BYD

A bigger version of the Dolphin Surf, with much improved highway cruising performance, range and driveability.

You have two battery pack options: 45kWh and 60kWh. Both priced under R600 000, offering remarkable value if you want to own a comprehensively equipped EV crossover in South Africa.

There’s a significant performance difference between the two Dolphins. The Standard 45kWh version is quite slow. Its electric motor is rated at only 70kW. That means a very leisurely 0-100km/h time of 12.3 seconds. And a 340km driving range.

If you want better acceleration to get into those gaps in morning highway traffic, the 60kW Extended range version is a better choice. It features an uprated electric motor that delivers 150kW, good for 0-100km/h in 7 seconds, and a 427km driving range.

Like many BEVs that want to optimize driving range, the Dolphin rolls low-resistance tyres. Which have reasonably low mechanical grip, which is something to considering in an elevated risk South African driving environment, when you need to do emergency braking…

The Dolphin has a tech-laden interior with reasonable material quality and comfortable seats. Luggage space is very average, though. But infotainment syncing and smartphone pairing are seamless and as tech-integrated as you’d expect from a Chinese car.

BYD is renowned for its pioneering battery tech. Making a Dolphin one of the BEVs that you need to be least anxious about owning.

The best compact BEV you can buy in South Africa. From the company which dominated global battery vehicle technology.

Dolphin Surf is a compact hatchback BEV with an advanced-chemistry battery pack, mild power, and the promise of real daily driving range. Without the burden of needing a lot of time to recharge.

Design is original and tidy. The interior is better than any other compact hatchback on sale at a similar price. With all the advanced tech you’d expect from BYD.

Surprisingly spacious inside, for its size. BYD’s engineers configured the Blade battery’s shape to ensure Dolphin Surf uses as much of its flat floor as possible for space optimisation.

With a 55kW motor, it’s not quick. And limited to 130km/h. Which might become an issue if you do a lot of highway driving, which in South Africa, is generally at a tempo way beyond the 120km/h limit. That 130km/h speed limiter could become a safety issue when you are overtaking…

Dolphin Surf offers two battery packs: the 38.8kWh Dynamic and 30kWh Comfort. Range estimates are 295km for the Dynamic and 232km for the Comfort.

The tech stack is very impressive, and sub-R400k pricing is even more so. If you are BEV curious, there’s very little risk in parking a Dolphin Surf in your garage, because the purchase price is so low…

The mid-sized PHEV crossover that European luxury brands and Toyota have reason to fear.

Excellent cabin quality and stacked standard equipment levels make the Sealion 6 an outstanding commuter and long-distance cruiser.

China makes the best automotive batteries, and BYD’s battery tech is proven. Sealion 6 should offer 80km of electric-only range, while the 60-litre fuel tank enables 1000km between recharges and refuels.

The 238kW all-wheel-drive Sealion is terrifically fast, but the more affordable 160kW front-wheel-drive version is a better real-world South African car.

BYD’s front-wheel-drive Sealion 6 offers very usable daily driving performance and that 1000km range, if you are conservative with throttle use. It’s also priced much cheaper than a Rav4 and is nearly the size of a Fortuner. Lots of value, then.

Sealion 6’s cabin is comfortable and equipped with all the tech you could ever dream of. The only issue is that the driving controls feel too light and artificial.

BYD’s mid-sized crossover with supercar acceleration and lots of interior space.

Sealion 7’s dual-motor set-up offers 390kW of performance and 500 litres of luggage space. It’s a devastating combination of performance and practicality.

Sleek looks and a luxury cabin make it look and feel like a premium vehicle. But it’s not cheap, and some German BEVs have become true rivals. South Africans still appear hesitant to pay more than R1m for an EV, even if it offers decent range, abundant performance and all the in-cabin tech.

Issues? Sealion 7 is a very heavy vehicle, and the comfort-oriented suspension can feel out of rhythm on rougher backroads.

You also need to evaluate routes and charging plans with great technical diligence when road tripping. Why? Because Sealion 7’s high-voltage recharging needs aren’t compatible with older rural EV charging stations.

Unquestionably South Africa’s most advanced bakkie, with unrivalled powertrain technology.

Shark 6 looks purposeful, like a true bakkie without any strange Chinese styling. Its spacious cabin is equipped with all the infotainment and comfort tech you can imagine.

Nobody does PHEVs better than the Chinese. With a full battery pack, Shark 6 delivers 321kW, giving it true sports-car performance.

Shark 6 has a fantastic balance of sports car overtaking performance and terrifically low fuel consumption in traffic – when the battery pack has reasonable energy levels.

As a true 4x4 bakkie, Shark 6 has limitations. Without low-range gearing, it’s not amazing in steep rocky terrain. That’s a pity, because the Shark 6 has a very overengineered frame, with oversized frame rails, which can definitely handle the punishment of rocky terrain if it had the gearing.

Another issue is its hefty kerb weight of 2710kg. Which is 300-400kg more than a turbodiesel Hilux or Ranger…

The Shark 6’s weight blunts its towing capacity, which is only 2.5t compared to 3.5t for a diesel-powered Toyota or Ford double cab.

BYD is an electric vehicle battery pioneer, making battery system durability a non-issue. But this is a lifestyle double cab for the city, not a Kalahari touring luxury bakkie.