BYD Dolphin vs Mazda CX-5: 5-year cost to own (Australia)
Over 5 years in Australia (12,000 km/yr), as of July 9, 2026, the BYD Dolphin is cheaper from day one — about $49,948 over 5 years vs $51,866 for the Mazda CX-5, a $1,918 difference.
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.
Cheaper to own over 5 years · AustraliaBYD Dolphin · $49,948 total · $1,918 less than the Mazda CX-5
BYD Dolphin vs Mazda CX-5 — where the money goes
| Cost component | Electric · BYD Dolphin | Petrol · Mazda CX-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $18,738 (38%) | $18,395 (35%) |
| Charging / fuel | $3,949 (8%) | $7,237 (14%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~$474) | — |
| Maintenance | $4,752 (10%) | $6,402 (12%) |
| Insurance | $12,725 (25%) | $8,500 (16%) |
| Financing interest | $5,409 (11%) | $6,957 (13%) |
| Registration & fees | $4,375 (9%) | $4,375 (8%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $49,948 | $51,866 |
When does the BYD Dolphin win?
The BYD Dolphin edges it — a real $1,918 saving over 5 years, though small enough that your own annual distance and home tariff decide it.
At 12,000 km/yr the BYD Dolphin is already the cheaper car — drive more or keep it longer and its lead grows.
What decides the BYD Dolphin vs Mazda CX-5 verdict
The biggest single line, insurance, actually falls the Mazda CX-5's way ($12,725 on the BYD Dolphin against $8,500 on the Mazda CX-5) — yet the BYD Dolphin still finishes $1,918 ahead on everything else combined. On the BYD Dolphin, insurance alone is 25% of its $49,948 total; on the Mazda CX-5 it is 16% of $51,866.
- Energy: $3,949 of charging for the BYD Dolphin vs $7,237 of petrol for the Mazda CX-5 — $3,288 more in the BYD Dolphin's favor.
- Maintenance: BYD Dolphin $4,752, Mazda CX-5 $6,402 — $1,650 more in the BYD Dolphin's favor.
- Financing interest: BYD Dolphin $5,409, Mazda CX-5 $6,957 — $1,548 more in the BYD Dolphin's favor.
The Mazda CX-5's best answer is insurance, $4,225 back the other way — more than the final $1,918 gap on its own, but the remaining rows pull the verdict back to the BYD Dolphin. At the dealer the Mazda CX-5 starts $8,230 behind the BYD Dolphin; running costs claw back $6,312 of that, but the BYD Dolphin still ends $1,918 ahead. The BYD Dolphin is ahead from the first year — $1,129 after year 1 — and finishes year 5 with the full $1,918 lead; the cumulative lines never cross.
BYD Dolphin vs Mazda CX-5, side by side
BYD Dolphin
- 5-yr total cost
- $49,948
- Cost / month
- $832
- Cost / km
- $0.83
- Starting price
- $31,760
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 13.5 kWh/100km
Mazda CX-5
- 5-yr total cost
- $51,866
- Cost / month
- $864
- Cost / km
- $0.86
- Starting price
- $39,990
- Powertrain
- Petrol
- Efficiency
- 7.4 L/100km
- Australia electricity
- 33.00c/kWh AER
- Petrol (Australia)
- $1.63/L AIP