NZ pricing confirmed for hyped up electric hatchback

Tuesday, 30 May 2023

The Dolphin is BYD’s second nameplate introduced Down Under, following the Atto 3.

Following the runaway success of BYD’s first model in New Zealand, the Atto 3, there has been plenty of anticipation around the brand’s second nameplate to market – the Dolphin. Now, the brand has confirmed range and pricing for the affordable EV.

The Dolphin is set to be offered locally in Standard Range 44.9kWh and Extended Range 60.48kWh forms, each priced from $49,990 and $55,990, respectively, before implementation of the Clean Car Discount.

Meet the BYD Atto 3 (otherwise known as the Yuan in China), the latest EV to launch in New Zealand.

Pre-orders for the Dolphin will open to customers today, with deliveries set to follow in September of this year.

The announcement ends pundit predictions that the Dolphin would undercut the EV competition to become the cheapest electric vehicle on sale in New Zealand. It has earned this title, but only by equalling the price of the entry-level MG ZS EV and Ora Cat.

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The Dolphin’s black cabin is more subtle than the blue and red of the standard Atto 3, but not all models are black inside.

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There had been speculation that, based on overseas pricing, the Dolphin could enter New Zealand as the first EV priced well underneath the $50,000 marker. BYD’s decision to not price the Dolphin lower may indicate a desire to give the brand a more upmarket local positioning.

The Extended Range gets a more powerful electric motor, rated at 150kW/310Nm to the Standard Range’s 70kW/180Nm. The flagship variant also swaps a torsion beam rear end suspension set-up for a more advanced multi-link system.

The Standard Range can travel up to 340km on the WLTP cycle, according to BYD. The Extended Range’s larger battery is reportedly capable of up to 427km.

The latter is also, predictably, quicker in the 0–100kph sprint, clocking the feat in 7.0-seconds compared to the base model’s 12.3 seconds.

Beyond the powertrain differences, the level of spec between the different Dolphin trim levels is largely similar. Both will come with a rotating 12.3-inch infotainment screen, vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, built-in satnav and Spotify, and wireless device charging as standard.

Other features include the Dolphin’s key, or lack thereof. Drivers enter either using the BYD app or by using an NFC card key, which can unlock the car via an NFC sensor on the driver’s wing mirror.

The pairing will also look different visually. The Extended Range boasts larger 17-inch wheels (the base uses 16s), and two-tone colour schemes. Both models will feature interior colours that match the exterior, enabling some rather out there looking combinations.