BYD Dolphin review (2024): Better Than The MG4 EV!?

BYD Dolphin review (2024): Better Than The MG4 EV!? | TotallyEV

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The BYD Dolphin is an affordable compact all-electric hatchback! Find out how it performs and compares to its rivals, such as the MG4 EV, by watching the review!
Find the best BYD Dolphin deals: locally.link/t7Ao
Buy a car phone mount on Amazon (Affiliate link): locally.link/ZFZf
Our favourite dash cams: totallyev.net/best-dash-cam/
Racelogic's Performance Box Touch (Amazon Affiliate link): locally.link/TqM6
Alternatives to consider:
MG4 EV (its closest competitor): totallyev.net/mg4-ev-review-t...
Volkswagen ID.3 (comfortable and good range): totallyev.net/vw-id-3-review-...
Cupra Born (near-identical to the ID.3): totallyev.net/cupra-born-revi...
Tesla Model 3 (best range): totallyev.net/tesla-model-3-r...
Hyundai Ioniq 6 (excellent features and unique): totallyev.net/hyundai-ioniq-6...
BMW i4 (sporty feel): totallyev.net/bmw-i4-review-i...
Polestar 2 (stylish and good range): totallyev.net/polestar-2-revi...
Ora Funky Cat (feature-packed and safe): totallyev.net/ora-funky-cat-r...
Nissan Leaf (comfortable EV): totallyev.net/nissan-leaf-rev...
Fiat 500 Electric (best compact EV): totallyev.net/fiat-500-electr...
Peugeot e-208 (another compact EV): totallyev.net/peugeot-e-208-r...
Mini Electric (best driver's feel): totallyev.net/mini-electric-r...
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Video timestamps:
Price & trims: 00:00
Range: 01:21
Charging: 02:52
Performance: 05:13
Driving comfort: 06:27
Interior & tech: 09:08
Storage: 11:34
Seat comfort: 13:40
Interior design: 14:42
Exterior design: 15:46
Safety & parking: 16:33
Verdict: 17:44
#byd
#byddolphin
#electricvehicle
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Пікірлер: 70

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Find the best BYD Dolphin deals: locally.link/t7Ao Video timestamps: Price & trims: 00:00 Range: 01:21 Charging: 02:52 Performance: 05:13 Driving comfort: 06:27 Interior & tech: 09:08 Storage: 11:34 Seat comfort: 13:40 Interior design: 14:42 Exterior design: 15:46 Safety & parking: 16:33 Verdict: 17:44

@Clarioner1 7 ай бұрын

Nice review, I don't think at £26k new (with deals available) anyone can say EVs are still expensive (in this class) - especially when you consider most people buy on PCP anyway. Comparable ICE cars like VW Golf, Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra all start from £25-£28k. Given EV whole of life running cost savings - fuel, servicing, congestion charges, road tax, company car tax etc. and not forgetting lowering CO2 and making air cleaner for our kids - no excuses anymore. Saw the Dolphin at the EV show Farnborough as well as the MG4 - both are good "family" cars, but I do think the quality of the interior on the Dolphin (and tech) is better quality on the Dolphin than the MG4. They both drive basically the same - quiet, smooth etc. The Blade battery is a game-changer though, so safe and efficient. BYD are going to be massive in UK/Europe - they have a distinct advantage over most others - they make their OWN batteries! So no supply chain issues, and (as batteries form the largest cost in the car price) - more profit margin. BYD are making profits on EVs, where VW, Ford, BMW, Mercedes and many others are losing loads on each car made. VW will make a profit, when their partnership with XPeng produces "Chinese" VWs. All the ICE manufacturers are going to need to do these Chinese manufacturing/design partnerships to survive imo.

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Agreed on all fronts, exciting times ahead! And thank you, glad you enjoyed the review!

@badboy250984 6 ай бұрын

Some ppl who comments about 26k-30k is still expensive are living in the past. When you take into consideration cars like Vauxhall Corsa cost around 19-21k ish, EV like BYD or MG isn't that expensive.

@TotallyEV 6 ай бұрын

@badboy250984 very true

@brentmeistergeneral1054 2 ай бұрын

I don't see how you can say the driving experience is the same as the MG4. MG4 is rear wheel drive so the driving experience (for me) is better. I have never been a fan of front wheel drive cars .

@wasbikebloke9846 2 күн бұрын

Just ordered one but I wish they'd kept the bright interior colour scheme. Also wish it had one peddle driving, seat cooling and the dash cam was fitted as standard.

@petersimms4982 7 ай бұрын

Ive driven the MG 4 and it was fantastic 😊

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@peterjones6640 7 ай бұрын

Looks a good car for the price. I have an MG 4 which I am very happy with, but when I change cars probably in about 2 years certainly look at BYD. It would be useful though if they both had 22kw AC charging ( I have three phase power at home and the appropriate charger - I also have a Zoe) and a faster DC charge, at least 250kw as most chargers now being installed are at least 250kw with many at 350kw.

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@peterarmstrong3853 7 ай бұрын

I absolutely love mine in urban grey.Byd changed my tyres to hankook which made a huge difference!! I have recorded 6.4 to 60 on cold 5; degree roads so looking at just over 6 in warm weather. I prefer this over my old mg4 , cupra born and niro. I purchased mine with quite good discount 😁. Only negative from me is the driver aids which can be turned off in 5 seconds.

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Glad you're enjoying it, and thanks for sharing!

@TeslaARM 6 ай бұрын

Hi! Are you able to give me more details about the Hankook tyre? Here in Australia, we get the linglongs and I don't like them. Thanks

@peterarmstrong3853 6 ай бұрын

@@TeslaARM hi. I just explained to BYD uk how unhappy I was and how bad it was in the wet even after day 1. If not there's Goodyear effeciency2 which are good ones! Currently I have these due to a double blow out!

@ISuperTed 7 ай бұрын

Nice review of an interesting car. We really need more cars like this for EV ownership to continue to grow, not the £50k+ monster SUV’s and £40k+ saloons. It’s a pity that the big selling legacy makers like VW, ford and Vauxhall still haven’t been able to get something like this out there (yes I know we have ID3’s, Corsa etc but they are £10k more).

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it, and agreed!

@lkrnpk 7 ай бұрын

It’s not that they do not want, it’s that they cannot produce them as cheaply to profit from it, which makes me think who can compete with the Chinese now at this price point, maybe Tesla with a smaller model but it is still just in works…

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Good point

@swimsonny 7 ай бұрын

Loving this review!!

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Thanks bro!

@karlschleifenbaum5793 4 ай бұрын

Been driving the top spec, and it's splendid. Better quality and feel than my 2014 Octavia. Quiet interior, fantastic infotainment with modern design and quick reaction. Long-term quality needs to be assessed, and that's the only gripe I have. A friend of mine manages BYD forklifts and they break down after 2 years occasionally ... Worst bunch of his pack.

@TotallyEV 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@davidjohn05 7 ай бұрын

Looks modern and very nice plus it sounds quite quiet

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Yup!

@remakeit2628 7 ай бұрын

Not everyone likes one pedal driving... and I am one. The Dolphin however loses no regen because once you start to brake the regen (aka one pedal effect) kicks in. You can step from an ICEv into the Dolphin seamlessly, with the key difference being no engine noise. Best thing about the Dolphin is that its offers a real EV choice at the lower price end of new cars.

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Sure, but having the option for those who like it would have been appreciated!

@remakeit2628 6 ай бұрын

@@TotallyEV Tesla does not give you an option!

@TotallyEV 6 ай бұрын

@@remakeit2628 it used to, but it doesn't anymore. A complaint that is now highlighted in every review we conduct of new Tesla vehicles. Many should learn from the Hyundai Motor Group.

@berhanumelese10 11 күн бұрын

What is the difference between byd dolphin and byd segual specifically ground clerance

@Rafaelinux 6 ай бұрын

Wow. The trims and prices... So lucky.

@catherinegrimes2308 5 ай бұрын

Very nice review. I am a bit puzzled with your comment about the brightness of the infotainment screen. I have watched quite a lot of reviews for this car and some have been filmed in Australia and New Zealand where it is a lot more sunnier than in the UK. Only one other reviewer mentioned that the screen looked dim and that was when he was commenting on the buggy software in the Dolphin, MG4 and Ora Good/Funky Cat, he said that the Dolphin screen was stuck in a dim mode that couldn't be corrected until the computer was reset.

@TotallyEV 5 ай бұрын

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Can only go based on what was provided/shown. Was an issue in the BYD Atto 3 (when driven), but wasn't an issue in the BYD Seal - so not sure what's going on haha!

@keacyut777 2 ай бұрын

I tested BYD and MG4 and ended up with MG4. I just like the driving in MG4. BYD to me felt driving an old man's car. Stable and quite but it just didn't appeal to me & the accelation was a bit of drag, you have to really press on the pedal as you said here since it is front wheel drive. Maybe it is just me. The one pedal driving also was an edge for MG4 but the biggest turn off in BYD was the battery range. Short and slow on the charging. But the software on BYD is probably better than MG4. I hope BYD has more options. I might consider the car again in 3 years.

@TotallyEV 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@petersimms4982 7 ай бұрын

Cute little EV , probably take my mother to test one 😊

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Aww cute!

@hi4806 6 ай бұрын

🎉🎉🎉

@darrenmarshall4454 7 ай бұрын

Whats the manufacturer's warranty if anything goes wrong ?

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

There's a pretty good warranty on it: Vehicle: 6 years or 93,750 miles. Battery and motor: 8 years or 125k miles.

@robertmuster1350 2 ай бұрын

It’s unfortunate that you and other reviewers don’t understand the regenerative braking on the BYD EVs. Using the brake pedal starts regeneration and the disk brakes don’t engage until the end of the braking that brings the car to a complete stop. This type of regenerative braking is controlled by the driver and allows for more coasting and greater efficiency. It’s also the favoured method of regenerative breaking favoured by some other manufacturers. It is less likely to cause motion sickness to passengers.

@TotallyEV 2 ай бұрын

Maybe you didn't understand the point? Customisation with the ability of having one pedal drive would have been appreciated. In other EVs you can coast, regen with minimal deceleration (like the BYD), and drive with one pedal only.

@syarizansulaiman6554 6 ай бұрын

In Malaysia BYD Dolphin is not best choice due to single phase onboard charging, prices will be high to pay

@TotallyEV 6 ай бұрын

Interesting, thanks for sharing!

@petersimms4982 7 ай бұрын

Looks a bit like a lancia 😊

@t8polestarcyan22 6 ай бұрын

MG 4 Excite 51 / SE Short Range wins! The only way for BYD Dolphin is to go for a more expensive model which can have a rear multi-link suspension. The Excite 51 have the same rear multi-link as Essence Long Range 77 / Trophy Long Range. Suspensions CANNOT be overlooked if you want comfort, fun and driving safety. Independent suspensions simply cannot be substituted.

@TotallyEV 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, but the interior design and tech of the MG4 really cannot compete with the Dolphin.

@t8polestarcyan22 6 ай бұрын

@@TotallyEV Definitely. However you can make up for that modifying and adding xtra tech yourself. Suspension on the other hand will cost far more money, time and hassles to have that changed. As for proper drivers, suspensions can never be overlooked. Independent suspensions worth far more than interior details and tech.

@TotallyEV 6 ай бұрын

@t8polestarcyan22 extra tech? Don't think so; can't change the infotainment system. You could technically say the same about the suspension, but I agree driving comfort is a lot more important. Saying that when the MG4 EV was reviewed, it wasn't that comfortable to drive. Ironically, its suspension is one of the hardest that was tested and arguably its weakest point.

@t8polestarcyan22 6 ай бұрын

@@TotallyEV Just use a smartphone for maps and music.

@t8polestarcyan22 6 ай бұрын

@@TotallyEV I've test drove the MG4 and it comfortable and yet drivable as well as safe. Best balance of drivablity, safety, comfort and more with independent suspension. You simply can't get that with torsion beam - you have one or two choices of such where independent suspension can have all!

@rogerstarkey5390 7 ай бұрын

PLEASE learn the difference between battery General Chemistry, Specific Chemistry and Form Factor. . Let's start in reverse order. "Form Factor" (shape). This is a "blade". About 960mm long (across the width of the vehicle) 90mm "tall" (standing in the vehicle) 13.5mm "thick" (front to back in the vehicle). . Compare this to "Prismatic" cells, which vary in size, but tend to be shaped more like a paperback book. . Then there are Cylindrical cells. Common dimensions 18650 (18mm diameter by 65mm tall) 2170 (21mm dia, 70mm tall) Or the latest fashion 4680 (46mm dia, 80mm tall, ref the new Tesla cells) . Next.... CHEMISTRY. Examples. Lithium Iron Phosphate. (LiFePo4) Medium power, medium weight. .... Nickel based. Example NMC, Nickel Manganese Cobalt (LiNixMnyCo1-x-yO2) Higher power, lighter. . PLEASE note that both of these contain the symbol "Li"/ *Lithium* in the formula! . *BOTH are "Lithium ion" cell chemistries* . There's a VERY common mistake where a commentator will differentiate between "Lithium IRON" and "Lithium ION" Cells. (I believe you may have made that mistake at 1:32?) That's wrong. . To recap. Battery.... ... General chemistry (eg) Sodium ion (another subject!) or Lithium ion . (And others) ....... *Specific* chemistry . Lithium ion INCLUDES 1) Lithium IRON phosphate, often aka "LFP" . 2) Nickel Manganese Cobalt, Often aka "NMC" . 3) Nickel Cobalt Aluminium, often aka "NCA" . I'll stress again. *2+ 3 BOTH contain Lithium* . They both rely on the transport of *Lithium ions* through the cell to carry charge. . "LFP" (LiFePo4/ Iron based) cells tend to be in "flat" formats, blade, or Prismatic. . "NMC/ NCA" (Nickel based) cells tend to be Cylindrical. . Each format has advantages. .......

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Sorry to disappoint, I don't have a degree in chemistry.

@rogerstarkey5390 7 ай бұрын

@@TotallyEV Neither do I..... But there's an issue with "the general public" misunderstanding the technology.

@tommyjakobsen5504 7 ай бұрын

one pedel drive, is just for jounlist, nobody use that because its very annoying to be a passsanger while driving with ONE pedel activ.. have you tried to turn hard thru cons.. that dolphine is not good in turns.

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

Completely disagree, but you're welcome to your own opinion.

@Ian_Woods 7 ай бұрын

I also totally disagree, we have had our tesla model 3 highland for nearly 3 weeks, our first EV, so first time using one pedal driving (OPD), only done, so far, 700 klm but have to say got used to the OPD in less than 200 klm and have to say I love it. It makes driving so easy and relaxing you can actually totally control the speed and braking of the car just by how you press the accelerator.

@Clarioner1 7 ай бұрын

I use one pedal driving on my Skoda Enyaq all the time - it's great!... particularly good if you're just over the speed limit and notice a speed camera, just release accelerator and suddenly you're not over it anymore - without any jumping on the brake pedal. Also good for roundabouts or turning left into side road.

@grahamcastle8189 7 ай бұрын

I disagree, one pedal driving is one of the main advantages of owning an EV. I regularly travel 74 miles on rural roads and only use 50 miles of battery energy due to using one pedal driving.

@philbattye 6 ай бұрын

@@Clarioner1One Pedal Driving: It would be interesting to know whether the brake lights come on when lifting completely off the accelerator? I have a Leaf and don’t use OPD much but it is almost impossible to tell what the brake lights are doing in different regen. modes.

@ricnyc2759 7 ай бұрын

Dumb question: how do you stop a car that only has 1 pedal?

@TotallyEV 7 ай бұрын

If you're curious about how it all works, I'd suggest looking up regenerative braking. As for how you operate it - just lifting off the accelerator pedal with the one-pedal mode on.

@rogerstarkey5390 7 ай бұрын

2bpedals. 1 foot Regen braking to standstill. . Lift off the accelerator (no brake) . (Motor becomes a generator, electromagnetic "drag" slows the rotation, car stops) . In an emergency, hit the brake to supplement Regen.