BYD Dolphin EV launched in Malaysia; here’s all you need to know

The electric vehicle market in Malaysia is heating up with new EVs launching back to back. After receiving the Kia Niro EV, Tesla Model Y, and Hyundai Ioniq 6 earlier this month, we now welcome the BYD Dolphin. The latest addition to BYD's local lineup is an all-electric hatchback, joining the Atto 3 SUV.

Let’s get to know the full details of the new BYD EV -

Variants and price

BYD SD Motors Malaysia, the official distributor of BYD cars in Malaysia, offers the Dolphin in two variants - Dynamic Standard Range and Premium Extended Range. They are priced as follows - 

Variants	Price (on the road, without insurance)
Dynamic Standard Range	RM 100,530
Premium Extended Range	RM 125,530

Drivetrain, range, and charging

The base-spec variant is powered by a single electric motor capable of making 94 PS of maximum power and 180 Nm of peak torque, which allows the EV to run from a standstill to 100 kmph in 12.3 seconds. Feeding the motor is a 44.9 kWh BYD Blade Battery pack, which offers a range of 340 km (on the WLTP cycle).

The top-spec Premium Extended Range, on the other hand, comes equipped with a more powerful motor producing 204 PS and 310 Nm, which helps in reducing the century sprint time to 7 seconds. Here, the motor is tied up with a bigger 60.48 kWh battery pack letting the EV cruise up to 427 km on a single charge.

When it comes to charging, both trims support 7 kW of AC charging and up to 60 kW of DC charging (for the Standard trim), and 80 kW of DC charging (for the Premium trim).

Dimensions 

Based on BYD e-Platform 3.0 architecture, the Dolphin measures 4,290 mm in length, 1,770 mm in width, and 1,570 mm in height and spans a wheelbase of 2,700 mm. The boot space is measured at 345 litres (expandable up to 858 litres with rear seats folded down).

Exterior

Described as the “New Wave”, the Dolphin hails from the brand’s Ocean series. It features the Ocean Aesthetics design language with elements reminiscent of marine animals. 

Among the key highlights are a chrome-surround grille, a flat bonnet, LED headlights (with high-beam assist and follow-me-home function), LED daytime running lights, LED tail light bar, Panoramic glass roof, and 16-inch alloy wheels (bigger 17-inch alloy wheels with the top-sec model).

Interior

The interior of the new Chinese EV appears modern and stylish with a floating central console, a dual-tone dashboard, and a flat-bottom multifunctional steering wheel. 

Equipment kit comprises - a 5-inch instrument display, a 12.8-inch rotating infotainment unit with wired Apple CarPlay connectivity and voice assistant, Keyless entry and keyless start, a Portable card key, an electronic parking brake, 6-speaker sound system, automatic air-conditioning with PM2.5 air-filtration system, sustainable vegan leather seats, and one-touch up-down system for driver seat.

With the range-topping version, you also get power-adjustable front seats with a ventilation function, a wireless phone charger, and a one-touch up-down system for all windows.

Safety

The electric hatchback comes loaded with an impressive safety pack, ensuring peace of mind and protection for both the driver and passengers. It includes the following active and passive gears - 

• Six airbags
• Anti-lock braking system with Electronic brakeforce distribution system
• Adaptive Cruise Control 
• Automatic Emergency Braking 
• Intelligent power brake system
• Emergency Lane Keeping Assist 
• Lane Keeping Support 
• Lane Departure Warning 
• Lane Change Collision Warning 
• Lane Departure Prevention
• Predictive Collision Warning
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Rear Cross Traffic Brake
• Blind Spot Detection 
• Door opening warning 
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• 360-degree camera system
•  Parking sensors (two front and three rear) 

Colours

The exterior and interior colour choices include - 

Dynamic Standard Range (Single-tone)	Urban Grey with a grey/black interior Sand White with a brown/black interior
Premium Extended Range (Two-tone)	Atlantis Grey/Delan Black roof with grey/black interior Ski White/Urban Grey roof with grey/black interior Surf Blue/Urban Grey roof with blue/black interior

Warranty and service packages

With each purchase, BYD SD Motors Malaysia offers the following warranties as standard -

• 6-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty 
• 8-year/160,000 km high-voltage battery warranty
• 8-year/150,000 km drive unit warranty
• 3-year/60,000 km warranty for different parts like infotainment unit, wheel bearing, shock absorber, wheel bearing, AC/DC charging port assembly, and more
• 4-year/100,000 km warranty for EV’s lights, suspension, ball joint, and tyre pressure monitoring module

The buyers can also choose from a number of service packages available for the electric hatchback. These include - Standard and Plus; the former offers essential services like reducer oil service, brake fluid service, drive motor coolant service, and AC filter and refrigerant service, while the latter additionally covers the replacement of windscreen washer fluid, wiper blades, brake pads, remote control battery and more.

These service packages are offered at different price points for varying periods -

Standard service packages	Plus service packages
3-year/60,000 km - RM 1,688	6-year/120,000 km - RM 7,888
6-year/120,000 km - RM 3,888	8-year/160,000 km RM 12,888
8-year/160,000 km - RM 4,888

What do you think of the new BYD Dolphin? Does this affordable EV have the potential to change the dynamics of the electric vehicle market in Malaysia? Let us know in the comments.

Also read: 14 new BYD dealers appointed in Malaysia