BYD DOLPHIN SURF vs Lexus NX

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.

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
Lexus NX in South Africa

Lexus NX

NX 350 F SPORT Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,276,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 205 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BYD DOLPHIN SURF vs Lexus NX: the short answer

NX has a modest catalogue-index lead, while DOLPHIN SURF remains close.

DOLPHIN SURF starts ZAR 732,300 cheaper DOLPHIN SURF from ZAR 341,900 · NX from ZAR 1,074,200

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification DOLPHIN SURF NX
Maximum Power DOLPHIN SURF55 kW NX205 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque DOLPHIN SURF135 Nm NX430 Nm
Engine Size DOLPHIN SURFNot Applicable NX2400 cc
Combined Fuel Economy DOLPHIN SURFNot Applicable NX12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance DOLPHIN SURF155 mm NX195 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.

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

Lexus NX

NX 350 F SPORT

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)

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
Specification evidence leader

NX

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

Which One's Right for You?

DOLPHIN SURF

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

NX

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec DOLPHIN SURF NX
Model Introduced Year 2025 2023
Generation First South African DOLPHIN SURF generation Second-generation Lexus NX mid-size luxury SUV
Facelift History No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026 Current South African range includes petrol, self-charging hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Current South African range includes petrol, self-charging hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives
Facelift Version Ending Current Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17
Body Style Hatchback SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment City Hatchback Luxury SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle SUV
Tare Mass Kg - 1760-1860 kg
Spec DOLPHIN SURF NX
Length 3925 mm 4660 mm
Width 1720 mm 1865 mm
Height 1590 mm 1670 mm
Wheelbase 2500 mm 2690 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 120 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 55 l
Boot/Cargo Space 230 l 520 l
Kerb Weight 1280 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1690 kg 2370 kg
Payload Capacity 410 kg -
Towing Capacity 0 kg 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 4.95 m 5.8 m
Front Headroom 980 mm -
Rear Headroom 920 mm -
Front Legroom 1060 mm -
Rear Legroom 690 mm -

In depth: how these cars differ

This DOLPHIN SURF and NX 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: DOLPHIN SURF 25 vs NX 86.

Efficiency index: DOLPHIN SURF 90 vs NX 49.

Safety-equipment index: DOLPHIN SURF 87 vs NX 93.

Practicality index: DOLPHIN SURF 51 vs NX 65.

Ownership-cover index: DOLPHIN SURF not separately scored vs NX 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

NX leads by 14 points

NX has a modest catalogue-index lead, while DOLPHIN SURF remains close.

Evidence leader 75 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 70% source coverage
75
#1 Evidence leader

NX

70% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 86
Efficiency 49
Safety 93
Practicality 65
Leads by 14 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 NX +61 Efficiency DOLPHIN SURF +41 Safety NX +6 Practicality NX +14

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

NX

Performance 86/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 65/100

DOLPHIN SURF

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Lexus NX leads the specification evidence index with 75 pts vs 61 pts for DOLPHIN SURF

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

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.

DOLPHIN SURF
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VS
1 Series
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DOLPHIN SURF vs 1 Series →
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DOLPHIN SURF vs H6 GT →
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DOLPHIN SURF vs Tank 300 →
NX
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NX vs 1 Series →
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VS
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NX vs Land Cruiser FJ →

DOLPHIN SURF vs NX 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.