Winning a major European automotive award speaks volumes about the qualities and appeal of the brand for European car buyers. In that context, we can proudly announce that the BYD DOLPHIN has been voted ‘Best Buy Car of Europe 2024’ by AUTOBEST!
The AUTOBEST ‘Best Buy Car’ election is one of the largest and most valuable car awards in Europe. Each year, 31 automotive journalists and experts from 31 European countries affiliated with AUTOBEST search for the best car available to buy in Europe. In the ‘Best Buy Car’ election, not only the quality and price of the car are central, but also its design and the use of new technologies are considered.
Of all the new cars that were launched on the European market in the past year, eventually four models were chosen for the final round. These cars were intensively and thoroughly tested and evaluated by the jury members at the Teesdorf circuit in Austria.
In the final, the BYD DOLPHIN competed against the Fiat 600e, Hyundai Kona, and Jeep Avenger. Scoring 20,057 points, the BYD DOLPHIN emerged as the winner and was convincingly declared AUTOBEST’s ‘Best Buy Car of Europe 2024’. The DOLPHIN is particularly appreciated for its high-tech safety features, generous standard equipment, and unmatched value for money.
The jury's verdict
AUTOBEST jury chairman Dan Vardie said, “The BYD DOLPHIN thoroughly deserves the ‘Best Buy Car of Europe 2024’ title. The fact that the DOLPHIN is manufactured by BYD, one of the leading global companies in the world of electrification, is also very important. The DOLPHIN’s victory is clear proof that the car industry is becoming a more global business with fewer boundaries compared to just a few years ago. The industry is growing in all territories with products showing an appeal able to satisfy any kind of tastes and driving habits, including the most demanding ones of European consumers.”
It's the first time BYD has won such a significant European car award. Michael Shu, Managing Director of BYD Europe, is therefore very pleased: “We are very proud of this award as it has been recognized by a panel of professional judges. I’m absolutely sure that this prize will attract the interest and attention of new car buyers. Especially because the BYD DOLPHIN offers something that is rarely seen in the EV-segment: excellent price/quality. BYD wants to pack great premium equipment as standard, and at the same time, we would like to make it affordable for the broader audience in order to promote e-mobility.”
Irresistible product offering
The BYD DOLPHIN, with its length of 4.29 meters, is a relatively compact five-door hatchback, but offers an impressively spacious passenger cabin thanks to its clever interior layout. Equally impressive is it’s safety level, as recently demonstrated in crash tests conducted by the Euro NCAP safety institute, where the DOLPHIN was awarded the maximum score of five stars.
The DOLPHIN also has an unmistakably high-tech character. The car is based on BYD’s advanced e-Platform 3.0, with a state-of-the-art Blade Battery that sets new standards in safety, durability, stability, and energy density. The battery works seamlessly with the DOLPHIN’s efficient powertrain technology and standard heat pump, resulting in a reassuring range of up to 427 kilometres (WLTP combined).
A significant contribution to the BYD DOLPHIN’s AUTOBEST title is its impressive value for money. Despite its advanced technology, high-quality interior, and extensive standard equipment, the BYD DOLPHIN is already available for a starting price of less than 30,000 euros (may differ per country).
BYD’s unprecedentedly competitive offering across its range isn’t only confirmed by the results of the ‘Best Buy Car of Europe 2024’ election, but also by the ‘VAB Family Car of the Year 2024’ victory, one year since the BYD ATTO 3 was voted ‘VAB Family Car of the Year 2023’. And there’s more to come, maybe soon, as the BYD SEAL is among the seven finalists for the equally prestigious ‘European Car of the Year 2024 Award’, the winner of which will be announced at the end of February 2024.