin is not just a game changer for its platform, its pricing is what makes it a big deal. The entry level Standard range model retails for just RM99,900 and the top-of-the-line model retails at RM124,900.
The cheapest EV in the country is the Neta V which at RM99,800, is just RM100 cheaper than the Dolphin. And considering the brand value, interior features, overall design and quality, the Dolphin is the better buy by any measure.
At first glance there is nothing about the Dolphin that will put you off – it is roughly about the size of a Volkswagen Golf or a Toyota Corolla Yaris. At the back, the taillights and its weave like pattern is bound to impress. The wheels are designed to match the body colour, and the top of the line Extended Range model rolls on 17-inch wheels while the Standard range offers 16s.
Some have said that the front looks too simple and uninspiring; design is always subjective and others have called the Dolphin a good looking car.
At the rear, the tailgate is not powered but has an electronic latch. Booth space is a little larger than that of a Myvi, and is double stacked for more storage space.
The interior though is bound to impress. While overall space and quality is decent, the colour of the interior mirrors the exterior. So as what you can see in the images here, if the exterior is pink, the interior will be pink (and purple). That may not be to everyone’s taste, but some may appreciate it.
If there is one thing we were asked to complain about, it would have to be the rather miniscule 5-inch digital meter panel which may make it difficult for those with an eye sight problem to see the speedometer and other important readouts such as the range.
In terms of driving comfort, the Dolphin drives like a typical EV – it is quiet, response is instantaneous, and the interior is generally noise free as well. Except for some bells and whistles that can be heard as you drive.
As you probably already know, EV cars are incredibly quiet, and this can be dangerous to pedestrians and other road users who may not hear an EV approaching.
So, to ensure pedestrians can hear them coming, some EV’s emit a chime which can be quite annoying after some time, especially from the interior.
It also comes with the complete ADAS safety system that always tried to pull you into your lane, brake the car for you and generally try to overrule you as a driver.
Now there was not much in terms of briefing when we went for the drive, so there is no confirming whether certain features like the annoying background music can be turned off. There was also little to no time given to explore the features of the car, just a “get in and drive” operation from the drive organizer. Which is a pity.
But there is a 12.8-inch swiveling screen similar to the Atto 3 that houses all of the onboard functions, and judging by the functions available in the Atto 3, we are assuming that certain functions can be turned off.
Now onto the important bit – the power and range of the Dolphin.
As already mentioned, the Dolphin is available in two variants. The Standard range model is powered by a 44.9kWh battery with a single motor. The total system output is 94hp and 180Nm of torque. Performance is definitely now what this car is made for, and that is reflected in the 12.3 seconds it needs to get from zero to hundred km/h.
However, it does have a range of 340km/h on the WLTP cycle, which is decent considering the price. And it accepts a max DC charging of 60kW, so that would take about 45 minutes to charge it from zero to 100%.
The Extended range model is the one that comes with all the fats. Packing a 60.48kWh battery and a 150kW motor, this model offers a range of 427km on the WLTP cycle. It also packs 201hp and 310Nm of torque, which is good for a 0-100kmh sprint of just seven seconds.
We drove the Extended range model from One Utama to Kampung Semarak and back, a distance of roughly about 40km’s. The great thing is that we had a range of about 475km when the drive began, and 460km at the end. And we were driving at “test drive speed”, so the range is quite definitely impressive.
What was quite annoying though is that there were some minute buzzing sounds coming out of the door panels.
But besides that, there truly is nothing much to complain about the Dolphin, especially in the Extended Range guise. It may be about RM25,000 dearer than the Standard range model, but it comes with features such as ventilated seats which is great to have in our Malaysian weather as it blows cool air to your back and bottom.
One of the most significant difference between the two models besides range and performance though is that the Extended Range model comes with a multi-link rear suspension while the Standard model comes with a classic torsion beam set up.
A multi-link suspension system is always more comfortable than a torsion beam, and also offers better corner control. This is great for passenger comfort. As for the front suspension, both cars share a McPherson strut system.
The BYD Dolphin is undeniably a game changer in the Malaysian EV segment, making electric cars more accessible to more people rather than a rich man’s toy as it has been perceived for a while.
There has been some unfair criticism levelled at BYD and its battery technologies by certain segments of the Malaysian automotive media, but all of those are based on incidents that have happened outside Malaysia. It is worth noting that there have been zero battery related incidents in Malaysia.
The BYD Dolphin is exactly what Malaysians need, an EV that is more people can buy. Of course it may still be out of reach for a large chunk of the population, but it marks a step in the right direction for EV adoption in Malaysia.
And so to answer the question of this article, should this be your first EV? Yes, but it is worth spending a little more for the Extended Range model.
BYD Dolphin Standard Range
Motor: 70kW
Power: 94hp
Torque: 180Nm
Battery: 44.9kWh
Charging: 60kW Max DC Charging
Suspension: McPherson Strut (Front) Torsion Beam (Rear)
Price: RM99,900
BYD Dolphin Extended Range
Motor: 150kW Single Motor
Power: 201hp
Torque: 310Nm
Battery: 60.48kWh
Charging: 80kW Max DC Charging
Suspension: McPherson Strut (Front) Multi-link (Rear)
Price: RM124,900
We like: Affordability, Features
We don’t like: Annoying sounds while driving
Keyword: First Impression: BYD Dolphin – Should It Be Your First EV?