The arrival of the electric car has spawned a flood of new car brands (especially from China). Sometimes derived from an existing brand, sometimes from a manufacturer unknown to us (until recently). This episode features three used EVs from such a new player.
To cover ourselves immediately: in a previous episode of Op Zoek Naar, benchmark Tesla Model 3 has already been discussed, so we’ll skip that this time and focus on representatives from BYD, Cupra, and Polestar. What do you get if you spend €25,000?
BYD Dolphin Comfort – 2024 – 10,753 kilometers – €24,950
BYD stands for Build Your Dreams and has been a car manufacturer since 2003. In addition to EVs, the Chinese also release plug-in hybrids – the latter category is represented in our country by the Seal U DM-i. However, the emphasis is on EVs of various sizes – the range has expanded considerably in a short time. This resulted in more than 3,200 sales in 2024. One of them was this BYD Dolphin that stands at the brand dealer after just over a year and less than 11,000 kilometers. A demo? That can be attractive. The top is off (and a big top: no less than one euro per kilometer!), but the factory warranty is still valid until 2030.
In terms of size, the Dolphin is comparable to the Cupra Born, but when it comes to space in the back, it even beats the larger Polestar 2: there is a maximum of 97 centimeters between the backrests front and rear, where the 2 comes to 90 centimeters (Born: 93 centimeters). In contrast, the trunk space is the smallest. As the only one of this trio, the Dolphin does not have lithium-ion batteries on board, but of the LFP type, good for 62 kWh. The electric motor is 204 hp and 310 Nm strong, which gives it performance comparable to the Spaniard. More figures: fast charging from 20 to 80% takes 41 minutes with a fast charging capacity of 88 kW, AC charging (11 kW) takes 3 hours and 45 minutes. With a WLTP consumption of 15.9 kWh per 100 kilometers, you get 427 kilometers. The appearance is somewhat interchangeable, inside the rotating touchscreen in particular stands out, which on the one hand responds quickly and looks beautiful, but due to the menu structure (which includes rather intrusive safety aids and climate control) does not work very user-friendly. The equipment is generous, the finish is neat, thanks to the plastic with a relief. No complaints about sitting behind the wheel, but about driving away at full throttle. Spinning front wheels are the result. A calmer right foot (which the vast majority of the clientele will have) works wonders.
Cupra Born 58 kWh 150 kW Adrenaline – 2022 – 49,796 kilometers – €24,880
For various reasons (privacy, human rights), many are somewhat hesitant to purchase a Chinese car, as we regularly read in your comments. If we are looking for a – new – European counterpart to the Dolphin, the Cupra Born is an alternative. Cupra was once the sporty label of Seat, but became independent in 2020 and has since offered (just like BYD) EVs and plug-in hybrids. With more than 6,600 copies sold to date, the Born is by far the most successful Cupra in our country (in terms of production numbers, the Formentor is at the top). One of them is this CUPRA Born that is at the brand dealer. Older and more experienced in terms of kilometers than the Dolphin and still paying extra for warranty (because the factory warranty has expired) – the Born must make up for that on other fronts. In terms of drive, performance and power consumption, there are hardly any differences: the battery pack (also 62 kWh) is of the lithium-ion type, the electric motor is exactly as powerful with 204 hp and 310 Nm.
Fast charging from 20 to 80% takes 36 minutes with a fast charging capacity of 100 kW, AC charging (11 kW) is completed after 3 hours and 45 minutes, just like with the Dolphin. With a WLTP consumption of 15.4 kWh per 100 kilometers, you get 420 kilometers. The appearance of the P-522-KN is more expressive. Copper-colored elements (the hallmark of Cupra) form a nice contrast with the garbage bag gray of the body that otherwise looks like it can participate in any rally. A lot more exciting than the Volkswagen ID3 from which it is derived. In terms of driving experience, it keeps pace with its appearance and differs from the Chinese above: pleasant sports suspension, low center of gravity and direct steering response (but a little more feedback would have been nice). The interior is largely reminiscent of its German blood relative (with all its advantages and disadvantages, such as the inconvenient window controls), but here too there is a sporty, own atmosphere. It is therefore mainly the looks in which the Born distinguishes itself from the Dolphin – which strikes back with its value-for-money content.
Polestar 2 78 kWh Dual Motor Launch Edition – 2020 – 107,001 kilometers – €24,840
If year of construction and experience matter less to you than size and performance, then this Polestar 2 is an option. Polestar began its life as a sports label of Volvo (just like Cupra at Seat), but has been building its own EVs since the end of last decade, which roll off the production line in China. The J-130-SP comes from introduction year 2020 and that was immediately the top year for Polestar in our country (almost 3,000 units, as a model the 2 pulls the cart here – so far almost 12,000 copies sold). And speaking of introduction; this black copy is a Launch Edition, so hung with extras – although it offers little more than the other two.
However, the panoramic roof is a pleasant addition and what about a braked towing capacity of 1,500 kilos? Responsible for the latter are two electric motors that pour a total of 408 hp and no less than 660 Nm over the front and rear wheels (the Dolphin has front-wheel drive, the Born has rear-wheel drive). The battery pack (78 kWh) is of the lithium-ion type. Fast charging from 20 to 80% takes half an hour with a fast charging capacity of 150 kW, AC charging (11 kW) is completed after almost 4 hours and 45 minutes. With a WLTP consumption of a fairly hefty 19.2 kWh per 100 kilometers, you get 480 kilometers. The performance is also better, but the question is whether everything is still as good as new. As the only one of the three providers, that of the 2 shows a SoH report that shows a score of 94 (out of a maximum of 100). The road holding is good, tight and quiet (the 2 also weighs almost 2,100 kilos), but here too there is a lack of feedback from the steering wheel. The design of the car seems to make it more of a touring car than the other two, but when it comes to interior space, the 2 is not a leader. However, there is a pleasant atmosphere on board. The materials are well chosen, the dashboard complete.