Keyzie reviews the BYD Dolphin
What does EV newbie Chris Key think of the Dolphin?
The Dolphin isn't just the least expensive model from the Chinese brand for Kiwi buyers and a smaller sibling for the Atto 3, it's also the first of BYD's Ocean Series ( hence the name) and the best battery electric vehicle ( BEV) of the year according the AA DRIVEN Car Guide NZ COTY judges.
But the big question is what does Radio Hauraki's Chris "Keyzie" Key, from the whimsically brilliant Radio Hauraki Big Show with Jason Hoyte and Mike Minogue, think of this new hatch?
It's Keyzie's first experience of pure- electric driving. Will he find some- fin wrong or will it all go swimmingly? Scan the QR code to watch the video and find out.
Find more of him on Instagram at chriskeynz. After you've liked our Driven. nz Instagram, of course.
Listen to Keyzie and the Big Show on Radio Hauraki, where there are links to the podcast or the livestream and more, on air 4- 7pm each weekday.
But while we’re here, let’s take a dip in some Dolphin facts. With prices from $ 49,990-$ 55,990, the Dolphin stops just $ 3k short of the larger Atto 3. The base version has a 45kWh battery giving 340km range ( WLTP), while the more expensive "extended range" has a 60kWh battery for 427km.
The Dolphin interior is supposed to give the impression that occupants are "wrapped in waves". The upholstery is vegan leather, with the heated front seats featuring six- way electric adjustment for the driver and a four- way power adjustment for the front passenger.
The cabin includes a 12.8in rotating touch screen, voice integration and BYD owner app.
The Dolphin has a panoramic sunroof made of acoustic and thermally insulated double- layer grey glazing. It's also equipped with a 97 per cent sunshade.
Customers can choose from four colour options – Sand White, Urban Grey, Coral Pink and Maldive Purple. The extended range model, as tested by us, features two- tone finish in Ski White, Surf Blue or Coral Pink paired with an Urban Grey roof. Or Atlantis Grey with a black roof.
Like the Atto 3, Dolphin is built on BYD's e- Platform 3.0, using the company's Blade battery technology.
All models feature Forward Collision Warning, Driver Fatigue Monitoring, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Rear Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Brake, Lane Departure Prevention and Emergency Lane Keeping Assist.
Child Presence Detection is available in both models, alerting the owner of a presence in the vehicle once the owner has left the vehicle.
Dolphin also has vehicle- to- load ( VTOL) discharge- back technology, allowing the car to become a mobile power station.