BYD Dolphin vs MG MG4 Urban: Cheaper BEV Hatchback or Longer Range?
The Dolphin costs less, while the MG4 Urban asks more for extra range, extra power and a longer warranty.
By Uzzi · 6 October 2026 · Every figure comes from each car's own page on CarSorted.
$28,888 drive-away
RRP $29,990 excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$29,990 RRP before on-road costs
We check the maker's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the maker.
$32,990
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$32,990 RRP before on-road costs
We check the maker's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the maker.
Who the BYD Dolphin suits
The Dolphin suits a buyer who wants the lower price and mostly drives around town. It lists at $29,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), and in Victoria our data shows $28,888 (drive-away, VIC). Its 340km WLTP range is the shorter of the two, but its folded boot is the bigger of the two.
Who the MG MG4 Urban suits
The MG4 Urban suits a buyer who does longer trips and wants more range and a longer warranty. It lists at $32,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), with a 405km WLTP range and 118kW of power. It also has the bigger boot with the seats up.
What decides it
1. Price
The Dolphin lists at $29,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the MG4 Urban at $32,990 (RRP excl. on-roads). That makes the BYD about $3,000 cheaper before on-roads. Our data also shows the Dolphin at $28,888 (drive-away, VIC), but we have no drive-away figure for the MG.
2. Range and battery
The Dolphin has a 44.9kWh battery and a 340km WLTP range. The MG4 Urban has a 54.0kWh battery and a 405km WLTP range, about 65km more. On a fast charger, the Dolphin peaks at 60kW and the MG at 87kW.
3. Warranty
The Dolphin comes with a 6-year, 150,000km warranty. The MG4 Urban has a 10-year, 250,000km warranty. If you plan to keep the car a long time, the MG has the longer cover on paper.
Running costs
Both are BEVs, so there is no fuel to buy. The Dolphin uses 15.2 kWh/100km and the MG4 Urban uses 16.1 kWh/100km, so the BYD is slightly thriftier per kilometre. The Dolphin's service interval is 12 months, but we have no service interval for the MG and no capped servicing figure for either car. Check the running-cost chart below to compare them over time.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$4,188
per year to run
$50,932
total 5yr cost
$0.65
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $4,188/year to run, or $20,940 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$4,298
per year to run
$54,481
total 5yr cost
$0.70
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $4,298/year to run, or $21,490 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
Practicality
Both are hatchbacks. The Dolphin has 5 seats, and we have no seat count on record for the MG4 Urban. With the seats up the MG's boot is bigger at 382L against the Dolphin's 345L, but folded the Dolphin offers 1,310L against the MG's 1,266L. The MG is the larger car at 4,395mm long and 1,842mm wide, against the Dolphin's 4,290mm and 1,770mm, and we have no towing figures for either car.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (48% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
BYD doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 345 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (43% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
MG doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 382 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
How quick is it?
How quick is it?
0-100 times as published and held in our records. Counts cover on-sale cars with a figure and refresh daily.
How quick is it?
0-100 times as published and held in our records. Counts cover on-sale cars with a figure and refresh daily.
Safety
The Dolphin has a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2023. The MG4 Urban has a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2025, so its rating is the more recent of the two.
The figures side by side
| BYD Dolphin | MG MG4 Urban | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) | $32,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) |
| Drive-away price (VIC) | $28,888 (drive-away, VIC) | No data |
| Powertrain | BEV | BEV |
| Fuel | Electric | Electric |
| Drive | FWD | FWD |
| Transmission | Auto | No data |
| Power | 70kW | 118kW |
| Torque | 180Nm | 250Nm |
| 0-100km/h | 12.3 seconds | 8.7 seconds |
| Energy use | 15.2 kWh/100km | 16.1 kWh/100km |
| Battery | 44.9kWh | 54.0kWh |
| Electric range (WLTP) | 340km | 405km |
| Max DC charging | 60kW | 87kW |
| Body | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Seats | 5 seats | No data |
| Boot (seats up) | 345L | 382L |
| Boot (seats folded) | 1,310L | 1,266L |
| Length | 4,290mm | 4,395mm |
| Width | 1,770mm | 1,842mm |
| Height | 1,570mm | 1,549mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,700mm | 2,750mm |
| Ground clearance | 130mm | 130mm |
| Turning circle | 10.4m | No data |
| Kerb weight | 1,506kg | No data |
| Payload | 410kg | No data |
| ANCAP rating | 5-star (2023) | 5-star (2025) |
| Warranty | 6-year | 10-year |
| Warranty distance | 150,000km | 250,000km |
| Service interval | 12 months | No data |
The verdict
The MG4 Urban costs about $3,000 more, but it brings more range, more power and a longer warranty.
Pick the BYD Dolphin if
you want the lower price, you mostly drive in town and you value the bigger folded boot space.
Pick the MG MG4 Urban if
you do longer drives, want faster DC charging and want the longer warranty cover.
Put them side by side yourself
Every figure, feature and running cost for both, in our live comparison table.
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Ask about these two cars
- BYD Dolphin Essential
- MG4 Urban Essence 54
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Questions buyers ask
Is the BYD Dolphin cheaper than the MG4 Urban?
Yes, on list price. The Dolphin Essential is $29,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the MG4 Urban Essence 54 is $32,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), a gap of about $3,000.
Which has more range, the BYD Dolphin or MG4 Urban?
The MG4 Urban has a 405km WLTP range and the Dolphin has 340km. Real-world range will vary with how and where you drive.
Which has the bigger boot?
With the seats up, the MG4 Urban has 382L and the Dolphin 345L. With the seats folded, the Dolphin has 1,310L and the MG 1,266L.
What warranty do the BYD Dolphin and MG4 Urban get?
The Dolphin has a 6-year, 150,000km warranty. The MG4 Urban has a 10-year, 250,000km warranty. Check the conditions with the dealer before you buy.
Are the BYD Dolphin and MG4 Urban safe?
Both have a 5-star ANCAP rating. The Dolphin's dates from 2023 and the MG4 Urban's from 2025.
More on these cars
- 2026 BYD Dolphin Essential: full specs and priceEvery BYD Dolphin gradeAll BYD models
- 2026 MG MG4 Urban Essence 54: full specs and priceEvery MG MG4 Urban gradeAll MG models