BYD has confirmed a two-pronged Dolphin lineup for 2025, with a new entry-level Essential opening the range and the Premium remaining at the top.
The new Essential version of the Dolphin is priced from $29,990 before on-road costs, making it the cheapest electric vehicle (EV) in Australia and $6900 less expensive than the previous entry-level Dynamic it replaces.
Like the defunct Dolphin Dynamic, the Dolphin Essential features a single 70kW/180Nm front-mounted electric motor, powered by a 44.9kWh Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
However, it loses features like a panoramic sunroof, heated seats and a wireless phone charger.
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The Dolphin Premium, discounted by $5900 to $36,990 before on-road costs, continues to be powered by a single 150kW/310Nm front-mounted electric motor.
BYD has also pared back the exterior paint choices for the Dolphin as part of the latest range restructure. Shades of pink, purple and blue have been dropped, leaving just grey and white.
All 2025 models share a grey/black interior.
CarExpert understands model year 2025 vehicles were due here in March, however industrial action at Australian ports could affect this timing.
Pricing
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| 2025 BYD Dolphin Essential | $29,990 (NEW) |
| 2025 BYD Dolphin Premium | $36,990 (-$5900) |
Drivetrains and Efficiency
| Specifications | BYD Dolphin Essential | BYD Dolphin Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electric | Single-motor electric |
| Battery | 45kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) | 60.5kWh LFP |
| Power | 70kW | 150kW |
| Torque | 180Nm | 310Nm |
| Driven wheels | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1506kg | 1658kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 12.3s | 7.0s |
| Power consumption (claimed) | 13.2kWh/100km | 15.9kWh/100km |
| Claimed range (WLTP) | 340km | 427km |
| Max AC charge rate | 7kW | 7kW |
| Max DC charge rate | 80kW | 80kW |
Dimensions
| Dimensions | BYD Dolphin |
|---|---|
| Length | 4290mm |
| Width | 1770mm (with mirrors folded) |
| Height | 1570mm |
| Wheelbase | 2700mm |
| Boot space | 345L (rear seats up) 1310L (rear seats folded) |
Servicing and Warranty
The BYD Dolphin is backed by a six-year, 150,000km vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty.
Customers have the option to service any of their vehicles through its own service centres or through certain mycar service centres.
| Running costs | BYD Dolphin |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 6 years, 150,000km |
| Roadside assistance | 1 year |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 20,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 8 years |
| Total capped-price service cost | $2390 |
Safety
The BYD Dolphin has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP against stricter 2023-25 testing criteria.
| Category | BYD Dolphin |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 89 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 86 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 85 per cent |
| Safety assist | 77 per cent |
Standard equipment on all Dolphins includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep assist
- Emergency lane-keep assist
- Front cross-traffic assist
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Intelligent speed limit assist
- Driver fatigue detection
- Front, front-side and curtain airbags
- Driver’s far-side airbag
- Surround-view camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
Standard Equipment
Dolphin Essential features include:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights
- Automatic high-beam
- 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- DAB digital radio
- Six-speaker sound system
- 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- Six-way power driver’s seat
- Four-way power passenger’s seat
- Leatherette upholstery
- 60/40 split/fold rear seats
- Keyless entry and start
- USB-A x 2 (one front, one rear)
- USB-C x 2 (one front, one rear)
The Dolphin Premium adds:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Multi-link rear suspension
- Two-tone paint
- Wireless phone charger
- Panoramic glass roof
- Heated front seats
- Power-folding exterior mirrors
- Rear privacy glass
- Rain-sensing wipers
Colours
Heavy revisions have been made to the exterior paint options, with the colour palette reduced to white and two shades of grey.
Coral Pink has been dropped for 2025, while Maldive Purple and Surf Blue were also available as recently as last year.
The Essential is available in three colours:
- Atlantis Grey
- Ski White
- Harbour Grey
The Premium adds:
- Ski White + Harbour Grey (two-tone)
All 2025 Dolphin models feature a grey/black interior.
MORE: Everything BYD Dolphin
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