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BYD Dolphin vs VW ID.Polo
Selected trimComfortChange trim265 mi · 60.4 kWh · £30,195
At a glance
In this comparison, BYD Dolphin leads on charging speed and city driving, while the VW ID.Polo leads on running costs.
Which should you choose?
Choose the BYD Dolphin if...
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you drive in the city - it's compact with an excellent turning circle
Choose the VW ID.Polo if...
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.5p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The BYD Dolphin edges ahead overall, but it's close - check which categories matter most to you.
Value
BYD
6.7
VW
6.3
Too close to call
Motorway Range
BYD
5.5
VW
5.1
Too close to call
Family
BYD
7.9
VW
8.3
Too close to call
ChargingBYD
BYD
7.7
VW
6.3
Cost Per MileVW
BYD
7.2
VW
9.8
City DrivingBYD
BYD
8.5
VW
7.5
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BYD DolphinComfort | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £30,195 | £23,945 (better) |
| Official range | 265 miles (better) | 204 miles |
| Boot space | 364 L | 441 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | Not available | 23 min |
| 0-62 mph | 7 sec | Not available |
Size Comparison
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BYD Dolphin
VW ID.Polo
Length
BYD Dolphin4,290mm
VW ID.Polo4,053mm-237mm
Width
BYD Dolphin1,770mm-46mm
VW ID.Polo1,816mm
Height
BYD Dolphin1,570mm
VW ID.Polo1,530mm-40mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BYD DolphinComfort | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,290 mm | 4,053 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,770 mm (better) | 1,816 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,012 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,570 mm | 1,530 mm |
| Turning circle | 9.4 m (better) | 10.9 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 630 mm spare (better) | 584 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BYD DolphinComfort | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 3 | Not available |
| Boot space (seats up) | 364 L | 441 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1329 L (better) | 1240 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 750 kg | Not available |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
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.
VW ID.Polo
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BYD Dolphin Comfort |  VW ID.Polo Life 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.29m | 4.05m-237mm |
| Width | 1.77m | 1.82m+46mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.01m | Not available |
| Height | 1.57m | 1.53m-40mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.70m | 2.59m-108mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 364L | 441L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1329L (better) | 1240L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 9.4m (better) | 10.9m |
| Kerb Weight | 1,658kg | Not available |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 60.4kWh (better) | 37kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 265 mi (better) | 204 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 110kW (better) | 90kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £30,195 | £23,945 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Available | 2023+ | 2027+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BYD DolphinComfort | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 265 miles (better) | 204 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 221 miles (better) | 170 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | Not available | 23 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 110 kW (better) | 90 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 60.4 kWh (better) | 37 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | Not available |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
| Heat pump | Standard | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BYD DolphinComfort | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 7 sec | Not available |
| Power | 150 kW (better) | 85 kW |
| Torque | 310 Nm | Not available |
| 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.
BYD Dolphin
Comfort
7.2/10
average across 6 reviews
- Auto Express4/5
- Electrifying.com8/10
- DrivingElectric4/5
VW ID.Polo
Life 116PS
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
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 | BYD DolphinComfort | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | Not available |
| Battery warranty distance | 250,000 km | Not available |
Buying options
Get a quote
BYD Dolphin
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.Polo
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the BYD Dolphin worth the extra £6,250 over the VW ID.Polo?
The BYD Dolphin costs £6,250 more than the VW ID.Polo. For that premium it adds 60 miles more WLTP range and 65 kW more power. The VW ID.Polo is not just cheaper - it also offers 77 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 BYD Dolphin or the VW ID.Polo?
The VW ID.Polo is £6,250 cheaper to buy. The VW ID.Polo is cheaper to charge, roughly £120 a year versus £152 for the BYD Dolphin, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the VW ID.Polo comes out roughly £6,410 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BYD Dolphin and VW ID.Polo like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 221 miles for the BYD Dolphin and 170 miles for the VW ID.Polo - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The BYD Dolphin goes roughly 50 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BYD Dolphin or the VW ID.Polo?
The BYD Dolphin is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 46 mm narrower than the VW ID.Polo. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 630 mm of total clearance for the BYD Dolphin and about 584 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.Polo. The BYD Dolphin also turns in a 1.5 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
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 BYD Dolphin comparisons
More VW ID.Polo 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 BYD Dolphin and VW ID.Polo rank among the best family EVsWhere the BYD Dolphin and VW ID.Polo rank among EVs under £40,000Where the BYD Dolphin and VW ID.Polo rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BYD Dolphin and VW ID.Polo rank among the best city EVsWhere the BYD Dolphin and VW ID.Polo rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BYD Dolphin and VW ID.Polo rank among EVs with the biggest boots
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 .