China’s big challenge to the UK and other European carmakers has been in the headlines this week. And I’ve been driving a new smart model that embodies this.
It’s all-electric, fantastic to drive, well-equipped, significantly cheaper than most of the competition, and comes from a company you’ve probably never heard of. But like many other Chinese cars heading to these shores, you soon will.
The BYD Dolphin is a five-seat family hatchback that rivals Volkswagen’s ID.3. But at a time when you’d be lucky to get an electric car for less than £40,000, prices for the Dolphin start at just £25,490.
BYD stands for ‘Build Your Dreams’ rather cheesily, but it’s a serious player. The Chinese conglomerate started making batteries, then also built cars (1.8 million last year) and is about to overtake Tesla as the world’s largest electric car maker.
There are four front-wheel drive BYD Dolphin models. The entry-level Active (from £25,490) combines a 44.9kWh battery with a 70kW (95hp) electric motor for an estimated range of 211 miles. Boost (from £26,490) has the same battery but a more powerful 130 kW (176 hp) motor and 17-inch wheels with a range of about 192 miles. Both will arrive early next year.
Good value: BYD Dolphin all-electric hatchback prices start at £25,490
Comfort (£29,490) and Design (£30,999 which I drove) are on sale now and have the more powerful 60.4 kWh battery and 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor combination, delivering lively acceleration of 0 to 62 mph in 7 seconds up to top speed. limited to 160 km/h, but with a range of 425 kilometers, enough to go from London to Middlesbrough.
The Design model has a glass roof, private rear glass and wireless smartphone charging.
There are also deals from £299 a month after a £3,000 deposit.
It is surprisingly cool, even in the wet, as I endured a monsoon in September. Stable and stable on winding country roads, it is also quiet, calm and clean with no emissions.
Four driving modes are Sport (my default setting), Normal, Economy and Snow.
BYD stands for ‘Build Your Dreams’ rather cheesily, but it’s a serious player
Inside there’s a clean dashboard, a rotating control screen that you can position horizontally or vertically, and a simple control bar from which you simply twist one end to drive or reverse.
Stable and stable on winding country roads, it is also quiet, calm and clean with no emissions.
Four driving modes are Sport (my default setting), Normal, Economy and Snow.
The 345-litre boot, with custom-made rubber floor, expands to 1,310 liters with the rear seats folded down.
Inside there’s a clean dashboard, a rotating control screen that you can position horizontally or vertically, and a smart but simple control bar from which you simply twist one end to drive or reverse.
Along the way, I even showed an irritating but surprised VW a clean pair of heels as I ran out of sight.
An integrated heat pump helps preheat your car batteries in winter, adding up to 15 percent efficiency.
Other Chinese car manufacturers and brands now coming to the UK include Great Wall (with its Ora Funky Cat), Nio, Chery, Geely, Zeekr and Omoda, joining more familiar but now Chinese-owned electric car brands, which They include: MG, Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and London black cab makers LEVC.
Maybe it’s time for an updated series of those much-loved ‘I-Spy’ car books.
The Omoda 5 family SUV will arrive next year
Also coming to the UK from China is the Omoda 5 family SUV, which will be on sale here from March 2024.
Equipped with a powerful 187PS 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and a top 5-star EuroNCAP crash test rating, prices are expected to start at £24,000 for the Comfort variant and £27,000 for the version. Noble ornaments.
The Omoda 5 family SUV will be on sale here from March 2024
The latter features advanced driver assistance with 360-degree exterior camera technology, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and autonomous emergency braking.
In crash tests it achieved 87 percent for adult occupant protection, 87 percent for child occupant protection, 88 percent for safety assistance systems and 68 percent for vulnerable road user protection. .
Expect 31.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 170g/km.
Electrified 2023 marks the path to the future
Our path to an electric car future is set out at the major Electrified 2023 conference hosted by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on Monday, where Alison Jones, vice-president of car giant Stellantis, which includes Peugeot, Citroen, Vauxhall , Jeep and Alfa Romeo will be the keynote speakers.
The new third generation Peugeot e-3008 electric SUV
Timely, as Peugeot has just unveiled its new third-generation e-3008 electric crossover SUV, which goes on sale early next year from more than £35,000.
The e-3008, which promises a range of up to 435 miles, will be available with two trim levels, Allure and GT, and three electric powertrains: Standard Range; Long range; and Dual Motor with all-wheel drive. Self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid gasoline versions will also be available.
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