Australia’s cheapest electric car: 2023 BYD Dolphin pricing announced

UPDATE, 9:35pm: 2023 BYD Dolphin electric hatch now available to order

Order books for the 2023 BYD Dolphin hatch have opened, with three variants available. For everything you need to know, click on the story below.

1:30pm: The title of Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle – held by the MG 4 – has shifted in less than a week.

The 2023 BYD Dolphin is now the most affordable electric car in Australia after details were announced prematurely at a media conference in Brisbane this morning.

Priced at $38,890 before on-road costs, the Dolphin is just $100 cheaper than a base MG 4, with the BYD having a reduced driving range and battery capacity – but more standard equipment than its Chinese arch-rival.

While BYD’s media release omits powertrain details, the base Dolphin is tipped to feature a 45kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack, allowing for a WLTP-rated 340-kilometre driving range.

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The single electric motor has a 70kW and 180Nm total system output, with power sent to the front wheels.

For context, the rear-wheel-drive MG 4 Excite is fitted with a 51kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a single 125kW/250Nm electric motor, for an estimated WLTP-rated 351-kilometre driving range.

Standard equipment for the BYD Dolphin includes a 12.8-inch infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, satellite navigation, a wireless phone charger, a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, and a heat pump.

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Autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, driver attention monitoring, adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert with braking are listed as standard-fit active safety features.

Wheels Media is attending an event for the BYD Dolphin at Sea World later today, where further information – including details for higher-spec variants – is due to be announced.

Customer orders for the 2023 BYD Dolphin are due to open at 8pm tonight.

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2023 BYD Dolphin pricing

Prices exclude on-road costs.