LDV Deliver 9 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.

LDV Deliver 9 in South Africa

LDV Deliver 9

Deliver 9 LWB High Roof Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 757,100 ex-showroom
⚡ 128 kW 🔧 420 Nm ⛽ 10.75 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

LDV Deliver 9 vs BYD DOLPHIN: the short answer

DOLPHIN holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Deliver 9.

DOLPHIN starts ZAR 160,000 cheaper Deliver 9 from ZAR 699,900 · DOLPHIN from ZAR 539,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Deliver 9 DOLPHIN
Maximum Power Deliver 9128 kW @ 3500 rpm DOLPHIN150 kW
Maximum Torque Deliver 9420 Nm @ 1500-2400 rpm DOLPHIN310 Nm
Engine Size Deliver 91996 cc DOLPHINNot Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy Deliver 910.75 km/l DOLPHINNot Applicable
Ground Clearance Deliver 9Not Officially Disclosed DOLPHIN155 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.

LDV Deliver 9

Deliver 9 LWB High Roof

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

Premium Extended Range EV

Hagalu editorial rating
4.3/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

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)

Deliver 9

Strengths
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

DOLPHIN

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Deliver 9

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

DOLPHIN

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Deliver 9 DOLPHIN
Model Introduced Year 2026 2024
Generation Current South African Deliver 9 generation. First South African DOLPHIN generation
Facelift History No later South African facelift is published. No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since 2026 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Three-seat large panel van Hatchback
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment Van Compact Hatchback
Vehicle Type Van Passenger vehicle
Spec Deliver 9 DOLPHIN
Length 5940 mm 4290 mm
Width 2062 mm 1770 mm
Height 2755 mm 1570 mm
Wheelbase 3760 mm 2700 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) Not Officially Disclosed 155 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 130 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 12330 l 345 l
Kerb Weight 2361 kg 1658 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 4000 kg 2068 kg
Payload Capacity 1580 kg 410 kg
Towing Capacity 2800 kg 0 kg
Seating Capacity 3 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 1 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 7.1 m 5.25 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 1000 mm
Rear Headroom Not Applicable 900 mm
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1130 mm
Rear Legroom Not Applicable 740 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Deliver 9 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: Deliver 9 66 vs DOLPHIN 66.

Efficiency index: Deliver 9 44 vs DOLPHIN 90.

Safety-equipment index: Deliver 9 50 vs DOLPHIN 98.

Practicality index: Deliver 9 78 vs DOLPHIN 56.

Ownership-cover index: Deliver 9 not separately scored 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 15 points

DOLPHIN holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Deliver 9.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 15 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 15 points
61
#2

Deliver 9

68% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 78 Check Efficiency 44
Performance 66
Efficiency 44
Safety 50
Practicality 78
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Level Efficiency DOLPHIN +46 Safety DOLPHIN +48 Practicality Deliver 9 +22

Moderate 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

Deliver 9

Performance 66/100
Efficiency 44/100
Safety 50/100
Practicality 78/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD DOLPHIN leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 61 pts for Deliver 9

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, DOLPHIN leads. However, Deliver 9 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Deliver 9 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.