BYD DOLPHIN vs Hyundai H1

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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai H1 Discontinued model
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 H1 in South Africa

Hyundai H1

2.5 CRDi Executive Diesel 5-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 899,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 125 kW 🔧 441 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BYD DOLPHIN vs Hyundai H1: the short answer

DOLPHIN has a modest catalogue-index lead, while H1 remains close.

Recorded price context DOLPHIN: current from ZAR 539,900 · H1: last listed from ZAR 899,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification DOLPHIN H1
Maximum Power DOLPHIN150 kW H1125 kW @ 3600 rpm
Maximum Torque DOLPHIN310 Nm H1441 Nm @ 2000 rpm
Engine Size DOLPHINNot Applicable H12497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy DOLPHINNot Applicable H111.8 km/l
Ground Clearance DOLPHIN155 mm H1185 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

Premium Extended Range EV

Hagalu editorial rating
4.3/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Hagalu Editorial Team ·

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

Read the review and score breakdown

Hyundai H1

2.5 CRDi Executive

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)

Specification evidence leader

DOLPHIN

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

H1

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

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

H1

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec DOLPHIN H1
Model Introduced Year 2024 2008
Generation First South African DOLPHIN generation Second generation H1 based on a proven commercial-derived platform; the architecture prioritises durability and packaging over dynamics
Facelift History No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026 Second generation H1 launched in SA in 2008; periodic infotainment and feature updates have been applied but the platform is long-standing
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2008
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style Hatchback MPV
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status Active discontinued
Segment Compact Hatchback MPV
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle MPV
Tare Mass Kg - 2220 kg
Spec DOLPHIN H1
Length 4290 mm 5125 mm
Width 1770 mm 1920 mm
Height 1570 mm 1925 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 3200 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 185 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 130 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 75 l
Boot/Cargo Space 345 l 820 l
Kerb Weight 1658 kg 2220 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2068 kg 3030 kg
Payload Capacity 410 kg 810 kg
Towing Capacity 0 kg 2500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 9 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 3 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.25 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 1000 mm 1010 mm
Rear Headroom 900 mm 1000 mm
Front Legroom 1130 mm 1090 mm
Rear Legroom 740 mm 990 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This DOLPHIN and H1 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 H1 59.

Efficiency index: DOLPHIN 90 vs H1 47.

Safety-equipment index: DOLPHIN 98 vs H1 68.

Practicality index: DOLPHIN 56 vs H1 86.

Ownership-cover index: DOLPHIN not separately scored vs H1 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 10 points

DOLPHIN has a modest catalogue-index lead, while H1 remains close.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 10 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 10 points
66
#2

H1

97% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 86 Check Efficiency 47
Performance 59
Efficiency 47
Safety 68
Practicality 86
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance DOLPHIN +7 Efficiency DOLPHIN +43 Safety DOLPHIN +30 Practicality H1 +30

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

H1

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 68/100
Practicality 86/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD DOLPHIN leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 66 pts for H1

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, DOLPHIN leads. However, H1 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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DOLPHIN vs H1 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.