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Abarth 500e vs BYD Dolphin
Selected trimHatchbackChange trim164 mi · 42.2 kWh · £27,995
Selected trimComfortChange trim265 mi · 60.4 kWh · £30,195
At a glance
In this comparison, Abarth 500e leads on city driving, while the BYD Dolphin leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Abarth 500e if...
- you drive in the city - it's compact with an excellent turning circle
Choose the BYD Dolphin if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.9p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The BYD Dolphin wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueBYD
Abarth
4.4
BYD
6.7
Motorway RangeBYD
Abarth
3.1
BYD
5.5
FamilyBYD
Abarth
0.8
BYD
7.9
ChargingBYD
Abarth
3.3
BYD
7.7
Cost Per MileBYD
Abarth
4.2
BYD
7.2
City DrivingAbarth
Abarth
9.6
BYD
8.5
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
BYD Dolphin
Comfort
- 101 miles more WLTP range
- 179 litres more boot space
- 25 kW faster rapid charging
- 36 kW more power
- 1 more seat
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Abarth 500eHatchback | BYD DolphinComfort |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £27,995 (better) | £30,195 |
| Official range | 164 miles | 265 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 185 L | 364 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 35 min | Not available |
| 0-62 mph | 7 sec | 7 sec |
Size Comparison
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Abarth 500e
BYD Dolphin
Length
Abarth 500e3,673mm-617mm
BYD Dolphin4,290mm
Width
Abarth 500e1,683mm-87mm
BYD Dolphin1,770mm
Height
Abarth 500e1,518mm-52mm
BYD Dolphin1,570mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Abarth 500eHatchback | BYD DolphinComfort |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,673 mm | 4,290 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,683 mm (better) | 1,770 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | 1,900 mm (better) | 2,012 mm |
| Height | 1,518 mm | 1,570 mm |
| Turning circle | 9.4 m | 9.4 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 717 mm spare (better) | 630 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Abarth 500eHatchback | BYD DolphinComfort |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 4 | 5 (better) |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 3 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 185 L | 364 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 550 L | 1329 L (better) |
| Towing capacity (braked) | Not available | 750 kg |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Abarth 500e
- Eligible for the full £3,750 UK Electric Car Grant, one of 8 hatchback EVs we track that qualifies for the top band.
- At 3,673 mm, shorter than 85% of hatchback EVs in our UK catalogue.
- 9.4 m turning circle, tighter than 90% of hatchback EVs in our database.
BYD Dolphin
- 265 mile WLTP range, longer than 90% of hatchback EVs we track.
- Peak DC charging of 110 kW, faster than 85% of hatchback EVs in our catalogue.
- One of 33 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Abarth 500e Hatchback |  BYD Dolphin Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3.67m | 4.29m+617mm |
| Width | 1.68m | 1.77m+87mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 1.90m | 2.01m+112mm |
| Height | 1.52m | 1.57m+52mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.32m | 2.70m+378mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 185L | 364L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 550L | 1329L (better) |
| Seats | 4 | 5 (better) |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 9.4m | 9.4m |
| Kerb Weight | Not available | 1,658kg |
| Towing Capacity | Not available | 750kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 42.2kWh | 60.4kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 164 mi | 265 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 85kW | 110kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £27,995 (better) | £30,195 |
| Price after EV grant | £24,245 (-£3,750) | £30,195 (not eligible) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Available | 2023+ | 2023+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Abarth 500eHatchback | BYD DolphinComfort |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 164 miles | 265 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 137 miles | 221 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 35 min | Not available |
| Max rapid charge rate | 85 kW | 110 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Usable battery capacity | 42.2 kWh | 60.4 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | Not available | LFP |
| Battery architecture | Not available | 400V |
| Heat pump | Not available | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Abarth 500eHatchback | BYD DolphinComfort |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 7 sec | 7 sec |
| Power | 114 kW | 150 kW (better) |
| Torque | 235 Nm | 310 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
Abarth 500e
Hatchback
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
BYD Dolphin
Comfort
7.2/10
average across 6 reviews
- Auto Express4/5
- Electrifying.com8/10
- DrivingElectric4/5
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BYD Dolphin Comfort
Tested 2023
Adult Occupant89%
Child Occupant87%
Vulnerable Road Users85%
Safety Assist79%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Abarth 500eHatchback | BYD DolphinComfort |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | Not available | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | Not available | 250,000 km |
Buying options
Get a quote
Abarth 500e
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
BYD Dolphin
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the BYD Dolphin worth the extra £2,200 over the Abarth 500e?
The BYD Dolphin costs £2,200 more than the Abarth 500e. For that premium it adds 101 miles more WLTP range, 25 kW faster peak rapid charging and 179 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the BYD Dolphin comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Abarth 500e or the BYD Dolphin?
The Abarth 500e is £2,200 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £152 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Abarth 500e comes out roughly £2,080 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Abarth 500e and BYD Dolphin like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 137 miles for the Abarth 500e and 221 miles for the BYD Dolphin - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The BYD Dolphin goes roughly 84 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Abarth 500e or the BYD Dolphin?
The Abarth 500e is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 87 mm narrower than the BYD Dolphin. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 717 mm of total clearance for the Abarth 500e and about 630 mm of total clearance for the BYD Dolphin.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Abarth 500e comparisons
More BYD Dolphin comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Abarth 500e and BYD Dolphin rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Abarth 500e and BYD Dolphin rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Abarth 500e and BYD Dolphin rank among the best city EVsWhere the Abarth 500e and BYD Dolphin rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Abarth 500e and BYD Dolphin rank among EVs with the biggest bootsWhere the Abarth 500e and BYD Dolphin rank among Best Used Electric Cars Under £10,000 (UK)
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .