BYD Dolphin vs Citroën ë-C4 (2021-2024)

The Citroën ë-C4 costs £1,985 more than the BYD Dolphin. On the headline specs that premium buys little measurable advantage - the two are closely matched on range, charging and space. The BYD Dolphin is not just cheaper - it also offers 48 miles more WLTP range, 50 kW more power and a 3.0s quicker 0-62mph time. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the BYD Dolphin comes out ahead overall.

The BYD Dolphin is £1,985 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 £2,065 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 156 miles for the Citroën ë-C4 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The BYD Dolphin goes roughly 65 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. 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. 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. 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's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.