New BYD Dolphin EV revealed in China; gets bigger battery packs for 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: First introduced in August 2021, the BYD Dolphin is one of the world’s most affordable electric cars. It is the brand’s first model built on the advanced e-Platform 3.0 and marks the debut of BYD's Ocean lineup which also includes Seal, Seagull, and Sea Lion models. This compact EV has recently received a significant upgrade in China with unchanged prices.

The 2025 BYD Dolphin is offered in four variants in the Chinese market - Vitality, Free, Fashion, and Knight. While retaining the same drivetrain setup with an output of 95 PS and 180 Nm, the three lower trims now have a bigger 44.9 kWh Blade battery pack, offering a 420 km CLTC range on a single charge.

The top-spec BYD Dolphin Knight, on the other hand, benefits from a more powerful motor setup, now producing 204 PS and 310 Nm of torque, compared to the previous offering of 177 PS and 290 Nm. As for the battery pack, it gains a 60 kWh unit that lets the EV cruise up to 520 km on the CLTC cycle.

Notably, the Malaysia-spec BYD Dolphin has been offered with 44.9 kWh and 60 kWh Blade battery packs since its launch in July 2023.

Other things remain the same with the new China-spec BYD Dolphin maintaining its dimensions at 4,125 mm in length, 1,770 mm in width, and 1,570 mm in height. The EV retains the Ocean Aesthetics design with elements inspired by marine animals. Notable highlights are a chrome-surround grille, LED headlights with high-beam assist, LED daytime running lights, a flat bonnet, an LED tail light bar, and a panoramic glass roof.

The modern and stylish cabin continues to feature the same 12.8-inch rotating infotainment unit and DiLink intelligent network. Other niceties include -  an electronic parking brake, automatic air-conditioning with PM2.5 air-filtration system, keyless entry, and keyless start, power-adjustable seats, a wireless phone charger, six airbags, a 360-degree camera system, parking sensors, several advanced driver assistance systems.

The 2025 BYD Dolphin price in China begins at CNY 99,800 (approx RM 64,285) and goes up to CNY 129,800 (approx RM 83,609). For comparison, the EV retails between RM 100,530 and RM 125,530 in Malaysia.

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