After launching the Han, Tang, and Atto 3 in Europe late last year, the Chinese EV leader BYD (Build Your Dreams) is expanding its European portfolio with two more models previously launched in China: the Dolphin hatchback and the Seal sedan.

The Dolphin, the first to be deliverable from the fourth quarter of 2023, is a VW ID.3 competitor but carries a much more favorable starting price of under 30 000 euros (price in Spain is 29 990 euros with a fork maximum of 37 690 euros).

The 4,29 meters long Dolphin offers in its base version a 44.9 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) Blade battery pack with an electric motor of 95 hp (Active) or 176 hp (Boost). The range figures are estimates (Active: 340 kilometers, Boost: 310 kilometers); first deliveries are scheduled for the end of the year.

On top of that, the Dolphin is made available with a 60.4 kWh LFP pack, which feeds a 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor on the front axle. BYD released a quoted WLTP range of 427 kilometers of this version, with  DC fast-charging up to 88 kW, returning a 30-80% charge in 29 minutes. The larger battery pack is available as Comfort (35 690 euros) or Design (37 690 euros).

Vehicle-to-load

The Dolphin comes with some clever details. Like a heat pump, which can improve efficiency and range under winter conditions by 15%, and vehicle-to-load functionality, enabling power supply (3.3 kW) to external appliances, like those offered by the Honda and Ioniq models. Tri-phase home charging at 11 kW is also a possibility.

With its wheelbase of 2 700 millimeters, interior space isn’t small, and ergonomically designed seats and a panoramic roof must further enhance passenger comfort. Luggage space can reach up to 1 310 liters (up from 345 liters) by folding down the rear bench.

A raft of driving aids is part of the Dolphin’s standard equipment. We’ve counted no less than fifteen, ranging from intelligent cruise control to braking for rear-crossing traffic to traffic sign recognition.

Seal

The BYD Seal is quite a bit more powerful than the Dolphin, with a rear-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive powertrain. The first option gives you 230 kW (313 hp) and a WLTP range of 570 km, thanks to the 82 kWh battery.

The second option has a peak power output of 390 kW (531 hp), which boosts performance (0-100 km/h in 3,8 s), but hampers range with an autonomy of just 520 km.

The Tesla Model 3/BMW i4/Ioniq 6 rival is 4,80 m long and can boast a slippery body shape, with a drag coefficient of just 0.219.

The Seal is built according to the cell-to-body principle, where the battery is a structural component of the chassis, increasing stiffness and reducing weight. The BYD Seal is coming to Europe in August or September 2023, but no pricing has been announced yet.