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.
DOLPHIN and RX are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.
DOLPHIN starts ZAR 976,600 cheaperDOLPHIN from ZAR 539,900 · RX from ZAR 1,516,500
Five key differences
Exact selected derivatives
Swipe sideways to compare every column
Specification
DOLPHIN
RX
Maximum Power
DOLPHIN150 kW
RX205 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque
DOLPHIN310 Nm
RX430 Nm
Engine Size
DOLPHINNot Applicable
RX2400 cc
Combined Fuel Economy
DOLPHINNot Applicable
RX11.5 km/l
Ground Clearance
DOLPHIN155 mm
RX185 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.
Siren/ Alarm,Immobiliser,Intrusion Sensor,Tilt Sensor,Ultra-Wide Band
Seatbelt Warning All Seats
Standard
Front + Rear/ Buzzer + Light
Front Parking Sensors
Standard
Standard Intelligent Clearance Sonar,Rear Cross Traffic Alert + Braking
AEB
Standard
Standard
BA
Standard
Standard
Brake Override System
Standard
-
Curtain Airbags
Standard
Standard
Driver Airbag
Standard
Standard
EBD
Standard
Standard
Engine Immobiliser
Not Applicable
Siren/ Alarm,Immobiliser,Intrusion Sensor,Tilt Sensor,Ultra-Wide Band
Hill Hold
Standard
Standard
Passenger Airbag
Standard
Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Standard
-
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Standard
ELR,Pretensioner,Force Limiter,Tension Reducer -
Seatbelt Reminder
Standard
Front + Rear/ Buzzer + Light
Side Airbags
Standard
Standard
Stability Control
Standard
Standard
TCS
Standard
Standard,,
Knee Airbag
Not Available
Standard
ABS EBD
Standard
Standard
Alarm System
-
Siren/ Alarm,Immobiliser,Intrusion Sensor,Tilt Sensor,Ultra-Wide Band
Anti Theft Alarm
-
Siren/ Alarm,Immobiliser,Intrusion Sensor,Tilt Sensor,Ultra-Wide Band
Spec
DOLPHIN
RX
Cruise Control
Standard
Standard Adaptive,All Speed
Adaptive Cruise Control
Standard
Standard Adaptive,All Speed
Lane Keep Assist
Standard
Standard Steering Vibration,Lane Trace Assist
Lane Departure Warning
Standard
Standard Steering Vibration,Lane Trace Assist
Blind Spot Monitoring
Standard
Standard With Rear Cross Traffic Alert,Safe Exit Assist
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Standard
-
Parking Sensors
Standard
Standard Intelligent Clearance Sonar,Rear Cross Traffic Alert + Braking
Rear View Camera
Standard
Display Audio// Panoramic View Monitor,Washer
360 Degree Camera
Standard
Display Audio// Panoramic View Monitor,Washer
Autonomous Emergency Braking
Standard
Standard
Driver Fatigue Alert
Standard
-
Traffic Sign Recognition
Standard
Standard
Auto Highbeam
Standard
Standard
Auto Wipers
Standard
Auto,Rainsensing,Time adjustable
Rear Parking Sensors
Standard
Standard Intelligent Clearance Sonar,Rear Cross Traffic Alert + Braking
Reverse Camera
Standard
Display Audio// Panoramic View Monitor,Washer
Adaptive Cruise Control
Standard
Standard Adaptive,All Speed
Park Assist
Standard
-
Around View Monitor
Standard
Display Audio// Panoramic View Monitor,Washer
Blind Spot Warning
Standard
Standard With Rear Cross Traffic Alert,Safe Exit Assist
Forward Collision Warning
Standard
Standard
Spec
DOLPHIN
RX
Seat Material
Synthetic leather
F SPORT
Heated Seats
Not Available
Standard Front and Rear
Ventilated Seats
Standard
Standard Front and Rear
Ambient Lighting
Standard
Standard
Steering Wheel Material
Synthetic leather
3 Spoke/ F SPORT,Heated
60 40 Split Seat
Standard
40:20:40 - Power
Driver Seat Adjustment
6-way electric
Driver + Passenger Power// Driver Memory
Passenger Seat Adjustment
Electric adjustment
Driver + Passenger Power// Driver Memory
Seat Trim
Synthetic leather
F SPORT
Seat Adjustment
-
Driver + Passenger Power// Driver Memory
Folding Rear Seats
-
40:20:40 - Power
Rear Armrest
-
Standard
Cup Holders
-
Standard 4
Instrument Cluster Type
-
Standard TFT Colour
Driver Lumbar Support
-
Driver 2-way/ Passenger 2-way
Spec
DOLPHIN
RX
Climate Control
Automatic
Auto 3-Zone,Nano
Power Windows
Standard
All/ All One Touch
Keyless Entry
Standard
Standard Smart Entry
Push Button Start
Standard
Push Start
Wireless Charging
Standard
Standard
Sunroof
Panoramic
Tilt & Slide,Panoramic
Electric Tailgate
Not Available
Standard Power and Handsfree
Rain Sensing Wipers
Standard
Standard
AC Type
Automatic
Auto 3-Zone,Nano
Load Bed Length
-
Not Applicable
Load Bed Width
-
Not Applicable
Heads Up Display
-
Standard
Air Conditioning
Automatic
Auto 3-Zone,Nano
Loadbox Length Mm
-
Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm
-
Not Applicable
Spec
DOLPHIN
RX
Infotainment System
12.8-inch rotating touchscreen
Mark Levinson/ EMV,DAB
Apple CarPlay
Standard
-
Android Auto
Standard
-
Bluetooth Connectivity
Standard
Standard
Number of Speakers
6
Standard 21
Digital Instrument Cluster
Full LCD instrument display
Standard TFT Colour
USB Ports
Front and rear USB-A/USB-C ports
Standard 5PCs
Infotainment Screen
12.8
Mark Levinson/ EMV,DAB
Touchscreen
12.8
Mark Levinson/ EMV,DAB
Navigation System
-
Standard/ EMV
Infotainment Screen Size
12.8
Mark Levinson/ EMV,DAB
Audio Speakers
6
Standard 21
Audio System
-
Mark Levinson/ EMV,DAB
Front Rear USB Charge Ports
-
Standard 5PCs
Connected Services
-
Standard
Spec
DOLPHIN
RX
LED Headlamps
Standard
Standard
Daytime Running Lamps
LED
Standard LED
Fog Lamps
Rear fog lamp
Standard LED
Roof Rails
Not Applicable
Standard
Exterior Colour Options
Atlantis Grey + Black, Blue + Grey, Ski White + Grey
White Nova, Graphite Black GF, Opulent Blue, Sonic Chrome, Sonic Iridium, Sonic Copper
Headlights
Standard
Standard
Panoramic Sunroof
Standard
Tilt & Slide,Panoramic
Spec
DOLPHIN
RX
Approach Angle
16 deg
15.0 deg
Departure Angle
23 deg
24.0 deg
Wading Depth
Not Applicable
-
Terrain Modes
Not Applicable
-
Locking Differential
Not Available
Not Applicable
4WD System Type
Not Applicable
Permanent all-wheel drive
Breakover Angle
Not Applicable
-
Approach Angle Deg
-
15.0 deg
Departure Angle Deg
-
24.0 deg
Ground Clearance Max
-
185 mm
Ground Clearance Min
-
185 mm
Spec
DOLPHIN
RX
Tyre Size
205/50 R17
F:235-50R21 Alloy / R:235-50R21 Alloy
Front Brake Type
Ventilated disc
Ventilated Disc
Rear Brake Type
Disc
Ventilated Disc
Spare Wheel Type
Tyre repair kit
Space Saver
Wheel Rim Size
17
21
Handbrake Type
Electronic parking brake
Electric
Spec
DOLPHIN
RX
Front Suspension
MacPherson strut
MacPherson -
Rear Suspension
Multi-link
Multilink -
Front Track Width
-
1655 mm
Rear Track Width
-
1695 mm
Spec
DOLPHIN
RX
CO2 Emissions
0 g/km
197 g/km
Spec
DOLPHIN
RX
Service Plan
3 years/60000 km service plan
-
Service Interval
-
12 months / 15,000km
Spec
DOLPHIN
RX
Ownership Role
extended-range derivative
Private luxury, family and business
Price Zar
602900 ZAR
1642900 ZAR
Pricing Role
extended-range derivative
Flagship
Starting Price
602900
1642900
Starting Price Zar
602900
1642900
Spec
DOLPHIN
RX
Warranty
3 years/100000 km complete vehicle; 8 years/200000 km power battery; 5 years/100000 km drive unit
7 years / 105,000km
In depth: how these cars differ
This DOLPHIN and RX 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 RX 85.
Efficiency index: DOLPHIN 90 vs RX 46.
Safety-equipment index: DOLPHIN 98 vs RX 93.
Practicality index: DOLPHIN 56 vs RX 75.
Ownership-cover index: DOLPHIN not separately scored vs RX 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.
Model imagery
DOLPHIN and RX image comparison
Open an image for its full canonical file or visit the model page for the complete vehicle record.
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
RX leads by 1 points
DOLPHIN and RX are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.
Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.
Why this scoreView full breakdown
Evidence-index leader
RX
Performance
85/100
Efficiency
46/100
Safety
93/100
Practicality
75/100
DOLPHIN
Performance
66/100
Efficiency
90/100
Safety
98/100
Practicality
56/100
What the evidence means
Evidence indexLexus RX
leads the specification evidence index with 77 pts
vs 76 pts for DOLPHIN
In Hagalu's specification evidence index, RX leads. However, DOLPHIN 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.
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.
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