IMAGINE if you will that as of tomorrow - perhaps as a government mandate or petrol price has soared to unimaginable heights — you're forced to own and drive an electric vehicle (EV).
However, you find yourself not ready to make that leap just yet. After all, you have heard about EVs being impractical or fun to drive.
Topping it off, EVs have technologies that can be foreign to many and the prospect of paying a premium for a vehicle you're not accustomed to may feel like a big ask.
And that is why all eyes were on Chinese carmaker Build Your Dream (BYD) when it announced the arrival of its Dolphin EV — in two variants — to Malaysian shores.
In a sea of options, this is a car that has the potential to be a newcomer's best friend. It even has something for long-time EV owners, too.
ENTRY-LEVEL EV
Built on the brand's e-Platform 3.0, the Dolphin runs on BYD's proprietary Blade battery.
It is dubbed the world's first mass-produced eight-in-1 electric powertrain that optimises space utilisation and energy efficiency.
The standout aesthetic features include a continuous LED headlight across the centre grille and a geometric taillight design, such as the fin-shaped grab handles.
The cabin is equipped with a 12.18-inch intelligent rotating touchscreen and an active sound design with a six-speaker sound system.
The Dynamic Standard Range variant, priced at RM99,900 (on-the-road without insurance), houses a 44.9kWh battery that delivers 70kW of power and a maximum torque of 180Nm. Maximum charging (DC) is 60kW.
It has a range of 410km and can accelerate from zero to 100kph in 12.3 seconds.
The colour options are Urban Grey with grey and black interior combo and Sand White with brown and black cabin.
The Premium Extended Range variant is priced from RM124,900 (on-the-road without insurance) and has a 60.48kWh battery that delivers 490km of range.
It powers out 150kW with a 310Nm maximum torque to achieve a century sprint of seven seconds.
It has a maximum charging rate (DC) of 80kW, which allows a 30 to 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes.
The cabin has wireless charging and a fixed panoramic roof.
Its three dual-tone colour combinations are Atlantis Grey-Dean Black with interior in grey and black, Ski White-Urban Grey with a grey and black interior, and Surf Blue-Urban Grey with a blue and black cabin.
FRIEND ZONE
The Dolphin's arrival is different to when BYD's first EV model, the Atto 3, was unveiled in Malaysia.
Outside the EV community, many people weren't even aware of the brand's presence, let alone care how well its e-sport utility vehicle would perform.
A number of things have changed since then. The China EV maker is now a major contender in the local automotive industry.
The Atto 3 came with commendable specs and performance for its price, which has set the bar for future models from the brand.
These expectations carried themselves onto the Dolphin. While it's no Atto 3, this writer is happy to say the compact e-car did not cave in under pressure.
The Dolphin's most unique external features would be its front quasi-U design lights and rear twisty diamond-ribbon-ish design. Even that would be considered quite tame by modern standards, the operative word here being "unique".
So if you're not into a car trying too hard to compensate for its looks, then the Dolphin has you covered.
Don't be fooled by its size either. It may be one of the smaller modern EVs around but it is as big, if not bigger, than a number of A-segment compact cars.
Its interior is quite modest when compared to the Atto 3, with the most prominent feature being the revolving infotainment screen in the centre that looks to be a BYD fixture for all of its models.
It has curvature design elements reminiscing of the flow of water but everything else is more functional than a show.
What this writer likes about the Dolphin is how premium executive the cabin feels, especially with the Premium Extended Range variant.
Though it is still a mixture of hard plastic and soft leather touches, it is worth noting that some vehicles from other brands in this price range do not deliver the same quality of furnishing.
The drive performance is standard average, which is just perfect for it.
The Premium Extended Range variant, the more powerful of the two, drives like a turbocharged 1.5L or a 1.6L car.
However, because it is an EV and drives so swimmingly naturally, you'll feel as if you have never swapped your engine for a full-fledged battery-operated vehicle.
The only giveaway that you're driving an EV is how smooth and quiet it can feel on the road most of the time.
Regarding battery consistency, I found the car's range and rate of drain to work well for urban drives, with an added bonus of range if you so choose.
During a particular drive session, I drove from inner Kuala Lumpur to Petaling Jaya and then the Sepang Gold Coast and back, and still had around 30 per cent, or more than a 100km range, to spare.
In short, it was one of the few EVs in the market where there was little concern for range anxiety, unless you deliberately pushed for cross-state drives.
The one issue I had with the car was how noisy it could get at low acceleration, such as the soft ringing and chiming.
The writer gets the intention that it's supposed to truly immerse the driver in a "'riding a dolphin beneath the crystal ocean waves" sensation but after a while, it just becomes tiring.
However, this wasn't present during the Klang Valley drive. This leads me to believe that the audio can be changed or customised.
VERDICT
Circling back to where we began, if you have to switch to an EV but can't make up your mind on which to buy, then the Dolphin is the perfect entry-level choice.
It is at present the most practical choice for an EV when you have no interest in lavish features and a step-up in performance.
It shines by delivering an "as natural as possible" drive experience in the form of an EV.
The prices, as pointed out, make this car a no-brainer for the budget-conscious. At RM99,900, it is certainly not cheap but by EV standards, this car is amazing.
BYD has set the bar yet again this time with the Dolphin.