BYD Dolphin Review

The competition in the B-segment electric vehicle market is becoming increasingly intense. Consumers are no longer merely looking for "electric vehicles that can run," but rather a balanced choice between range, features, and price. BYD Dolphin Dynamic Standard, as the entry-level model of the series, is priced at 100,000 MYR and comes standard with 6 airbags, L2-level assisted driving, and a rotatable central control screen. This combination of features has left many curious: can it really balance cost-effectiveness and practicality? In this test drive, we focused on experiencing its daily driving performance, space practicality, and whether its features truly "deliver value," to see if it is suitable as a family's first electric car.

The Dolphin Dynamic Standard has a rounded and adorable exterior design, with an overall shape that lacks sharp lines, aligning well with the positioning of an urban commuter car. The front features a closed grille design, with BYD's logo in the center. The LED headlights on both sides are connected with the lower air intake, making it appear more cohesive compared to some models in the same class. The side profile has smooth lines, with 16-inch wheels and 195/60 R16 tires, achieving a balanced proportion without looking small. The rear design is relatively simple; the tail lights are a through-type design, offering good recognition when lit. The rear bumper features black plastic trim, adding a bit of layered texture.

Upon entering the cabin, the first thing you notice is the 12.8-inch rotatable central control screen, which is the core highlight of the interior. The screen's clarity and responsiveness are decent and it supports vertical rotation, allowing for navigation or social media use, which is user-friendly for those accustomed to smartphone operations. The interior materials are mainly hard plastics, but the gaps at the stitching points are well-controlled and do not feel cheap. The instrument panel is fully digital, with information displayed clearly, including range, speed, and assisted driving status. The seats are made of fabric material, which, while not as premium as the leather in the Premium version, offers decent support. The driver's seat is manually adjustable in six directions, while the passenger seat is adjustable in four directions, and the adjustments are fairly convenient. As for storage space, the front row includes two cup holders, a central armrest box, and door panel storage compartments. The trunk offers 345 liters of capacity, which is sufficient for daily use, such as storing a few suitcases. The rear seats support a 60/40 split-folding, which can expand the space further for carrying longer items if needed.

In terms of power, the Dynamic Standard is equipped with a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor, with a maximum power output of 70kW (95PS) and a maximum torque of 180N·m. It is paired with a 44.9kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, providing an official range of 410km. During daily driving, the start is very smooth, and the accelerator (pedal) response is linear. At speeds of up to 60 km/h in the city, the power is adequate. When overtaking, stepping on the pedal harder delivers a relatively prompt power output, without significant sluggishness. However, once the speed exceeds 80 km/h, the acceleration force becomes weaker, and quick overtaking on highways requires anticipating and creating space beforehand. There are two driving modes available: Sport and Economy. In Sport mode, the power response is slightly more sensitive, but the difference is not particularly significant.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel is relatively light, making it suitable for urban driving. The steering precision is moderate, with no slack but not overly sensitive. The chassis is a combination of front MacPherson and rear torsion beam, which handles speed bumps or small bumps in the city quite well, filtering out shocks effectively without transmitting excessive vibration into the cabin. When cornering, the body roll is well-controlled, providing stable performance that's adequate for a family car. As for noise control, the cabin remains quiet at speeds under 60km/h, with only slight tire noise. However, wind noise becomes more noticeable when the speed exceeds 80km/h, though it remains within a tolerable range and does not interfere with normal conversations.

As for the range, we drove about 100km in the city, with half of the trip in traffic congestion and the other half on smooth-flowing roads. The air conditioning was set to auto mode at 24 degrees throughout. In the end, the indicated range dropped by 110km, achieving about 90%, which is quite a good performance. On highways, maintaining a speed of 110km/h would reduce the range to around 300km, which aligns with the general level for electric vehicles in this segment. For charging, using a home charging station, it takes about 3.5 hours to charge from 30% to 80%. With fast charging, it can reach 80% in 30 minutes, making daily recharging relatively convenient.

Safety features are a highlight of the Dynamic Standard model. It comes standard with six airbags (including knee airbags), lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and ACC adaptive cruise control. These features are uncommon in electric vehicles at the same price range, especially the Level 2 advanced driving assistance, which significantly reduces fatigue when driving on highways. In terms of comfort features, the rear seats are equipped with air conditioning vents and USB ports, while the front row has a 220V power outlet, which is very practical for family users. However, there are some minor regrets, such as the lack of a sunshade for the panoramic sunroof (available in the Premium version), which may result in some sunlight exposure during midday in summer. The seats are manually adjustable rather than electric, which is less convenient.

Overall, the biggest advantage of the BYD Dolphin Dynamic Standard is its "balance": for 100,000 Malaysian Ringgit, you can get 410km of range, Level 2 advanced driving assistance, 6 airbags, and a rotatable central control screen. This combination of features is highly competitive in the same class. Compared to other vehicles in the same category, such as the base model of the MG 4 Electric, the Dolphin offers more features with similar range but a more affordable price. It is suitable for users with a limited budget who are looking for a car that balances daily commuting and family use, especially families that value safety features and practical range. If you do not need particularly strong power and can accept minor drawbacks such as manually adjustable seats and the lack of a sunshade, then the Dolphin Dynamic Standard is a great choice.