BYD DOLPHIN SURF vs Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

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
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport in South Africa

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Exceed 1.5L CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 499,990 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 141 Nm ⛽ 16.1 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BYD DOLPHIN SURF vs Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: the short answer

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

DOLPHIN SURF starts ZAR 108,090 cheaper DOLPHIN SURF from ZAR 341,900 · Outlander Sport from ZAR 449,990

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification DOLPHIN SURF Outlander Sport
Maximum Power DOLPHIN SURF55 kW Outlander Sport77 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque DOLPHIN SURF135 Nm Outlander Sport141 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size DOLPHIN SURFNot Applicable Outlander Sport1499 cc
Combined Fuel Economy DOLPHIN SURFNot Applicable Outlander Sport16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance DOLPHIN SURF155 mm Outlander Sport193 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

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Exceed 1.5L CVT

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)

Specification evidence leader

DOLPHIN SURF

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

Outlander Sport

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

DOLPHIN SURF

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

Outlander Sport

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec DOLPHIN SURF Outlander Sport
Model Introduced Year 2025 2025
Generation First South African DOLPHIN SURF generation First South African Outlander Sport generation, Mitsubishi Xforce architecture
Facelift History No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026 Introduced locally in January 2025 and replaced ASX.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Current specification
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment City Hatchback Compact SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Passenger vehicle
Spec DOLPHIN SURF Outlander Sport
Length 3925 mm 4390 mm
Width 1720 mm 1810 mm
Height 1590 mm 1660 mm
Wheelbase 2500 mm 2650 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 193 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 120 mm 195 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 42 l
Boot/Cargo Space 230 l 480 l
Kerb Weight 1280 kg 1250 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1690 kg 1730 kg
Payload Capacity 410 kg 480 kg
Towing Capacity 0 kg 0 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 5.2 m
Front Headroom 980 mm 950 mm
Rear Headroom 920 mm 880 mm
Front Legroom 1060 mm 1050 mm
Rear Legroom 690 mm 370 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This DOLPHIN SURF and Outlander Sport 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 Outlander Sport 30.

Efficiency index: DOLPHIN SURF 90 vs Outlander Sport 62.

Safety-equipment index: DOLPHIN SURF 87 vs Outlander Sport 73.

Practicality index: DOLPHIN SURF 51 vs Outlander Sport 67.

Ownership-cover index: DOLPHIN SURF not separately scored vs Outlander Sport 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 SURF leads by 4 points

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

Evidence leader 61 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 60% source coverage
61
#1 Evidence leader

DOLPHIN SURF

60% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 90 Check Performance 25
Performance 25
Efficiency 90
Safety 87
Practicality 51
Leads by 4 points
57
#2

Outlander Sport

79% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 73 Check Performance 30
Performance 30
Efficiency 62
Safety 73
Practicality 67
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Outlander Sport +5 Efficiency DOLPHIN SURF +28 Safety DOLPHIN SURF +14 Practicality Outlander Sport +16

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

DOLPHIN SURF

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

Outlander Sport

Performance 30/100
Efficiency 62/100
Safety 73/100
Practicality 67/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD DOLPHIN SURF leads the specification evidence index with 61 pts vs 57 pts for Outlander Sport

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

DOLPHIN SURF vs Outlander Sport 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.