New Compact Electric Car Set to Arrive in Brazil in 2023 Eyeing Growth in This Segment in the Country

The BYD Dolphin, highly anticipated as the next compact electric car to be launched in Brazil, was unveiled in China just over a year ago and has already received updates in terms of equipment and comfort items for the 2023 line.

The Dolphin built on a special platform for electric vehicles is 4.13 meters long, 1.77 meters wide, 1.57 meters high, with a wheelbase of 2.7 meters.

The trunk capacity of the compact electric car is 345 liters (1,310 liters with the rear seats folded). The statistics qualify it to compete against rivals such as the Renault Zoe, Peugeot e-208, and Volkswagen ID.3.

As a member of the “Ocean Family,” the interior of this compact electric car is famous for its curved design that simulates ocean waves. Finishes emphasize light tones, soft-touch materials, and color options to enhance its youthful appeal.

The compact electric car’s instrument panel features a 5-inch display, while the multimedia system uses a 12.8-inch (rotating) touchscreen. It has a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, a flat-bottomed design, a raised center console, and numerous storage spaces. The equipment list includes automatic air conditioning, six airbags, traction and stability control, LED headlights, multifunction steering wheel, cruise control, hill start assist, dynamic body control, and a rearview camera, among others.

Updates on the Compact Electric Car

The BYD Dolphin 2023 was revealed to the public at the Guangzhou Auto Show 2022, where basically, the exterior of the compact EV remains the same, but a new exterior paint option has been added.

In terms of equipment in the compact electric car segment, the BYD compact comes factory-equipped with a high-definition panoramic camera, rear windshield wiper, updated tire pressure monitoring function from the original tire pressure alarm for real-time tire pressure display, and a seat belt reminder function for all passengers.

Other new additions to the compact electric car include wider adjustments in the driver’s seat, a rear center armrest, front parking sensors, electric seat adjustment for the driver in 4 positions, heated front seats, and illuminated power-folding side mirrors.

Additionally, the compact electric car also adopts a “comfort” driving mode (a total of 3 types), which takes into account economy and performance. Furthermore, the Dolphin has two levels of brake regeneration (standard and advanced), but no “one pedal” driving mode.

The BYD Dolphin is powered by an electric motor mounted on the front axle, delivering 70 kW (94 hp) at 15,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 18.3 kgfm. The unit is powered by a 44.9 kWh battery with a range of 401 km and 420 km in NEDC cycles. In China, there is also the Rider Edition version with 130 kW (176 hp) and 29.5 kgfm of torque.

The Chinese website Autohome brought the first images of the Dolphin 2023 at the Guangzhou Auto Show 2022. The compact electric car model will be available in three versions with prices ranging from 116,800 yuan to 136,800 yuan, which translates directly to 90,400 reais and 106,000 reais. In Colombia, where it was recently launched, the Dolphin costs the equivalent of 172 thousand reais. Here, according to our findings, the starting price of an electric car should be under R$ 200 thousand.