BYD DOLPHIN vs Toyota Vitz

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
Toyota Vitz in South Africa

Toyota Vitz

1.0 XR CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 229,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 51 kW 🔧 91 Nm ⛽ 20.4 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BYD DOLPHIN vs Toyota Vitz: the short answer

DOLPHIN has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over Vitz.

Vitz starts ZAR 329,910 cheaper DOLPHIN from ZAR 539,900 · Vitz from ZAR 209,990

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification DOLPHIN Vitz
Maximum Power DOLPHIN150 kW Vitz51 kW
Maximum Torque DOLPHIN310 Nm Vitz91 Nm
Engine Size DOLPHINNot Applicable Vitz998 cc
Combined Fuel Economy DOLPHINNot Applicable Vitz20.4 km/l
Ground Clearance DOLPHIN155 mm Vitz145 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

Vitz

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

Vitz

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec DOLPHIN Vitz
Model Introduced Year 2024 2019
Generation First South African DOLPHIN generation Third-generation Vitz adapted for SA market
Facelift History No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026 Current generation introduced in SA in 2019
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2019
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 Pearl, Silver, Black, Red
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 900 kg
Spec DOLPHIN Vitz
Length 4290 mm 3785 mm
Width 1770 mm 1695 mm
Height 1570 mm 1530 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2460 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 145 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 130 mm 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space 345 l 230 l
Kerb Weight 1658 kg 900 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2068 kg 1250 kg
Payload Capacity 410 kg 350 kg
Towing Capacity 0 kg 1600 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.25 m 4.7 m
Front Headroom 1000 mm 983 mm
Rear Headroom 900 mm 951 mm
Front Legroom 1130 mm 1048 mm
Rear Legroom 740 mm 899 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This DOLPHIN and Vitz 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 Vitz 22.

Efficiency index: DOLPHIN 90 vs Vitz 76.

Safety-equipment index: DOLPHIN 98 vs Vitz 47.

Practicality index: DOLPHIN 56 vs Vitz 49.

Ownership-cover index: DOLPHIN not separately scored vs Vitz 43.

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 30 points

DOLPHIN has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over Vitz.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 30 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 30 points
46
#2

Vitz

85% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 76 Check Performance 22
Performance 22
Efficiency 76
Safety 47
Practicality 49
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance DOLPHIN +44 Efficiency DOLPHIN +14 Safety DOLPHIN +51 Practicality DOLPHIN +7

Large 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

Vitz

Performance 22/100
Efficiency 76/100
Safety 47/100
Practicality 49/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD DOLPHIN leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 46 pts for Vitz

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

DOLPHIN vs Vitz 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.