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BYD Dolphin vs Kia Soul EV
Selected trimComfortChange trim265 mi · 60.4 kWh · £30,195
Selected trim64kWh · 2020-24Change trim281 mi · 67.5 kWh · £37,295
At a glance
In this comparison, BYD Dolphin leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality, while the Kia Soul EV stays competitive across the board.
Which should you choose?
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
- you drive in the city - it's compact with an excellent turning circle
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
BYD
6.7
Kia
4.3
Motorway RangeBYD
BYD
5.5
Kia
3.9
FamilyBYD
BYD
7.9
Kia
2.4
ChargingBYD
BYD
7.7
Kia
0.9
Cost Per MileBYD
BYD
7.2
Kia
5.9
City DrivingBYD
BYD
8.5
Kia
7.5
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
BYD Dolphin
Comfort
- £7,100 cheaper
- 0.9s quicker 0-62 mph
- 1.2 m tighter turning circle
- 1 more year of battery warranty
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BYD DolphinComfort | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £30,195 (better) | £37,295 |
| Official range | 265 miles | 281 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 364 L (better) | 315 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | Not available | 47 min |
| 0-62 mph | 7 sec (better) | 7.9 sec |
Size Comparison
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BYD Dolphin
Kia Soul EV
Length
BYD Dolphin4,290mm
Kia Soul EV4,195mm-95mm
Width
BYD Dolphin1,770mm-30mm
Kia Soul EV1,800mm
Height
BYD Dolphin1,570mm-30mm
Kia Soul EV1,600mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BYD DolphinComfort | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,290 mm | 4,195 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,770 mm (better) | 1,800 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,012 mm (better) | 2,040 mm |
| Height | 1,570 mm | 1,600 mm |
| Turning circle | 9.4 m (better) | 10.6 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 630 mm spare (better) | 600 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BYD DolphinComfort | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 3 (better) | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 364 L (better) | 315 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1329 L | 1339 L (better) |
| 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.
Kia Soul EV
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BYD Dolphin Comfort |  Kia Soul EV 64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.29m | 4.20m-95mm |
| Width | 1.77m | 1.80m+30mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.01m | 2.04m+28mm |
| Height | 1.57m | 1.60m+30mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.70m | 2.60m-100mm |
| Ground Clearance | Not available | 160mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 364L (better) | 315L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1329L | 1339L (better) |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 9.4m (better) | 10.6m |
| Kerb Weight | 1,658kg (better) | 1,758kg |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 60.4kWh | 67.5kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 265 mi | 281 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 110kW (better) | 100kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £30,195 (better) | £37,295 |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Hatchback | SUV |
| Available | 2023+ | 2020–2024 |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BYD DolphinComfort | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 265 miles | 281 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 221 miles | 234 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | Not available | 47 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 110 kW (better) | 100 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW (better) | 7.2 kW |
| Usable battery capacity | 60.4 kWh | 64 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 400V |
| Heat pump | Standard | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BYD DolphinComfort | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 7 sec (better) | 7.9 sec |
| Power | 150 kW | 150 kW |
| Torque | 310 Nm | 395 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.
BYD Dolphin
Comfort
7.2/10
average across 6 reviews
- Auto Express4/5
- Electrifying.com8/10
- DrivingElectric4/5
Kia Soul EV
64kWh
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.
BYD Dolphin
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
New and used prices
Current pricing and recent used-market behaviour.
| Measure | BYD DolphinComfort | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Used market price from | £17,646 | £11,889 |
| Average used price | £18,844 | £13,247 |
| Recent used-price trend | Down 16.2% over ~6 months | Up 19.5% over ~6 months |
Used prices are indicative figures gathered from independent UK dealer listings and change frequently.
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 | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years (better) | 7 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 250,000 km (better) | 160,000 km |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag real-world range, dealer & service support. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
BYD Dolphin
Comfort
Owners love
- Owners praise the ride, which suits UK roads, and the surprisingly composed handling for a small car.
- There is plenty of rear legroom for the car's size, and the 360-degree cameras make parking easy.
- The cabin feels well made and well equipped for the money, with V2L and generous standard kit.
Watch out for
- Early cars came on LingLong tyres that owners rate poorly in the wet and cold, with some reporting early punctures; many replaced them.
- The small driver display is hard to read, there is no seat memory, and regenerative braking is weak.
- The pedestrian-warning sound and alert chimes were loud and intrusive until updates; the musical alerts can be switched to a standard sound.
Owner tips
- Check which tyres the car is on and budget to replace LingLongs if fitted.
- Make sure all software updates are installed, and switch the alert sounds from 'Brand' to 'Standard'.
Kia Soul EV
64kWh
Owners love
- Owners regularly report 250 miles or more in mild weather, with very good efficiency.
- Strong, smooth acceleration and a comfortable, roomy cabin for the car's size.
- Well-equipped, with a head-up display and adaptive cruise control on most cars.
Watch out for
- Some owners report 12V battery drain and repeat flat batteries that dealers struggled to fix.
- Scheduled charging in the car and the Kia app can be unreliable or reset itself.
- Road noise is noticeable, and there are no front parking sensors.
Owner tips
- Check the 12V battery and ask whether the car has had electrical faults.
- Look for a car with the recall work done, including the power control unit coolant check on mid-2020 builds.
Buying options
Get a quote
BYD Dolphin
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Kia Soul EV
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BYD Dolphin
No active listings.
Kia Soul EV
- £14,3952020Drive GreenView
- £11,7952020Drive GreenView
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kia Soul EV worth the extra £7,100 over the BYD Dolphin?
The Kia Soul EV costs £7,100 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 a 0.9s quicker 0-62mph time. 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 Kia Soul EV?
The BYD Dolphin is £7,100 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 £7,140 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 Kia Soul EV like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 221 miles for the BYD Dolphin and 234 miles for the Kia Soul EV - effectively matched, and both well below their WLTP figures because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BYD Dolphin or the Kia Soul EV?
The BYD Dolphin is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 30 mm narrower than the Kia Soul EV. 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 Kia Soul EV. The BYD Dolphin also turns in a 1.2 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BYD Dolphin or the Kia Soul EV?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the BYD Dolphin and 84% for the Kia Soul EV. 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 Kia Soul EV's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. The BYD Dolphin has the longer battery warranty at 8 years, versus 7 for the Kia Soul EV.
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 Kia Soul EV 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 Kia Soul EV rank among the best family EVsWhere the BYD Dolphin and Kia Soul EV rank among EVs under £40,000Where the BYD Dolphin and Kia Soul EV rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BYD Dolphin and Kia Soul EV rank among the best city EVsWhere the BYD Dolphin and Kia Soul EV rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BYD Dolphin and Kia Soul EV rank among EVs with the biggest boots
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.
GuideBuying a Used BYD Dolphin (2023 on): 44.9 vs 60.4 kWh & What to Pay
A used BYD Dolphin buyer’s guide: the 60.4 kWh Comfort and Design, the later 44.9 kWh Active and Boost, BYD’s 8-year battery warranty, slow rapid charging, real-world range, what owners report and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used Kia Soul EV (2014-2024): 27 vs 64 kWh, Battery Health, Recalls & What to Pay
A used Kia Soul EV buyer’s guide: the 2014-2019 car vs the 64 kWh e-Soul, battery wear on early cars, the 7-year warranty, the recalls, real-world range, what to pay and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .