Toyota Agya vs BYD DOLPHIN

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Toyota Agya Discontinued model
Toyota Agya in South Africa

Toyota Agya

1.0 XR CVT Petrol CVT Discontinued model
ZAR 229,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 51 kW 🔧 91 Nm ⛽ 18.0 km/l
VS
BYD DOLPHIN in South Africa

BYD DOLPHIN

Premium Extended Range EV Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 602,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 310 Nm
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota Agya vs BYD DOLPHIN: the short answer

DOLPHIN has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over Agya.

Recorded price context Agya: last listed from ZAR 189,900 · DOLPHIN: current from ZAR 539,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Agya DOLPHIN
Maximum Power Agya51 kW @ 6000 rpm DOLPHIN150 kW
Maximum Torque Agya91 Nm @ 3600 rpm DOLPHIN310 Nm
Engine Size Agya998 cc DOLPHINNot Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy Agya18.0 km/l DOLPHINNot Applicable
Ground Clearance Agya155 mm DOLPHIN155 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Agya

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

DOLPHIN

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Agya

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

DOLPHIN

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Agya DOLPHIN
Model Introduced Year 2015 2024
Generation Second generation Agya for South Africa First South African DOLPHIN generation
Facelift History Updated with refreshed styling and features No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since 2021 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending 2024 Current
Body Style Hatchback Hatchback
Model Year 2021 2026
Production Status discontinued Active
Segment Hatchback Compact Hatchback
Tare Mass Kg 870 kg -
Vehicle Type Hatchback Passenger vehicle
Spec Agya DOLPHIN
Length 3760 mm 4290 mm
Width 1665 mm 1770 mm
Height 1520 mm 1570 mm
Wheelbase 2455 mm 2700 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 155 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm 130 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 35 l 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 235 l 345 l
Kerb Weight 870 kg 1658 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1265 kg 2068 kg
Payload Capacity 395 kg 410 kg
Towing Capacity 1600 kg 0 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 4.7 m 5.25 m
Front Headroom 983 mm 1000 mm
Rear Headroom 951 mm 900 mm
Front Legroom 1048 mm 1130 mm
Rear Legroom 899 mm 740 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Agya and DOLPHIN comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Agya 22 vs DOLPHIN 66.

Efficiency index: Agya 70 vs DOLPHIN 90.

Safety-equipment index: Agya 71 vs DOLPHIN 98.

Practicality index: Agya 51 vs DOLPHIN 56.

Ownership-cover index: Agya 43 vs DOLPHIN not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

DOLPHIN leads by 26 points

DOLPHIN has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over Agya.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 26 points
Data 64% source coverage
76
#1 Evidence leader

DOLPHIN

64% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Practicality 56
Performance 66
Efficiency 90
Safety 98
Practicality 56
Leads by 26 points
50
#2

Agya

87% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 71 Check Performance 22
Performance 22
Efficiency 70
Safety 71
Practicality 51
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance DOLPHIN +44 Efficiency DOLPHIN +20 Safety DOLPHIN +27 Practicality DOLPHIN +5

Large difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

DOLPHIN

Performance 66/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 56/100

Agya

Performance 22/100
Efficiency 70/100
Safety 71/100
Practicality 51/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD DOLPHIN leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 50 pts for Agya

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, DOLPHIN leads. However, Agya may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Agya vs DOLPHIN questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.