BYD Dolphin cost to own in Australia — the true 5-year total
The BYD Dolphin starts at $31,760. Over 5 years, owning one (EV) costs about $49,948 in Australia as of July 9, 2026 — $832/month, $0.83/km — including depreciation, charging (with the ~12% charging loss most calculators ignore), maintenance, insurance, financing and rego. That's $5,077 more than a comparable Mazda3 G20 Pure over the same 5 years.
BYD Dolphin incentives & grants
Novated lease (FBT exemption): for a salary-packaged EV the federal FBT exemption can cut the cost substantially — it depends on your income and tax, so it is not in the totals above. Source: ATO.
BYD Dolphin · Australia · 5-year estimate$49,948 total · $832/mo · $0.83/km
Where the money goes
| Cost component | Electric · BYD Dolphin | Petrol · Mazda3 G20 Pure |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $18,738 (38%) | $14,541 (32%) |
| Charging / fuel | $3,949 (8%) | $5,673 (13%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~$474) | — |
| Maintenance | $4,752 (10%) | $6,402 (14%) |
| Insurance | $12,725 (25%) | $8,500 (19%) |
| Financing interest | $5,409 (11%) | $5,381 (12%) |
| Registration & fees | $4,375 (9%) | $4,375 (10%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $49,948 | $44,871 |
BYD Dolphin specs & assumptions
- Starting price
- $31,760manufacturer
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 13.5 kWh/100kmADR
- Range
- 340 kmADR
- Australia electricity
- 33.00c/kWhAER
- Annual km (assumed)
- 12,000Australia average
Compare the BYD Dolphin against any car, your km & your scenario
What the numbers say
The BYD Dolphin costs about $49,948 to own over 5 years in Australia — $832/month, $0.83/km at 12,000 km/yr — and depreciation is the biggest line: $18,738, 38% of the total (as of July 9, 2026).
- The Mazda3 G20 Pure wins decisively here — $5,077 cheaper over 5 years; at typical assumptions this isn't a close call.
- No realistic annual distance flips this verdict — the Mazda3 G20 Pure stays the cheaper car at every distance we model.
- Where the BYD Dolphin's $49,948 actually goes: depreciation $18,738 (38%), insurance $12,725 (25%), financing interest $5,409 (11%), maintenance $4,752 (10%), registration & fees $4,375 (9%), charging $3,949 (8%).
- Per km, that is $0.31 of depreciation and $0.07 of charging, with $0.45 for everything else — $0.83/km all-in.
- Charging vs the fleet: the BYD Dolphin's 5-year charging bill ($3,949) runs $585 below the $4,534 median of the 25 EVs we price at the same rates.
What we assume for maintenance
Assumed $950/yr for an EV at 12,000 km/yr — about $4,752 of the 5-year total above. On this market's assumptions an EV runs about $330/yr less in maintenance than a petrol car ($950 vs $1,280). See the methodology for sources; adjustable in the calculator.
Cost to charge the BYD Dolphin at home
The BYD Dolphin runs about $5.06 per 100 km at home — versus about $11.41 for a typical 7 L/100km petrol car. Home charging only (the ~12% AC charging loss is included); public DC fast-charging is billed per session by each network — often 2–3× the home rate — and isn't in these figures.
- Per 100 km at home
- $5.0613.5 kWh/100km + 12% charging loss × $0.33/kWh
- A typical 7 L/100km petrol car
- $11.41/100kmat $1.63/L — for comparison