BYD Dolphin vs Subaru Forester
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Level at 76: here's what splits them
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 30 Sep 2026, price 14 Nov 2026
BYD Dolphin
16 of 27 standard · no option data · 4 not offered · 7 no dataFrom
$29,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- Hatchback
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 70kW
- Energy use
- 15.8 kWh/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2023
- Boot (seats up)
- 345L
BYD Australia offer: $28,888 drive-away (state not stated), ends 15 Dec 2026. Terms
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Subaru Forester
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 9 no dataFrom
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 136kW
- Economy
- 7.9 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2024
- Boot (seats up)
- 496L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Manufacturer offer
Ends 15 Dec 2026
Offer from BYD Australia, checked 12 Nov 2026
T&Cs apply, as the manufacturer prints them. Eligibility, stock and build limits vary, so confirm the offer with the dealer.
$29,990RRP
- cannot be matched: Rain-Sensing Wipers, Wireless Phone Charging and Heated Front Seats not offered
$45,990RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
BYD Dolphin Essential
$29,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 14 Nov 2026
$28,888 drive-away in VIC, as published by BYD Australia
Subaru Forester AWD
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
$45,990 drive-away in NSW, as published by Subaru Australia
No lowest cost is named: these totals leave out different parts (2026 BYD Dolphin Essential excludes servicing and insurance; 2026 Subaru Forester AWD excludes insurance).
Every column on the same basis: 15,000 km a year (fixed for every comparison) in VIC, repayment assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Each car's fuel or charging price is in its own breakdown. Estimate only, not a quote or an offer of credit.
No lowest cost is named: these totals leave out different parts (2026 BYD Dolphin Essential excludes servicing and insurance; 2026 Subaru Forester AWD excludes insurance).
Cash outlay over 5 years: the deposit, the repayments and the running costs. Excludes resale value. Every column on the same basis: 15,000 km a year in VIC, repayment assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Estimate only, not a quote or an offer of credit.
On the rated figures, the BYD Dolphin leads on standard features per $10,000: 4.7 per $10,000 on RRP (14 of 17 standard) for the BYD Dolphin; 3.7 per $10,000 on RRP (17 of 17 standard) for the Subaru Forester. On the rated figures, the Subaru Forester leads on price per kw: $428 per kW on RRP for the BYD Dolphin; $338 per kW on RRP for the Subaru Forester. On the rated figures, the BYD Dolphin leads on price per litre of boot: $87 per litre of boot on RRP for the BYD Dolphin; $93 per litre of boot on RRP for the Subaru Forester. These ratios are not part of the CarSorted Score.
The BYD Dolphin starts $16,000 lower on RRP.
The BYD Dolphin currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which applies to novated leases. The Subaru Forester does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$111/wk(≈$479/mo)
Estimate on the BYD Dolphin at $28,888 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BYD DolphinDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP lists the BYD Dolphin at 5 stars (2023) and the Subaru Forester at 5 stars (2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2023 vs 2024). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the BYD Dolphin and 83% for the Subaru Forester, under different test years.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on both.
Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the BYD Dolphin and 9 in the Subaru Forester.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the BYD Dolphin and 7 on the Subaru Forester.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
BYD Dolphin
None open on our record
Subaru Forester
- REC-006737 · published 7 Oct 2026Due to a manufacturing defect in the intermediate case of the transaxle, cracks may develop in the support section of the parking pawl.Year range on the notice: 2026
- REC-005831 · published 20 Nov 2023The front drive shaft may not meet manufacturing specifications and the outer race of the front driveshaft may crack.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-001604 · published 2 Jun 2021The rear stabiliser bracket bolts may not have been sufficiently tightened during production.Year range on the notice: 2017 - 2020
- 9 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging and range
The rated figures side by side: electric range and fuel use with the battery depleted for a plug-in hybrid or range extender, the km each battery-electric car adds overnight on its own onboard charger, and the DC time in the window each document prints.
| 2026 BYD Dolphin Essential | 2026 Subaru Forester AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | Battery electric | Petrol or diesel |
| Added overnight, 10A power point (2.4 kW) | 158 km in 10 h | Not applicable |
| Added overnight, 7.4 kW wallbox | 295 km in 10 hCapped: this car accepts 7 kW AC, a full battery | Not applicable |
| DC fast charge, as printed | 35 min, 0-80% | Not applicable |
| Charging connector | CCS2 | Not applicable |
| Portable charger supplied | Supplied | Not applicable |
| Type 2 cable supplied | No data | Not applicable |
| Front boot | No data | No data |
- Km added in 10 hours: the charger rate, capped by the car's own onboard charger, over its own rated energy use. A car without an onboard charger or energy figure is No data, never an assumed rate.
- DC times are printed only in the window the document gives (0-80% or 10-80%). Different windows are not one measure, so nobody leads across them.
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
44.9kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
Same as public DC: this car caps at 60kW
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7kW AC, 60kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
What's in the boxBYD Dolphin
- Portable chargerSupplied
- Type 2 cableNo data
From the manufacturer's own equipment list for this car. A Type 2 cable is what an untethered public AC post needs; a portable charger plugs into a household socket.
Feature Showdown
The BYD Dolphin features a 12.8-inch touchscreen paired with a 5-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BYD Dolphin stands out with Apple CarPlay and V2L: features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Forester. The Subaru Forester counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging and heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the BYD Dolphin gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The BYD Dolphin uses a Electric producing 70kW and 180Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 12.3 seconds.
The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.
The Subaru Forester has the clear power advantage at 136kW vs 70kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BYD Dolphin measures 4,290mm long on a 2,700mm wheelbase, 365mm shorter than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Dolphin generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 345L in the BYD Dolphin and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Subaru Forester a 151L advantage.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the BYD Dolphin's turning circle is 0.4 m tighter, 10.4 m against 10.8 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Front boot (frunk)
BYD Dolphin
No data
Subaru Forester
No data
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, electricity for the BYD Dolphin costs about $684 a year (15.8 kWh/100km, at $0.30/kWh electricity) and fuel for the Subaru Forester about $2,311 a year (7.9 L/100km, at $1.95/L petrol).
The weekly and 5-year figures in the price section above add repayments, rego, servicing and tyres to this; use our Fuel Cost Calculator for your own driving.
Warranty: 6 years / 150,000 km (BYD Dolphin) and 5 years / unlimited km (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (BYD Dolphin), 5 years (Subaru Forester).
- No break-even: the BYD Dolphin costs less to buy and less in energy.
Energy only. Excludes servicing, rego, insurance, finance interest and resale. Prices are compared only on one basis.
Where each one leads
The BYD Dolphin: the lower starting price ($29,990 against $45,990) and the longer warranty (6 years against 5).
The Subaru Forester: more power (136kW against 70kW) and the bigger boot with the seats up (496L against 345L).
The Verdict
Level at 76: here's what splits them
The BYD Dolphin and Subaru Forester are level on the CarSorted Score at 76 each, so neither takes the overall call. What splits them: performance (Subaru Forester ahead by 23 points), practicality (Subaru Forester ahead by 16 points). Boot space with the seats up: 345L in the BYD Dolphin, 496L in the Subaru Forester. Warranty: 6 years on the BYD Dolphin, 5 on the Subaru Forester.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$111/wk(≈$479/mo)
Estimate on the BYD Dolphin at $28,888 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BYD DolphinDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BYD Dolphin and Subaru Forester?
The BYD Dolphin is the cheapest at $29,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Subaru Forester by $16,000.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
BYD Dolphin holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2023) and Subaru Forester holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2023 vs 2024). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Compare the active-safety features above to separate them.
Which has the most boot space?
The Subaru Forester has the largest boot at 496L with the seats up (1,174L with the seats folded).
Which can tow the most?
The Subaru Forester has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,800kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The BYD Dolphin has the longest warranty at 6 years / 150,000 km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Subaru Forester makes the most power at 136kW.
Track the BYD Dolphin & Subaru Forester
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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