BYD Dolphin ISOFIX Child Seat Guide
The BYD Dolphin has ISOFIX and i-Size anchor points on the two rear outboard seats, plus top tether anchorages for those positions. The rear centre seat takes a booster only, and the owner's manual advises against fitting a child seat on the front passenger seat. One step owners often miss: you must remove the cargo cover to reach the top tether anchorage before fitting a tethered seat.
BYD Dolphin Child Seat Anchors at a Glance
| Measurement | Detail |
|---|---|
| ISOFIX positions | Two, rear left and rear right |
| i-Size positions | Two, rear left and rear right |
| Top tether | Rear outboard seats |
| Rear centre seat | Booster only |
| Front passenger seat | Not suitable for child seats |
| Anchor location | Gap between seat cushion and seatback |
Where the Anchor Points Are
Finding the anchors is the first step, and the Dolphin makes them easy to locate once you know where to look.
- ISOFIX bars: On the two rear outboard seats, in the gap between the seat cushion and the seatback
- Markings: A symbol on the seatback, directly above each anchorage, shows you the spot
- Top tether: Anchorage points are on the back of the rear seats, reached from the boot area
The manual is clear that these anchorages are designed only for correctly fitted child restraints. They must never be used for adult seat belts or to secure other items in the car.
Which Seat Fits Which Child Seat
This compatibility table follows the exact seating-position matrix in the BYD Dolphin owner's manual. It is the clearest way to see what goes where.
| Seating position | ISOFIX / i-Size | Rear-facing | Forward-facing | Booster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver seat | No | No | No | No |
| Front passenger | No | No | No | No |
| Rear left | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rear centre | No | No | No | Booster only |
| Rear right | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
In short, the two rear outboard seats do the heavy lifting, taking everything from rear-facing infant seats to boosters. The rear centre is for a booster only, and the front seats are not for child seats at all.
How to Fit an ISOFIX Seat
Fitting an ISOFIX seat on a rear outboard position is straightforward once the anchors are located. Always follow your child seat's own instructions alongside these steps.
- Choose a rear outboard seat: The rear left or rear right position
- Locate the ISOFIX bars: In the gap between the cushion and seatback, below the marked symbol
- Adjust the head support: The manual notes the head support can be raised or removed so the seat sits properly against the seatback
- Connect the ISOFIX arms: Push the seat's connectors onto the bars until they lock, checking any indicators on the seat
- Add the top tether if required: For a forward-facing seat that uses one, fit the top tether as described below
- Check it is secure: Push and pull the seat to confirm it is firmly attached
Using the Top Tether: The Cargo Cover Step
| Important: remove the cargo cover first |
| The owner's manual states that when fitting a child restraint with a top tether on a rear outboard seat, you must remove the cargo cover to reach the top tether anchorage. Store the cover safely in the vehicle. Route the tether strap through the hole in the head support, then attach and tension it to the anchorage point at the base of the seat, on the outside of each head support rod. |
This is the single step owners most often overlook, and it matters. Without removing the cover you cannot reach the anchorage, and a top tether that is not properly attached compromises the seat's safety.
The manual also gives a serious safety warning: never allow a child to climb onto the cargo cover, as this can damage the cover or cause injury.
The Front Passenger Seat Rule
This is a safety point worth stating plainly. The Dolphin owner's manual advises against installing child seats on the front passenger seat, and its compatibility matrix marks that position as not suitable.
- Never rear-facing in front: The manual explicitly warns never to install a rear-facing child restraint on the front passenger seat
- Rear is safest: The rear outboard seats are the correct place for child restraints
- Airbag risk: A front airbag deploying against a child seat can cause serious injury
For families, the message is simple. Keep child seats in the back, on the rear outboard positions wherever possible.
The Rear Centre Seat
The middle rear seat has a specific, limited role in the Dolphin. It does not have ISOFIX or i-Size anchor points.
According to the manual's matrix, the rear centre seat is suitable for a booster seat only, secured with the adult seat belt. It is not approved for rear-facing or forward-facing harnessed seats, so those belong on the outboard positions.
Head Supports and Getting a Good Fit
A few practical points from the manual help you achieve a secure, comfortable installation.
- Adjust or remove the head support: To let a child seat sit flat against the seatback, the head support can be raised or taken out
- Keep it in place for boosters: When a child restraint has no back of its own, do not remove the vehicle head restraint
- Slide the front seat forward: You can move the front seat forward and adjust its recline so your child is not in contact with it
- Route the tether correctly: Through the head support hole, on the outside of the support rods
If you also own a BYD SUV, our complete ISOFIX and child seat guide for the Atto 3 covers its layout, which differs in a few useful ways.
ISOFIX and i-Size: What They Mean
If the terms are new to you, a quick explanation helps you choose the right seat with confidence.
- ISOFIX: An international standard for anchoring child seats directly to built-in metal bars, rather than relying on the seat belt. It gives a rigid, hard-to-get-wrong connection
- i-Size: A newer part of the ISOFIX standard, designed around a child's height and requiring a top tether or support leg for extra stability. i-Size seats are made to fit i-Size positions in any compatible car
- Top tether: A strap from the top of a forward-facing seat to an anchor point behind the seat, which stops the seat pitching forward in a crash
Because the Dolphin's two rear outboard seats are both ISOFIX and i-Size positions, they accept the widest range of modern child seats, which is exactly what most families need.
Which Seat for Which Age
The right restraint changes as your child grows, and all of the stages below fit the rear outboard seats.
- Newborn to toddler: A rear-facing infant or convertible seat, fitted on a rear outboard position
- Toddler to preschool: A forward-facing harnessed seat with the top tether attached
- Older child: A high-backed booster that positions the adult belt correctly
- Transitioning out: A booster remains the safest option until the adult belt fits properly on its own
Keeping children rear-facing for as long as their seat allows is widely recommended, and the Dolphin's outboard seats support the largest rear-facing fixtures in the manual's ratings.
Child seats and young passengers are hard on upholstery, so a little protection keeps the cabin in good shape and protects resale value.
- Seat protectors: A mat under the child seat guards against pressure marks and scuffs
- Kick mats: Protect the back of the front seats from muddy shoes
- Check the fit: Make sure any protector does not interfere with the ISOFIX connection or the seat's stability
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting the cargo cover: You must remove it to reach the top tether anchorage
- Fitting a child seat in front: The manual marks the front passenger seat as unsuitable, and never for rear-facing
- Using the centre seat for a harnessed seat: The rear centre takes a booster only
- Skipping the top tether: Fit it whenever the seat requires one, routed through the head support hole
- Leaving the head support in the way: Adjust or remove it so the seat sits flat, except for backless boosters
- Not checking the connection: Push and pull to confirm the seat is firmly anchored