BYD Dolphin, Seal score top safety marks

ANCAP has awarded a five-star crash test result to the BYD Dolphin and BYD Seal this week, the electric duo the second and third respectively to be rated against the safety body’s stricter new criteria behind the Lexus RZ450e.

Both models were assessed for their structural crash protection through a series of rigorous physical crash tests, and for their ability to actively avoid collisions with other cars, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles.

In ANCAP’s destructive crash test, the BYD Seal achieved full points for the protection of the driver and child passengers in the side impact test, and the driver in the oblique pole test. Protection offered to the chest and lower legs of the driver in the frontal offset test, and rear passenger chest in the full width test, was assessed as Adequate.

The smaller BYD Dolphin, meanwhile, demonstrated a mix of Good and Adequate protection for adult occupants in crash tests, with a Marginal level of protection offered to the driver’s chest in the frontal offset test. Maximum points were scored for the level of protection the vehicle offered child occupants in frontal and side impact tests.

Both BYD models are equipped with a centre airbag to minimise the injury from head contact between front seat occupants or contact with the side of the vehicle in side impact crashes. ANCAP said effective protection was demonstrated in this regard by both models.

In addition to the routine suite of active collision avoidance performance tests, under the new 2023-2025 test criteria, both BYD models were tested for their ability to detect a cyclist passing the vehicle from the rear and warn and/or prevent occupants of the vehicle opening their door into the cyclist’s path.

The Dolphin and Seal are both fitted with an anti-dooring system that provides an audible warning, however neither model has a system for occupant retention (temporary door locking).

Another new aspect included in ANCAP testing from 2023 includes an assessment of vehicle access when submerged in water. Both the BYD Seal and BYD Dolphin meet the requirements for door opening functionality – demonstrating that, if the car entered water, the doors would remain functional for the minimum required time (two minutes) after vehicle power is lost.

Window opening functionality however was not demonstrated.

In the Adult Occupant Protection category, the BYD Dolphin scored an 89 per cent score (35.81 points out of a possible 40) and in the Child Occupant Protection category managed 86 per cent (42.43 points out of a possible 49). For the Vulnerable Road User category, the model scored 85 per cent (53.64 points out of a possible 63) and in the Safety Assist category 77 per cent (14.04 points out of a possible 18).

For the BYD Seal the results were similar. The model scored an 89 per cent score (35.78 points out of a possible 40) in the Adult Occupant Protection category and in the Child Occupant Protection category managed 87 per cent (43.00 points out of a possible 49). For the Vulnerable Road User category, the model scored 82 per cent (51.68 points out of a possible 63) and in the Safety Assist category 75 per cent (13.56 points out of a possible 18).

“Our 2023 test and rating criteria have introduced further requirements for high levels of structural protection as well as new challenges for manufacturers in the area of active safety systems and, pleasingly, the three models rated so far this year have each achieved five-star ratings,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.

“This is a trend we’d like to see continue as we finalise testing and assessments on a number of new models later this year.”