BYD Dolphin vs Citroën ë-C4 X (2023-2024)

The Citroën ë-C4 X costs £1,800 more than the BYD Dolphin. For that premium it adds 146 litres more boot space. The BYD Dolphin is not just cheaper - it also offers 43 miles more WLTP range, 50 kW more power and a 3.8s quicker 0-62mph time. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the BYD Dolphin comes out ahead overall.

The BYD Dolphin is £1,800 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 BYD Dolphin comes out roughly £1,800 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.

EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 221 miles for the BYD Dolphin and 185 miles for the Citroën ë-C4 X - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The BYD Dolphin goes roughly 35 miles further between charging stops.

The BYD Dolphin is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 30 mm narrower than the Citroën ë-C4 X. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 630 mm of total clearance for the BYD Dolphin and about 600 mm of total clearance for the Citroën ë-C4 X. The BYD Dolphin also turns in a 1.5 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.

Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the BYD Dolphin and 84% for the Citroën ë-C4 X. That gives the BYD Dolphin a modest edge in retained real-world range. The BYD Dolphin's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the Citroën ë-C4 X's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.