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Mini Cooper SE vs BYD Dolphin

Mini Cooper SE vs BYD Dolphin

Mini Cooper SE and BYD Dolphin sit in the small EV hatchback segment but target different buyers. The Mini Cooper SE focuses on style, driving feel, and compact city use. The BYD Dolphin targets budget-conscious buyers who need more space and daily usability with lower running cost.

Range is a key gap. The Mini Cooper SE delivers around 200–330 km depending on generation, while the Dolphin reaches about 340–425 km WLTP depending on battery size, giving it a clear advantage for longer trips. Charging differs in approach. The Mini supports faster peak DC charging up to about 95 kW, while the Dolphin ranges from about 60 kW to 88 kW depending on trim, with both taking close to 30 minutes for 10–80 percent in real use.

Price positioning favors the Dolphin. It sits in the budget EV category and undercuts most rivals, while the Mini carries a premium price due to branding and design focus. The Dolphin has wider availability across Asia, Europe, and emerging EV markets. The Mini focuses on Europe and select global markets with lower volume. This page helps you decide between design and driving feel versus range, space, and cost efficiency.

Within Mini, the Cooper SE stands alongside models like the Mini Countryman Electric. Under BYD, the Dolphin sits below models such as the BYD Atto 3 and BYD Seal.

The Mini Cooper SE offers sharp handling, strong brand identity, and compact size for city driving, but its limited range and small rear space reduce flexibility. The BYD Dolphin delivers longer range, better interior space, and lower cost of ownership, but its charging speed is moderate and it lacks the premium driving feel of the Mini.

QUICK VERDICT; Pick the Mini Cooper SE for city driving and design focus. Pick the BYD Dolphin for range, space, and value.

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	Mini Cooper SE BYD Dolphin

Price	$30,000.00 $33,000.00
Our Rating	5.5 5.7
Brand	Mini BYD
Category	Cars Cars

MODEL

Models

BYD Dolphin Active
BYD Dolphin Boost
BYD Dolphin Comfort/Design

LAUNCH

Announced	2019, July 2023, April 11
Status	Available to order. Released 2019 Available. Released 2023, June
Base Price	$ 29,990 € 32,500 £ 28,500 € 33,000

PERFORMANCE

Power	FWD 181 hp (135 kW) FWD 204 hp (150 kW)
Torque	199 lb-ft (270 Nm) 290 Nm (214 lb-ft)
Acceleration The acceleration numbers are an easy way to compare car performance. We list either time from 0 to 100 km/h or time from 0 to 60mph, depending on which number(s) the manufacturers provide. The lower the acceleration time, the higher performance the car is.	6.9 sec 0-60 mph (7.3 sec 0-62 mph) 7 sec 0-62 mph
Max Speed	93 mph (150 km/h) 99 mph (160 km/h)

BATTERY

Capacity	28.9 kWh usable, 32.6 kWh total 60 kWh total
Tech	Liquid-cooled Li-ion 350V Liquid-cooled Li-ion LFP battery
Range	114 mi EPA (139 mi WLTP, 168 mi NEDC) 265 mi WLTP
Consumption	310 Wh/mi EPA (245 Wh/mi WLTP)
Recuperation	Yes Yes, 4 modes
Heat Pump
AC Charging	Type 2 11 kW, 0-100% in 5 hours Type 2 11 kW
DC Charging	CCS 49 kW max, 0-80% in 36 min CCS 88 kW, 30-80% in 29 min Vehicle to load (V2L) - 3.3 kW max

BODY

Type	3 door hatchback, 4 seats 5 door hatchback, 5 seats
Platform	FAAR e-platform 3.0
Dimensions	151.6 x 68.0 x 56.4 in (3850 x 1727 x 1432 mm) 4290 x 1770 x 1570 mm (168.9 x 69.7 x 61.8 in)
Wheelbase	98.2 in (2495 mm) 2700 mm (106.3 in)
Clearance	5.0 in (127 mm)
Weight	EU: 3175 lb unladen, 3913 lb gross
Suspension	Front MacPherson struts, rear multi-link
Wheels	R15, R16, R17, R18 R16, R17
Trunk/Boot	EU: 7.5 ft³, 25.8 ft³ max EU: 345 l, 1310 l max
Frunk/Bonnet	No No
Towing	No No

DISPLAYS

Centre	6.5" or 8.8" touchscreen 12.8" rotating touchscreen
Driver's Display	5" 5"
Head-Up	Yes, retractable No

COMFORT

Seats	Heated front seats Heated front seats
Roof	No glass roof Glass roof, tilt & slide
Parking Aids	Front and rear sensors, reversing camera, Parking Assist Front and rear sensors, 360 camera, reversing camera
Connectivity	Wireless Apple CarPlay
Others	Amazon Alexa car integration

SAFETY

Airbags	6 airbags: front, side, head airbag system, knee airbag 6 airbags: front, side, rear, including head airbag system
Driving Aids	Front camera, collision detection and braking, Daytime pedestrian collision mitigation, Fatigue alert, PostCrash iBrake, Brake assistant, High-beam Assistant Front radar, multiple cameras. Blind Spot Warning, High Beam Assist, Lane departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Front/Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Front/Rear Cross Traffic Brake, Traffic Sign Recognition, Automatic Emergency Braking System