Former TopGear presenter Jeremy Clarkson famously said that one of the worst things a vehicle can have is no character. This criticism has been levelled at many, including the current crop of electric vehicles. In the case of the BYD Dolphin, whether by design or pure luck, it avoids that disparagement by somehow channelling the old-school hot hatchback vibe in a thoroughly modern package.

EXTERIOR

In the flesh, the Dolphin is a better looker than its pictures would indicate. The styling is a blend of a traditional five-door hatchback stretched over the advantages an EV-only platform can provide, and BYD’s ocean theme design language. The front fascia, which has a distinctive LED lighting signature at night to match the overall styling, falls in line with the host of marine-influenced elements around the vehicle. It can be purchased in single or dual colour, with the upper body in a second colour. Auto’s tester was the latter, in Surface Blue and Urban Grey.

INTERIOR

The quality of the Dolphin can be first felt the second the driver’s door is closed. It imparts a sense of solidity that continues throughout the cabin. A quick visual browse reveals the interior is just as uniquely styled as the exterior. BYD’s marine aesthetics dominate with flipper-like door handles, the flow of the interior panel shapes, and the colour and material choices. Soft touch elements greet occupants at the key touchpoints, and whatever elements facilitate physical interaction do so reassuringly and ergonomically.

As a BYD, the Dolphin is packed with modern technology above its intended class, all run from the 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This supports another 5.1-inch screen for the driver instrumentation. Since it’s attached to the steering column for maximum visibility, no matter where the wheel is positioned, it doesn’t rotate to portrait like the main screen. There’s working navigation for Jamaica, a voice assistant that is aware of which side of the vehicle commands are coming from. Connectivity is as expected via USB type A and type C ports.

The Dolphin’s six-way adjustable driver’s seat suits a wide range of demands, from comfort to fast driving. Hatchbacks have a reputation for being practical, and the BYD is no different, there are well-thought-out storage solutions and a sizeable rear trunk. That space and also be felt by occupants for relaxed cruising, helped along by the low noise of the electric drivetrain.

ON THE ROAD

Powering the Dolphin is an electric motor delivering 174 horsepower and 214lb/ft of torque to the front wheels. It feeds from a 44.9kWh battery rated at up to 490 kilometres of range. It AC charges at 7kWh and can be DC fast-charged at up to 60kWh. Up to 80 per cent of battery can be recovered in 30 minutes when fast-charged. It has BYD’s vehicle-to-load, allowing it to power other electrical devices. There is regenerative braking.

Left to its own devices the BYD is a pleasant urban runaround. As an EV it’s quiet on the inside and possesses the acceleration to easily slice through Corporate Area traffic on demand. The driver-assist features can be combined for short bursts of autonomous operation for long and short journeys, in and out of town. And the story could stop right there classifying the Dolphin as another EV fit only for basic transportation. However, pushing it past those dull parameters wakes things up.

Step on the throttle and the instant torque sends the front wheels scrambling for traction, in that old-school fun way. When acceleration does happen, 60 kph arrives in 7.3 seconds. Yes, there is no noise, but there is a level of feedback and interactivity usually not found in this type of car. The soft suspension does a great job of maintaining contact with the road while informing the driver about the surface type and grip levels. At pace, the Dolphin injects some liveliness into the experience.