BYD Dolphin Dimensions: Will It Fit Your Garage?
The BYD Dolphin measures 4,290 mm long, 1,770 mm wide excluding the mirrors, and 1,570 mm tall, with a 2,700 mm wheelbase. It is a compact hatchback that fits comfortably in a standard single garage and a normal parking bay, with room to open the doors. Remember the width figure excludes the mirrors, so allow a little extra for them, or fold them when parking in tight spaces.
BYD Dolphin Dimensions at a Glance
| Measurement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Length | 4,290 mm |
| Width (excluding mirrors) | 1,770 mm |
| Height | 1,570 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,700 mm |
| Front / rear overhang | 830 mm / 760 mm |
| Approach / departure angle | 16 degrees / 23 degrees |
| Seats | 5 |
The Dolphin's Size in Plain Terms
The BYD Dolphin is a compact hatchback, and its dimensions reflect that. At 4,290 mm long it sits squarely in the small-car class, longer than a city runabout but shorter than a family sedan.
The 1,570 mm height gives it a slightly tall, roomy feel inside for its footprint, while the 2,700 mm wheelbase, generous for the class, frees up cabin space. In short, it is easy to place on the road and in a car park, yet spacious enough inside for daily family use.
An Important Note on Width
This is the detail that catches people out, so it is worth being precise. The 1,770 mm width quoted in the manual is measured excluding the side mirrors.
- Body width: 1,770 mm is the widest point of the bodywork itself
- With mirrors out: The extended door mirrors add to that figure, so the car is wider when parked with the mirrors open
- Folding helps: The Dolphin's mirrors fold, which reduces the overall width in tight garages and narrow spaces
So when judging a tight gap, use the mirror-extended width, not the 1,770 mm body figure, or simply fold the mirrors as you edge in.
Will It Fit Your Garage?
For most homes, the answer is a comfortable yes. Here is how the Dolphin measures up against typical spaces.
- Standard single garage: With internal widths usually around 3 metres and depths well over 5 metres, the 4,290 mm long, 1,770 mm wide Dolphin fits with room to spare and space to open the doors
- Standard parking bay: A typical marked bay is around 2.4 metres wide and 5.4 metres long, so the Dolphin sits comfortably within it
- Tight urban spots: Its compact length makes kerbside and small-space parking genuinely easy
- Multi-storey car parks: At 1,570 mm tall, it clears the height barriers on typical car parks, which are usually around 2 metres, with ease
The combination of a short length and modest height means the Dolphin is one of the less stressful cars to park and garage.
Wheelbase and Manoeuvrability
The 2,700 mm wheelbase does two jobs at once. Inside, it stretches the cabin for better passenger space. Outside, combined with short overhangs of 830 mm at the front and 760 mm at the rear, it keeps the car easy to place.
Short overhangs mean less car hanging beyond the wheels, which helps with tight turns, kerbs, and judging the car's extremities when parking. It is a big part of why the Dolphin feels nimble in town.
Approach and Departure Angles
These angles matter more than you might expect for an everyday car, especially on steep driveways and speed bumps.
- Approach angle, 16 degrees: How steep an incline the front can meet without scraping
- Departure angle, 23 degrees: The same for the rear as you leave an incline
- In practice: Take steep driveway entrances and sharp speed bumps slowly and at a slight angle to avoid scraping the front
These are typical for a low hatchback, so a little care on the steepest driveways keeps the underside protected.
Weight and Capacity
Weight varies between the two variants, reflecting their different batteries.
- Curb weight: 1,506 kg for the Standard Range and 1,658 kg for the Extended Range
- Maximum total mass: 1,916 kg and 2,068 kg respectively
- Seats: Five, with the payload being the difference between the maximum mass and the curb weight
For a small EV, these are sensible figures, and the low, central battery gives the Dolphin a planted, stable feel on the road.
Dimensions Across the BYD Range
If you are comparing the Dolphin against a larger BYD, size is often the deciding factor. Our guide to the Seal's dimensions and boot space covers the larger sedan, which is longer and wider, useful if you are weighing a compact hatch against a full-size sedan.