Hot car deal: BYD Dolphin for £237 a month – Chinese EV is making a splash

Who is BYD? Well, for those interested in football, you may have noticed that BYD – one of China’s biggest automotive brands – is an official partner at the current UEFA Euro 2024 Championships. It’s the first time a Chinese manufacturer has sponsored the event and signals BYD’s intent to establish itself as a serious player in the European market.

Still a relative newcomer in the UK, BYD has a growing all-electric lineup, including the Seal executive saloon, the Atto 3 SUV and the Dolphin – a small EV that majors on providing value for money, with good efficiency and decent onboard technology.

It’s a deal for the diminutive Dolphin that we’re highlighting today; a two-year personal leasing offer from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts that requires a relatively small deposit and reasonable monthly payments.

We think it’s a worthwhile investment, particularly as the BYD Dolphin is our current Car of the Year. It’s a capable all-rounder, with good interior space, punchy performance and a practical all-electric range of up to 265 miles. BYD has ensured you won’t feel short-changed in terms of standard equipment, either – even in entry Comfort specification, which includes 17-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, heated front seats, and a 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen with integrated navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. 

A suite of active safety systems is also available, and contributed to the Dolphin achieving a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2023. During our own testing, we found the safety tech a little intrusive at times, but BYD has since been working on over-the-air updates to help smooth things along.

Any other downsides? Well, if you’re looking for the Dolphin to act as a family car, then you’ll probably want more boot space, while charging speeds aren’t the best compared to other rivals. But, as we said at the previous Carbuyer awards, the BYD Dolphin costs a good chunk less than its mainstream rivals, and you shouldn’t confuse a cheap car with a great-value car – there’s a difference.