BYD DOLPHIN SURF vs Mg MG3

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.

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
VS
Mg MG3 in South Africa

Mg MG3

1.5L Hybrid+ Hybrid 3-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 469,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 75 kW 🔧 128 Nm ⛽ 23.26 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance MG3
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety MG3
📦 Practicality DOLPHIN SURF
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
MG3 starts ZAR 72,000 cheaper DOLPHIN SURF from ZAR 341,900 · MG3 from ZAR 269,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec DOLPHIN SURF MG3
Maximum Power 55 kW 75 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 135 Nm 128 Nm @ 4500 rpm
Engine Size Not Applicable 1498 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Not Applicable 23.26 km/l
Ground Clearance 155 mm 149 mm
Boot / Load Bay 230 l 293 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1280 kg 1308 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 3 years/100000 km complete vehicle; 8 years/200000 km power battery; 5 years/100000 km drive unit 5 years / 150,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

DOLPHIN SURF and MG3 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance MG3 +15 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety MG3 +5 pts
Practicality DOLPHIN SURF +3 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

DOLPHIN SURF

Strengths
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Practicality
Catalogue-index leader

MG3

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance

Which One's Right for You?

DOLPHIN SURF

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

MG3

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec DOLPHIN SURF MG3
Model Introduced Year 2025 2025
Generation First South African DOLPHIN SURF generation Current-generation five-door MG3 offered locally with naturally aspirated petrol and self-charging hybrid powertrains.
Facelift History No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026 South African launch specification introduced in 2025.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2025
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback Five-door hatchback
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment City Hatchback Compact Hatchback
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Hatchback
Spec DOLPHIN SURF MG3
Length 3925 mm 4113 mm
Width 1720 mm 1797 mm
Height 1590 mm 1502 mm
Wheelbase 2500 mm 2570 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 149 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 120 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 36 l
Boot/Cargo Space 230 l 293 l
Kerb Weight 1280 kg 1308 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1690 kg 1766 kg
Payload Capacity 410 kg 458 kg
Towing Capacity 0 kg 500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 4.95 m 5.25 m
Front Headroom 980 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom 920 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom 1060 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom 690 mm Not Officially Disclosed

Source-backed Catalogue Index

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

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

MG3 leads by 5 points

DOLPHIN SURF and MG3 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Index leader 66 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 82% source coverage
66
#1 Index leader

MG3

82% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 40
Performance 40
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 48
Leads by 5 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 MG3 +15 Efficiency Level Safety MG3 +5 Practicality DOLPHIN SURF +3

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

MG3

Performance 40/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 48/100

DOLPHIN SURF

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

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Mg MG3 leads the catalogue index with 66 pts vs 61 pts for DOLPHIN SURF

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, MG3 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 DOLPHIN SURF and MG3 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: DOLPHIN SURF 25 vs MG3 40.

Efficiency index: DOLPHIN SURF 90 vs MG3 90.

Safety-equipment index: DOLPHIN SURF 87 vs MG3 92.

Practicality index: DOLPHIN SURF 51 vs MG3 48.

Ownership-cover index: DOLPHIN SURF not separately scored vs MG3 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.