Dolphin 2021

After 18 months with my 2021 BYD Dolphin, not a single unplanned visit to the dealer. The safety features have already helped me avoid two incidents on the motorway. Comfortable on long journeys, easy to park in town. Outstanding.

I was sceptical when ordering — felt like I was playing it safe. A year in, I'm genuinely impressed. More refined than expected, comfortable over long distances, nothing unexpected has gone wrong.

Excited at purchase, reality more subdued. Positives: generous space, good economy. Negatives: touchscreen occasionally freezes, rear wiper smears in light rain, lane-keeping is too aggressive. Not bad but needs polish.

Functional but underwhelming. Ride is fine, economy acceptable, reliable enough. But every time I get in I feel I settled. Looking at alternatives for my next purchase.

The 2021 BYD Dolphin has more than justified the price. The refinement difference vs my old car is immediately obvious. Cruising at motorway speed is serene, tech is useful not gimmicky, and running costs are lower than expected.

Factory fit-and-finish issues right off the lot — a door seal that whistles at speed, dashboard rattle took three dealer visits to fix. Disappointing for this price. Should have been right first time.

Bought for practicality, expected dull. Wrong. The chassis is genuinely sorted — precise steering, good body control, and real eagerness. Makes you look forward to driving rather than dreading it.

Bought on strong reviews and brand reputation. Ongoing electronic issues: infotainment crashed twice, lane-keeping triggered unexpectedly three times. Dealer slow to acknowledge these as known issues. The car itself drives fine but reliability soured everything.

Eight months in — efficiency, comfort, and how it handles city traffic are all impressive. My gripes are that rear legroom is tight for taller adults and the auto hesitates occasionally. Minor issues in an otherwise excellent package.

Solid car that does its job competently without exciting me. Ride comfortable, easy to drive. However, interior materials feel a step below the price point and the engine is noisy when pushed. Reliable but not class-leading.