BYD DOLPHIN vs Hyundai Grand i10

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 in South Africa

BYD DOLPHIN

Premium Extended Range EV Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 602,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 310 Nm
VS
Hyundai Grand i10 in South Africa

Hyundai Grand i10

1.2 Fluid Petrol 5-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 242,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 61 kW 🔧 114 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BYD DOLPHIN vs Hyundai Grand i10: the short answer

DOLPHIN holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Grand i10.

Grand i10 starts ZAR 321,000 cheaper DOLPHIN from ZAR 539,900 · Grand i10 from ZAR 218,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification DOLPHIN Grand i10
Maximum Power DOLPHIN150 kW Grand i1061 kW @ 6300 rpm
Maximum Torque DOLPHIN310 Nm Grand i10114 Nm @ 4200 rpm
Engine Size DOLPHINNot Applicable Grand i101197 cc
Combined Fuel Economy DOLPHINNot Applicable Grand i1016.9 km/l
Ground Clearance DOLPHIN155 mm Grand i10170 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

DOLPHIN

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Grand i10

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

DOLPHIN

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Grand i10

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec DOLPHIN Grand i10
Model Introduced Year 2024 2014
Generation First South African DOLPHIN generation Second generation Grand i10 sold in SA with a 2023 facelift; based on the global third-gen i10 platform adapted for emerging markets
Facelift History No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026 Second generation arrived in 2017; facelift with updated front styling and infotainment in 2023
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback Hatchback
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Compact Hatchback Hatchback
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Hatchback
Color Note - White, Silver, Red, Blue, Grey
Dealer Stock Note - Fluid grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 975 kg
Spec DOLPHIN Grand i10
Length 4290 mm 3665 mm
Width 1770 mm 1660 mm
Height 1570 mm 1520 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2385 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 170 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 130 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 35 l
Boot/Cargo Space 345 l 235 l
Kerb Weight 1658 kg 975 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2068 kg 1410 kg
Payload Capacity 410 kg 435 kg
Towing Capacity 0 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.25 m Not Officially Disclosed
Front Headroom 1000 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom 900 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom 1130 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom 740 mm Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

This DOLPHIN and Grand i10 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 66 vs Grand i10 27.

Efficiency index: DOLPHIN 90 vs Grand i10 66.

Safety-equipment index: DOLPHIN 98 vs Grand i10 68.

Practicality index: DOLPHIN 56 vs Grand i10 53.

Ownership-cover index: DOLPHIN not separately scored vs Grand i10 65.

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 22 points

DOLPHIN holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Grand i10.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 22 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 22 points
54
#2

Grand i10

93% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Safety 68 Check Performance 27
Performance 27
Efficiency 66
Safety 68
Practicality 53
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance DOLPHIN +39 Efficiency DOLPHIN +24 Safety DOLPHIN +30 Practicality DOLPHIN +3

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

Grand i10

Performance 27/100
Efficiency 66/100
Safety 68/100
Practicality 53/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD DOLPHIN leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 54 pts for Grand i10

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, DOLPHIN leads. However, Grand i10 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

DOLPHIN vs Grand i10 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.