BYD Dolphin

¡¾Background of Buying the Car¡¿

Hi! I've bought a car! I'll live up to this car pickup diary and share my real feelings with you all! I'm located in Taiyuan, Shanxi. I'm a girl, 167 cm tall, and my weight is a secret. I just got married not long ago. I bought this car to give myself more time to enjoy life. Also, the main reason is that it's too cold in winter and I can't stand the cold. My husband has been urging me to buy a car, afraid that it would be too inconvenient for me to travel in winter.

I went to several 4S stores and finally fell in love with the Dolphin. I really like the interior of the Dolphin. Especially, its gear is an automatic lever, which I think is very suitable for novice girls. It's just so convenient! Now let me talk about my car!

¡¾Car Selection Comparison¡¿

Let me tell you about my car - selection experience: Bingo - Seagull - Dolphin.

1: Bingo: At first, I planned to buy the Bingo. I thought it was very compact and had a nice color scheme. Just looking at the appearance, it was very beautiful. The most important thing was that it was easy to park. But after I told my family about it, they all said it was unsafe. When driving at high speed over speed bumps, it was easy to roll over. So, for safety reasons, I didn't buy this car.

2: Seagull: After giving up the Bingo, a colleague took me to see the Seagull. Compared with the Bingo, the Seagull has a safer battery, a longer range, and a larger space. But the first time I saw the Seagull was at a 4S store. The display car was yellow, which is my least favorite color. And this car is too small. Since I go by first impression and appearance, I decisively gave it up.

3: Dolphin: After looking at the Seagull, I turned around and saw a gray Dolphin behind. I was immediately attracted. Especially when I saw the interior and the center console of the Dolphin, I was really surprised. I decided right then and there that it was the one for me. After listening to the salesperson's introduction, I went back and learned in detail about the car's configuration on Dongchedi. Then I decisively called my family and told them that I would buy the Dolphin. Later, I'll also talk about my experience of using the car.

¡¾Initial Static Experience¡¿

Appearance/Interior:

The appearance of my little Dolphin is nothing extraordinary. It gives me the feeling of being good - looking in the long - run. The daytime running lights are very recognizable from afar. The overall size of the vehicle is relatively small, so it's very convenient to turn around and drive on small roads.

The storage space is quite sufficient for me. Since I only use it for commuting to work and don't have the need to use it as a freight vehicle, I like to put some dolls and small ornaments in it, and it's more than enough.

The trunk can hold two 20 - inch suitcases, so it's okay for short - term business trips. If you want to carry some stuff, you can fold down the seats, and the overall space seems large enough for two adults to lie down.

The seating space is very comfortable. The front seats have a heating function, which is very friendly to those who are afraid of the cold. The seat material is artificial leather, neither too soft nor too hard. Its width and depth can fully enclose me. When driving through curves, I don't feel too much shaking.

In terms of the overall seating space, after I adjusted my sitting position and sat in the back row, there was about one and a half fists of legroom, but the headroom was a bit small, about half a fist.

The interior color scheme makes me feel very comfortable. The center console with the through - type ocean concept looks very cool. However, the design of the storage box in the armrest between the front seats is not perfect. It's very troublesome to access things. The cup holder and the door storage space can hold a lot of small and scattered items. The gear paddle on the center console perfectly solves the problem of me being in a hurry when holding the steering wheel with one hand and the gear with the other. The size and steering force of the steering wheel are very appropriate, with two levels adjustable. I prefer the sport mode with a greater steering force. There's nothing much else to say. Maybe due to the materials used, the new car has a strong smell!

¡¾Initial Dynamic Experience¡¿

Power/Energy Consumption/Handling/Problems

I'm quite satisfied with the power of the little Dolphin. On my way to work, even though I'm a girl, I can overtake other cars very aggressively. In sport mode, when I step on the accelerator, I can feel that the pedal is a bit heavy, and the vehicle accelerates much faster. This also let me experience what a "push - back" feeling is.

The acceleration from 0 - 60 is very strong. Even though I'm a girl, I've never lost at traffic lights!

When the speed exceeds 80, the wind noise becomes quite obvious. Also, the acceleration of the little Dolphin becomes a bit weak after 80. Generally speaking, it's definitely sufficient for driving in the city. After all, we stop and go in the city and don't need high - speed driving. If I'm going on a long - distance trip, I'll let my husband drive the gasoline - powered car.

The overall handling and steering of the little Dolphin give me a good feeling. I don't know much about cars. In my daily driving, my intuitive feeling is that it drives very comfortably and smoothly, and the steering is very clear. In sport mode, the steering force makes me feel that the vehicle is very stable whether driving at low or high speed.

When going through some sharp turns, I don't feel that the vehicle rolls over too seriously. Maybe I drive through the curves at a relatively low speed, about 40. The feeling of roll is similar to that of the ID.3 I test - drove. Well, different people have different opinions on this!

Another thing is the brakes of the Dolphin. They feel a bit soft to me. There's not much force feedback at the initial stage when stepping on the brakes. But at the later stage, they are very hard. The tires are a bit too narrow, and the grip seems insufficient in rainy or snowy weather.

I also remember once when I was driving from Xinzhou to Taiyuan, there was an abnormal noise in the car, like the sound of ice breaking. It lasted the whole journey, and I don't know what the reason is. I don't know if I should take it for inspection. I'll update you later on this!

¡¾Infotainment System Experience¡¿

The voice assistant, Xiaodi, can conveniently control functions such as the air - conditioning, seat heating, rear - view mirror heating, and opening/closing of the sunshade curtain while driving. It feels very intelligent and convenient. But sometimes it doesn't understand me, which can be a bit embarrassing if there are other people in the car. Also, the screen has good smoothness. Sometimes I even use it to watch TV dramas. The overall experience is very good! The 360 - degree surround view is really great. I rarely drive. This 360 - degree view has helped me a lot. It allows me to see the situation around the car when driving through narrow roads or parallel parking, avoiding a lot of scratches.

¡¾Initial Charging Experience¡¿

I have my own home charger, which is quite cost - effective. It costs about 0.05 yuan per kilometer. Under the current weather conditions, the full - charge range is about 260 kilometers. Since my workplace is not far away, I only need to charge it once a week. Because I don't drive much, I don't drive when the weather is bad.

Sometimes I also charge at the charging station. I choose fast charging. When the battery is left with 27%, it takes one and a half hours to fully charge. The charging fee is 1.137 yuan at 6 p.m. and 0.738 yuan before 4 p.m. The salesperson told me that I should do a slow charge once a month and a full - charge - full - discharge to adjust the battery balance every half - year or so. I don't quite understand it. I'll wait for my husband to come back and figure it out.

I've also been following the winter test on Dongchedi recently. My little Dolphin's displayed range is quite good! Haha, it even beat the ID.3 in such low temperatures. I'm glad I made the right choice!

¡¾Summary of Advantages and Disadvantages¡¿

After driving 917 kilometers so far, generally speaking, the Dolphin meets my expectations. The advantages are that the vehicle is compact and has a low usage cost. I'm very satisfied with its appearance and interior. The design is very feminine. The disadvantages are that the range is halved in winter. When driving with the heater on at full charge, it can only run about 200 kilometers and then there's less than 30% of

?? Vehicle Information

First, a brief introduction. I'm an ordinary worker who has been toiling away for decades, just scraping by. I have two kids at home and a gasoline-powered SUV. I live in Beijing. In July, I checked my lottery points and, wow, I won the lottery! So, I decided to get a small electric car for city commuting.

After getting the approval from my wife, I started my car - hunting journey. At first, I wanted to buy a Chery Ant because it's easy to park and has an aluminum body. I went to an electric car dealership in Gucheng and test - drove the Ant. But I was not satisfied with its driving quality and comfort. It felt a bit similar to the old - fashioned electric scooters we had at home before. So, I decided to look for other options.

Next, I went to see the BYD Yuan. The reason I wanted to buy an electric car this time was to get a small and easy - to - park car for my wife. The Yuan was actually okay, but my wife didn't like the workmanship of its roof. Also, it hadn't been officially launched at that time, so we passed it up. (We also considered buying a second - hand car, but the warranty, battery issues, etc. discouraged us.)

Then I went to a BYD dealership in Sijiqing to see the Seagull. My wife took it for a spin and thought it was quite good. In fact, we were about to buy it after we got home, but after some research and thought, we decided not to. Finally, we chose the Dolphin. I visited four different BYD dealerships: Sijiqing, Changping Nanhuan, Beiqijia, and Xisanqi. Since the Dolphin was very popular, after comparing the 2023 Fashion version and the old Knight version, I thought it was more cost - effective to buy the old Knight version. I first paid a 2,000 - yuan deposit through the app at the Changping dealership and waited for the car. After just two days, they told me the car was ready for pickup. I took my kids and went there. I have to say, BYD's service was quite good. However, when I got the car, I found that the buttons inside were very dirty and there were cookies on the seats. I immediately asked the manager to change it, but they told me that was the only one left. Well, I definitely couldn't spend my money on such a car, so I took my kids and contacted the Beiqijia dealership. But it was a wasted trip there because just before I arrived, the last old Knight version had been sold. I couldn't go back to Changping again. I saw that the nearest dealership was in Xisanqi. I called to check if they had the car. Since they did, I went there right away. When I got to the dealership, I didn't waste any time and directly negotiated the price. After that, I took a ride in the dealership's Seal to the car yard. I picked a car in the warehouse, paid the money, and left!

Model Name: 2021 Rolls - Royce Knight Dolphin

(2021 Dolphin Knight Edition)

Purchase Date: June 2023

Purchase Location: Beijing

Gifts: Dragon film; Floor mats; Trunk mat; Motor guard; Robot educational toy; A big fluffy goose;

Usage Duration: 6 months

Mileage: 12,324

As the second car for daily city commuting in my family, the little Dolphin has performed quite well!

?? Reasons for Purchase

The main reason for buying the little Dolphin was that I won the car - purchase lottery. It's for my wife's daily commute to work, which can save on gasoline expenses. After all, even if we don't drive the gasoline - powered car very often, the monthly gasoline cost is about 1,500 yuan. With the Dolphin, the overall cost has been reduced by about two - thirds!

?? Exterior Design

In my eyes, the Dolphin is a relatively ordinary - looking car. There's nothing particularly outstanding about its appearance. However, it's very memorable at first sight and has a high recognition rate on the streets. Its body size is 4150*1770*1570. It's quite small, but the wheelbase has reached 2700, and the space layout is well - designed.

The LED daytime running lights of the front headlights look like twoÎԲÏ, and the integrated through - type taillights have a strong ocean - themed style.

My Rolls - Royce Knight Dolphin is in Puff Pink. The Knight Edition has a two - tone color scheme. It has the cute pink color that girls like and also a touch of elegance and stability.

Due to the small body of the car, the angle and width of the A - pillar affect the driving visibility, especially when turning left at night. You have to be very careful.

My Dolphin is the 2021 model, which doesn't have a rear wiper. This really affects the driver's visibility during rainy or snowy days. The rear - view mirrors are almost useless in such weather. Fortunately, the 2023 models are equipped with rear wipers. The manufacturer knows there's a problem and has upgraded the configuration, which is worthy of praise. It's a pity that my 2021 model can't be upgraded!

The paintwork of my Rolls - Royce Knight Dolphin is actually quite good. I haven't had any scratches on it yet. The pearl gray and pearl pink colors shine brightly in the sun. However, according to media reports, the anti - rust and anti - corrosion technology of the underlying iron plate is not very good. I hope there won't be any problems in the future!

The Knight Edition uses small - sized tires with a size of 205/50/R17. I'm not sure if it's for energy - saving and cost - reduction purposes, but I think the tire size is a bit too small. The tires often slip when starting the car. I guess that's the reason why I couldn't reach the 7.5 - second 0 - 100 acceleration time even after trying several times. But overall, the power is sufficient for daily city commuting.

?? Driving Experience

My Rolls - Royce Knight Dolphin is equipped with a front - mounted, front - wheel - drive 130 - kW motor. Thanks to the characteristics of electric vehicles, it can generate 177 horsepower and 290 Nm of torque at the initial acceleration stage. The manufacturer claims that it can accelerate from 0 - 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds. It's definitely a little powerhouse. However, on normal and safe roads, when I tested the acceleration in the test mode, it took about 7.8 - 8.2 seconds. As I mentioned before, the tire slippage might be the reason why I couldn't reach 7.5 seconds. But overall, the power can meet the daily commuting needs in the city.

On Beijing's city roads with an average speed of 60 - 80 km/h, the Dolphin provides a very comfortable driving experience in terms of both the smoothness at the start and the decisiveness and sharpness when overtaking. The smoothness is due to the characteristics of electric vehicles. Even luxury cars like Rolls - Royce are using V12 engines in a mechanical way to pursue a smoothness that's infinitely close to that of electric vehicles. The decisiveness when overtaking depends on two factors: 1. The small size of the vehicle; 2. The excellent power. I have to mention my choice when buying the car. At that time, the 2023 models were already on the market, and the 2021 models were still for sale. The 2023 Fashion version cost 116,000 yuan, while the 2021 Knight version cost 117,000 yuan. I firmly believe that power is the most important thing. My understanding of power is that I may not use it all the time, but it must have sufficient reserve. The Knight Dolphin really didn't disappoint me in this regard.

On the highway, the Dolphin also performs well. My car usually drives on the Beijing North Sixth Ring Road to the West Sixth Ring Road. The speed limit on these roads is 80 - 100 km/h. There's no need to repeat that the power reserve of the Knight version is more than enough for overtaking. However, the Dolphin does a poor job in controlling wind noise and tire noise. When the speed exceeds 80 km/h, the wind noise becomes very obvious, and I can only turn up the music to cover it up. But the quality of the music speakers is just so - so, it can only make some sound!

The Dolphin has also been on mountain roads a few times to participate in the "Golden Right Foot" activity. When driving on C - shaped curves at a speed of about 45 - 60 km/h, the vehicle's chassis support is okay, and there's no obvious roll. However, when it comes to U - shaped curves, its performance is quite poor. The vehicle has

[Car Purchase Experience]
There are two fuel-powered cars in my family. With the soaring oil prices these days, I decided to buy an electric car. The requirements were that it should cost less than 200,000 yuan, have a small body for easy driving, and mainly be used to deal with traffic jams on the way to and from work. In the early stage, I went to check out BYD, XPeng, and Ora. There was no test drive car for the BYD Dolphin, so I tried the e2. I didn't like the exterior appearance of the XPeng P5, but its interior was nice and the space was really large. Unfortunately, it wasn't useful for me as there are already a sedan and an SUV in my family. This time, I was going for a small car. My wife quite liked the appearance of the Ora Good Cat, but I always felt I'd get tired of it after looking at it for a long time. After all, the Mini and Porsche look good at first glance, but they start to look strange the longer you look at them. Finally, I was torn between the Dolphin and the ID.3 for a long time. The advantages of the Dolphin are that it's cheap and highly intelligent, while the disadvantage is that its appearance is rather ugly. I'd definitely have to get it wrapped. However, I still chose the Dolphin in the end.

[Most Dissatisfied]
The interior. Although the design isn't bad, the materials used are really stingy. There are large areas of hard plastic. It really doesn't give off any sense of quality. As a result, when driving, my hands and eyes often hit the interior door panels and it hurts "clunkily". It's really unacceptable at this price point.

[Range]
1. The range depends on how you drive. If you drive gently, I once used my "golden right foot" to drive 100 kilometers in urban conditions with an average speed of 23 kilometers per hour, with the air - conditioner on (without AC) and the temperature at 19 degrees. The measured power consumption per 100 kilometers was about 14 kWh, which translates to a range of about 400 kilometers.
2. It's another story if you drive aggressively. Also in D gear, with the seat heater on and pressing the accelerator hard like "beating everyone on the road", the power consumption is about 19 kWh per 100 kilometers, which means the range is only a little over 300 kilometers.

[Driving Experience]
The driving experience of this car was the most unexpected thing for me. When my colleagues were in my car, they all said, "Damn, the chassis feel; damn, the suspension support." This shows the car's prowess in chassis tuning. It's soft yet firm, and the rebound has damping. I think this is the skill of a big - name manufacturer in chassis tuning.

[Car Delivery Price]
The bare - car price was 123,800 yuan, the commercial insurance was 3,000 yuan, the compulsory traffic insurance was 1,000 yuan, and the registration fee was 1,000 yuan. Then the 4S store gave back 2,700 yuan. Finally, the total price including all costs was about 126,000 yuan.