Honda CR-V vs BYD DOLPHIN SURF

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.

Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 819,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 204 kW 🔧 335 Nm ⛽ 20 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

Decision summary

Honda CR-V vs BYD DOLPHIN SURF: the short answer

CR-V holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over DOLPHIN SURF.

DOLPHIN SURF starts ZAR 348,000 cheaper CR-V from ZAR 689,900 · DOLPHIN SURF from ZAR 341,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification CR-V DOLPHIN SURF
Maximum Power CR-V204 kW DOLPHIN SURF55 kW
Maximum Torque CR-V335 Nm DOLPHIN SURF135 Nm
Engine Size CR-V1993 cc DOLPHIN SURFNot Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy CR-V20 km/l DOLPHIN SURFNot Applicable
Ground Clearance CR-V198 mm DOLPHIN SURF155 mm

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

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

BYD DOLPHIN SURF

Dynamic EV

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

CR-V

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • 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
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

CR-V

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • 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 CR-V DOLPHIN SURF
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2500 mm
Length 4690 mm 3925 mm
Width 1860 mm 1720 mm
Height 1690 mm 1590 mm
Kerb Weight 1750 kg 1280 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2250 kg 1690 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Boot/Cargo Space 497 l 230 l
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 0 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity 57 l 0 l
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 198 mm 120 mm
Payload Capacity 500 kg 410 kg
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Minimum Turning Radius 5.7 m 4.95 m
Front Headroom 970 mm 980 mm
Rear Headroom 970 mm 920 mm
Front Legroom 1049 mm 1060 mm
Rear Legroom 1041 mm 690 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 198 mm 155 mm
Spec CR-V DOLPHIN SURF
Gearbox eCVT Automatic Single-Speed Reduction Gear
Drivetrain Layout All Wheel Drive Front motor, front-wheel drive
LSD Available Electronic AWD Control Not Available
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Gearbox Type eCVT Automatic Single-speed reduction gear
Gear Shift Type eCVT Automatic Instrument switch group gear selector
Drivetrain AWD FWD
Axle Layout AWD 4x2
Differential Lock Electronic AWD Lock Not Available
4WD Engagement Available Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Available Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Number of Gears Not Applicable 1
Transmission Speeds Not Applicable 1
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Available
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable Not Applicable
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 10.45
Clutch Type Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gear Shift Indicator Not Applicable Standard

In depth: how these cars differ

This CR-V and DOLPHIN SURF 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: CR-V 77 vs DOLPHIN SURF 25.

Efficiency index: CR-V 80 vs DOLPHIN SURF 90.

Safety-equipment index: CR-V 91 vs DOLPHIN SURF 87.

Practicality index: CR-V 66 vs DOLPHIN SURF 51.

Ownership-cover index: CR-V 60 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.

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

CR-V leads by 15 points

CR-V holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over DOLPHIN SURF.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 15 points
Data 94% source coverage
76
#1 Evidence leader

CR-V

94% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Ownership 60
Performance 77
Efficiency 80
Safety 91
Practicality 66
Ownership 60
Leads by 15 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 CR-V +52 Efficiency DOLPHIN SURF +10 Safety CR-V +4 Practicality CR-V +15

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

CR-V

Performance 77/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 60/100

DOLPHIN SURF

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Honda CR-V leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 61 pts for DOLPHIN SURF

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

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CR-V vs DOLPHIN SURF 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.