Suzuki Baleno vs BYD DOLPHIN SURF

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Suzuki Baleno in South Africa

Suzuki Baleno

1.5 GLX AT Petrol 4-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 341,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 138 Nm ⛽ 17.5 km/l
VS
BYD DOLPHIN SURF in South Africa

BYD DOLPHIN SURF

Dynamic EV Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 395,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 55 kW 🔧 135 Nm
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Baleno
Fuel Economy DOLPHIN SURF
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Baleno
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Baleno starts ZAR 72,000 cheaper Baleno from ZAR 269,900 · DOLPHIN SURF from ZAR 341,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Baleno DOLPHIN SURF
Maximum Power 77 kW @ 6000 rpm 55 kW
Maximum Torque 138 Nm @ 4400 rpm 135 Nm
Engine Size 1462 cc Not Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy 17.5 km/l Not Applicable
Ground Clearance 150 mm 155 mm
Boot / Load Bay 314 l 230 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 985 kg 1280 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 3 years/100000 km complete vehicle; 8 years/200000 km power battery; 5 years/100000 km drive unit

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Baleno and DOLPHIN SURF are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Baleno +9 pts
Efficiency DOLPHIN SURF +23 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Baleno +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

Baleno

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

DOLPHIN SURF

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Baleno

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

DOLPHIN SURF

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Baleno DOLPHIN SURF
Model Introduced Year 2022 2025
Generation Second generation globally launched in 2022; entirely new platform and body compared to the first-generation Baleno; shares K15B engine with Fronx, Ertiga, XL6, and Grand Vitara for parts commonality First South African DOLPHIN SURF generation
Facelift History Second-generation Baleno launched in SA in 2022 as a full redesign on a new platform — wider, longer, and significantly better specified than the first-generation model; no facelift of the second generation yet No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since 2022 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback Hatchback
Color Note Pearl Arctic White, Metallic Grandeur Grey, Metallic Midnight Blue, Pearl Burning Red, Solid White -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published Active
Segment Hatchback City Hatchback
Tare Mass Kg 975 kg -
Vehicle Type Hatchback Passenger vehicle
Spec Baleno DOLPHIN SURF
Length 3990 mm 3925 mm
Width 1745 mm 1720 mm
Height 1500 mm 1590 mm
Wheelbase 2520 mm 2500 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 150 mm 155 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 37 l 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 314 l 230 l
Kerb Weight 985 kg 1280 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1430 kg 1690 kg
Payload Capacity 445 kg 410 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.1 m 4.95 m
Front Headroom 993 mm 980 mm
Rear Headroom 985 mm 920 mm
Front Legroom 1043 mm 1060 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm 690 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 120 mm
Towing Capacity - 0 kg

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Baleno leads by 0 points

Baleno and DOLPHIN SURF are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Index leader 61 /100
Lead 0 points
Data 89% source coverage
61
#1 Index leader

Baleno

89% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 87 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 67
Safety 87
Practicality 55
Ownership 71
Leads by 0 points
61
#2

DOLPHIN SURF

60% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 90 Check Performance 25
Performance 25
Efficiency 90
Safety 87
Practicality 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Baleno +9 Efficiency DOLPHIN SURF +23 Safety Level Practicality Baleno +4

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Baleno

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 67/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 71/100

DOLPHIN SURF

Performance 25/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 51/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Suzuki Baleno leads the catalogue index with 61 pts vs 61 pts for DOLPHIN SURF

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Baleno leads. However, DOLPHIN SURF may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

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

Performance index: Baleno 34 vs DOLPHIN SURF 25.

Efficiency index: Baleno 67 vs DOLPHIN SURF 90.

Safety-equipment index: Baleno 87 vs DOLPHIN SURF 87.

Practicality index: Baleno 55 vs DOLPHIN SURF 51.

Ownership-cover index: Baleno 71 vs DOLPHIN SURF 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.