Suzuki Baleno vs BYD DOLPHIN

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 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

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance DOLPHIN
Fuel Economy DOLPHIN
🛡 Safety DOLPHIN
📦 Practicality DOLPHIN
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Baleno starts ZAR 270,000 cheaper Baleno from ZAR 269,900 · DOLPHIN from ZAR 539,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Baleno DOLPHIN
Maximum Power 77 kW @ 6000 rpm 150 kW
Maximum Torque 138 Nm @ 4400 rpm 310 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 345 l
Airbags 6 7
Kerb Weight 985 kg 1658 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

DOLPHIN holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Baleno.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance DOLPHIN +32 pts
Efficiency DOLPHIN +23 pts
Safety DOLPHIN +11 pts
Practicality DOLPHIN +1 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Baleno

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
Catalogue-index 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?

Baleno

  • 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

Spec Baleno DOLPHIN
Model Introduced Year 2022 2024
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 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 Compact Hatchback
Tare Mass Kg 975 kg -
Vehicle Type Hatchback Passenger vehicle
Spec Baleno DOLPHIN
Length 3990 mm 4290 mm
Width 1745 mm 1770 mm
Height 1500 mm 1570 mm
Wheelbase 2520 mm 2700 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 150 mm 155 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 37 l 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 314 l 345 l
Kerb Weight 985 kg 1658 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1430 kg 2068 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 5.25 m
Front Headroom 993 mm 1000 mm
Rear Headroom 985 mm 900 mm
Front Legroom 1043 mm 1130 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm 740 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 130 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

DOLPHIN leads by 15 points

DOLPHIN holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Baleno.

Index leader 76 /100
Lead 15 points
Data 64% source coverage
76
#1 Index 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 15 points
61
#2

Baleno

89% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 87 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 67
Safety 87
Practicality 55
Ownership 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance DOLPHIN +32 Efficiency DOLPHIN +23 Safety DOLPHIN +11 Practicality DOLPHIN +1

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

DOLPHIN

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

Baleno

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

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 BYD DOLPHIN leads the catalogue index with 76 pts vs 61 pts for Baleno

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, DOLPHIN leads. However, Baleno 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 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 66.

Efficiency index: Baleno 67 vs DOLPHIN 90.

Safety-equipment index: Baleno 87 vs DOLPHIN 98.

Practicality index: Baleno 55 vs DOLPHIN 56.

Ownership-cover index: Baleno 71 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.