"Easy to park, smooth in traffic"... BYD Dolphin Active shines in the city [Awesome Mobility]

\r\n\r\n\r\n[The Financial News] From Nowon District through Mapo District to Songpa District. Over three days and two nights, the BYD Dolphin Active covered more than 80 km across northern, western, and southeastern Seoul. The test drive focused mainly on city roads, moving between narrow alleys and main boulevards.
The Dolphin Active is the upper trim of the compact hatchback Dolphin in the BYD Ocean Series. Its body size is the same as the base model: 4,290 mm long, 1,770 mm wide, and 1,570 mm high. The numbers under the hood, however, are different. It delivers a maximum output of 150 kW (204 horsepower) and peak torque of 310 Nm. It accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 7.0 seconds. These figures do not quite match the image of a small hatchback.
On the road, the 204 horsepower felt much stronger than expected. I did not anticipate a compact hatchback to surge forward so cleanly the moment the light turned green. Thanks to the instant torque characteristic of electric vehicles, the car shot ahead without delay as soon as I pressed the accelerator. It felt relaxed both when slipping out of congested sections and when cruising on wide arterial roads.
Its small body became a real weapon in the city. With a length of 4,290 mm, the car felt manageable in Seoul’s narrow alleys and tight-turn parking lots. A 3D surround-view monitor comes standard, making it easy to judge the car’s dimensions even in confined spaces.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe rear multi-link suspension, exclusive to the Active trim, was also impressive. It absorbed speed bumps and road joints around the city in a single, composed motion. The body stayed settled through corners without excessive sway. Rather than the jittery feel typical of small cars, it delivered stability closer to a class above.
The cabin feels roomier than the exterior suggests. Contrary to the preconception of a compact hatchback, the 2,700 mm wheelbase provides interior space on par with a compact sedan, and the flat floor of BYD e-Platform 3.0 leaves ample legroom in the rear seats. One passenger even remarked, "It’s roomier than I expected." The trunk offers 345 liters of space as standard, expanding to 1,310 liters with the second row folded.
However, the finish of the controls leaves something to be desired. Most functions, including climate control, are integrated into the 10.1-inch rotating touchscreen in the center of the dash, but the control layout is not very intuitive, and some of the overall finishing feels a bit crude. The 5-inch cluster behind the steering wheel is small, which hurts visibility while driving. The Korean-language command recognition of the "Hi, BYD" voice assistant also needs improvement.
\r\n\r\n\r\nThe car is equipped with a 60.48 kWh BYD Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. Its single-charge driving range is 354 km under the Korean Ministry of Environment’s combined-cycle rating. After 80 km of city driving, energy efficiency was close to the official combined figure of 5.1 km/kWh. For mainly commuting use, charging two to three times a week should be sufficient.
The price is 29.2 million won, or in the mid-26 million won range after subsidies in Seoul. At this price, 204 horsepower, a multi-link rear suspension, ventilated seats, surround-view cameras, and a panoramic glass roof all come standard. It undercuts comparable domestic rivals by at least 10 million won while holding its own in both performance and features.
There are still challenges in terms of control finishes and brand recognition, but the perceived performance for the price exceeded expectations. For drivers considering an electric car for urban commuting, it is well worth taking the BYD Dolphin Active for a test drive.
eastcold@fnnews.com Kim Dong-chan Reporter