Not bad for a newbie - the BYD Dolphin has been handed a ‘Car of the Year’ trophy at a prestigious awards.
The fully-electric Dolphin - a compact hatchback from Chinese firm ‘Build Your Dreams’, aka ‘BYD’ - has only been available to lease for a matter of weeks, having joined the market in August of this year.
You can lease a BYD Dolphin with Select Car Leasing from £398 per month*.
And yet despite being a fledgling, the well-received hatchback has scooped the main ‘Car of the Year’ prize at the Carbuyer Best Car Awards 2024.
The Dolphin - which comes with an efficient, low-cost 60.4 kWh ‘Blade’ battery and a range of up to 265 miles on a single charge - was also handed the ‘Best Small Electric Car’ gong.
The Carbuyer judges said: “It really is quite extraordinary how a brand you’ve probably never heard of – albeit one that sells millions of cars in its home market – can so drastically undercut the competition and still offer such a compelling package. The BYD Dolphin isn’t a cheap car, it’s a great-value car. There’s a difference.”
That competition includes the MG4 EV, Vauxhall Corsa Electric, Peugeot e-208, and the Volkswagen ID.3.
Our own Select Car Leasing reviewer found it to be a ‘surprisingly capable EV’.
Other notable winners included the Dacia Jogger, which won Carbuyer’s Best Family Car award, the Tesla Model Y, which scooped Best Company Car, and the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, which was awarded Best Large Electric Car for 2024. Skoda was the most successful brand overall, with the Fabia, Octavia Estate, and outgoing Kodiaq, earning the maker three class wins.
Carbuyer Car of the Year 2024 winners
- Best Small Car: Skoda Fabia
- Best Small Family Car: Hyundai Kona
- Best Family Car: Dacia Jogger
- Best Large Family Car: Skoda Kodiaq
- Best Estate Car: Skoda Octavia Estate
- Best Small Company Car: Cupra Born
- Best Company Car: Tesla Model Y
- Best Sports Car: BMW 2 Series Coupe
- Best Hot Hatchback: Hyundai i20 N
- Best Hot SUV: Cupra Formentor
- Best Convertible: MINI Convertible
- Best Pickup: Ford Ranger
- Best Small Electric Car: BYD Dolphin
- Best Family Electric Car: MG4
- Best Large Electric Car: Volkswagen ID.Buzz
- Best Hybrid: Honda Civic
- Best Plug-in Hybrid: Mercedes C-Class
- Best Large Plug-in Hybrid: Lexus NX
- Carbuyer Car Of The Year: BYD Dolphin
*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 10/10/23.
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