Comparison
BYD Atto 3 vs Dolphin
The BYD Dolphin is BYD's electric hatchback, and the Atto 3 is the SUV one size up. In Australia, the Dolphin Premium has almost the same battery and the same 150 kW motor output as the Atto 3 Evo Dynamic. It costs $36,990 before on-road costs, against $41,990.
Last reviewed: September 2026
Side by side
| Dolphin Essential | Dolphin Premium | Atto 3 Evo Dynamic | Atto 3 Evo Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body | Hatchback | Hatchback | SUV | SUV |
| Price before on-road costs | $29,990 | $36,990 | $41,990 | $46,990 |
| Battery | 44.9 kWh | 60.5 kWh | 60.48 kWh | 74.88 kWh |
| WLTP range | 340 km | 427 km | 420 km | 510 km |
| Power / torque | 70 kW / 180 Nm | 150 kW / 310 Nm | 150 kW / 310 Nm | 230 kW / 380 Nm |
| 0-100 km/h (claimed) | Not stated | 7.0 s | 7.3 s | 5.5 s |
| AC / DC charging peak | Not confirmed | 7 kW / 80 kW | 7 kW / 110 kW | 11 kW / 220 kW |
| Length / wheelbase | 4,290 / 2,700 mm | 4,290 / 2,700 mm | 4,455 / 2,720 mm | 4,455 / 2,720 mm |
| Cargo space (seats up) | 345 L | 345 L | 434 L | 490 L + 101 L front trunk |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (2023) | Five stars (2023) | Five stars (2022, per CarExpert) | Five stars (2022, per CarExpert) |
The Dolphin Premium and the Atto 3 Evo Dynamic share their battery size and motor output. The $5,000 between them pays for the body and the charging hardware.
Price
The Dolphin Essential costs $29,990 and the Dolphin Premium $36,990, both before on-road costs. CarExpert lists Sydney drive-away prices of $33,792 and $41,002. The Atto 3 Evo Dynamic costs $41,990, so the Dolphin Premium is $5,000 cheaper and the Dolphin Essential $12,000 cheaper. Both models carry the same BYD warranty: 6 years or 150,000 km for the car, and 8 years or 160,000 km for the battery.
Same powertrain, different body
The Dolphin Premium's 60.5 kWh battery and 150 kW, 310 Nm motor match the Atto 3 Evo Dynamic's 60.48 kWh and 150 kW, 310 Nm. The Dolphin Premium is rated at 427 km of WLTP range against 420 km, and CarExpert measured 15.0 kWh/100 km on its test.
The difference is the body. The Dolphin is a hatchback 165 mm shorter than the Atto 3, with a 20 mm shorter wheelbase. It has 345 liters of cargo space, or 1,310 liters with the rear seats folded, against 434 and 1,340 liters for the Evo Dynamic.
Charging
The Dolphin Premium and the Atto 3 Evo Dynamic both charge at up to 7 kW on AC. On DC, the Evo Dynamic peaks at 110 kW and the Dolphin Premium at 80 kW, and the Evo Premium peaks at 220 kW. The charging page covers the Atto 3 in detail.
The Dolphin Essential
The Dolphin Essential costs $12,000 less than the Atto 3 Evo Dynamic, but it has a 44.9 kWh battery, a 70 kW motor, and 340 km of WLTP range. It replaced the Dolphin Dynamic in March 2025 as the entry model.
Safety rating
The Dolphin has a five-star ANCAP rating from 2023, covering all variants built from June 2023, with scores of 89% for adult occupants, 86% for children, 85% for vulnerable road users, and 77% for safety assist. The Atto 3 holds a five-star rating from 2022, and CarExpert reports that the Evo carries it, although ANCAP's own page lists only the classic variants.
Reviews
CarExpert rated the Dolphin Very Good, calling it "well-equipped, spacious and relatively comfortable" for town use. It praised the clever interior design, the generous equipment, and the Premium's performance, and it criticized overly sensitive driver assistance, highway wind noise, and mixed cabin materials. The review page covers the Atto 3 reviews.
Verdict
The Dolphin Premium is the better buy for a buyer who does not need an SUV body. It has the Atto 3 Evo Dynamic's battery and motor output for $5,000 less. The Atto 3 Evo Dynamic is the better buy for a buyer who wants more cargo space, a higher DC charging peak, and an SUV shape. The Dolphin Essential suits a buyer with a tight budget who mostly drives in town. It costs $12,000 less than the Evo Dynamic, with 80 km less range.
So, the $5,000 gap between the Dolphin Premium and the Atto 3 Evo Dynamic buys space and a higher DC charging peak, not more range.
Atto 3 vs Dolphin FAQ
Which is bigger, the BYD Dolphin or Atto 3?
The Atto 3 is bigger. It is an SUV 165 mm longer than the Dolphin hatchback, with 89 liters more cargo space with the seats up in Evo Dynamic form.
Which has more range, the BYD Dolphin or Atto 3?
The Atto 3 Evo Premium has the most range, at 510 km on the WLTP test. The Dolphin Premium is rated at 427 km, slightly more than the Atto 3 Evo Dynamic's 420 km, and the Dolphin Essential at 340 km.
Do the BYD Dolphin and Atto 3 have the same battery and motor?
The Dolphin Premium and the Atto 3 Evo Dynamic match on motor output, with 150 kW and 310 Nm each, and their batteries are almost the same size, at 60.5 kWh and 60.48 kWh. The other variants differ.
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Sources
Prices and specs were checked in September 2026. This site is independent of BYD.
- CarsGuide: BYD Dolphin 2026 price and specs
- EV Central: $29,990 Dolphin dives in (9 January 2025)
- CarExpert: 2026 BYD Dolphin pricing
- CarExpert: 2025 BYD Dolphin review (15 December 2024)
- ANCAP: BYD DOLPHIN safety rating
- CarExpert: 2026 BYD Atto 3 Evo prices (12 August 2026)
- CarExpert: 2026 BYD Atto 3 Evo price and specs (21 August 2026)
- RACV: 2026 BYD Atto 3 Evo price, specs and release date (19 August 2026)