Should you buy a new BYD Dolphin or a used Cupra Born? I’m going to find out

New versus used is the age-old car buying decision. Do you want to be the first owner and enjoy that new car smell, or would you rather sacrifice that to get a bit more for your money?

Take the BYD Dolphin for example. It’s an electric hatchback which comes with loads of kit, and it starts from just over £26,000. For that money you could also have a two-year-old Cupra Born, a car which costs around £5,000 more than the BYD from new.

So which should you choose? Well having driven both, I’m going to compare the two on value for money, practicality, range and driving experience so you can decide which one is best suited to your needs.

New BYD Dolphin vs used Cupra Born: prices and value for money

Let’s start with the BYD Dolphin. It starts from just over £30,000, and you get plenty of kit as standard. All cars come with:

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Heated front seats
• 360-degree camera
• Adaptive cruise control
• Heated steering wheel

However, I would go for the top-spec Design model. It costs an extra £1,500 normally, but with Carwow savings you can actually get this version for just over £28,000*. It adds:

• Panoramic glass roof
• Ventilated front seats
• Wireless phone charging
• Rear privacy glass

As for the Cupra Born, it usually starts from £36,700, rising to £45,000 for the top-spec VZ version. You can save an average of £8,800 on a new Cupra Born through Carwow at the time of writing, but I’ve found a great deal on a used car.

This is a two-year-old VZ model with just over 14,000 miles on the clock, and it’s up for £27,900. That’s close to £17,000 less than the equivalent new car, and it’s slightly cheaper than a new BYD Dolphin.

Standard equipment for this car incudes:

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Augmented reality head-up display
• Adaptive cruise control
• Heated bucket seats
• Heated steering wheel

So in terms of standard equipment, there’s not a huge amount in it. Both these cars have plenty of kit, but the BYD is a brand new car so it’s ahead on the value front.

New BYD Dolphin vs used Cupra Born: interior and practicality

Inside is where the Cupra starts to claw back some points, because it’s got a lovely cabin. The materials all feel really plush, and I especially like the Alcantara details on the seats and door cards. It makes the car feel sporty and special, and the copper details are a nice touch.

The BYD’s interior looks nice enough when you climb in, but it feels a lot cheaper than the Cupra. There are lots of hard, scratchy plastics, but it does at least feel robust inside.

You do get a clever party piece in the Dolphin though – the 12.8-inch touchscreen can rotate from landscape to portrait orientation. This is a cool gimmick at first, but in the real world I find it to be a bit pointless and it doesn’t distract from the confusing menus.

The 12.9-inch infotainment system you get in the Born isn’t perfect either, with fiddly touch sliders for the climate control and slightly laggy graphics, but I get on with it better than the Dolphin’s display.

Interior space is pretty evenly matched between these cars. Both offer plenty of rear legroom, although the Dolphin is a smidge more spacious, and they offer plenty of cubby holes. You get 40 litres more boot space in the Born though, with a total of 385 litres on offer.

Inside, the Born is the winner here. The cabin feels posher than the BYD’s, and it’s slightly more practical as well thanks to the larger boot. That said, the Dolphin is slightly better if you carry lanky adults in the back on a regular basis.

New BYD Dolphin vs used Cupra Born: motors, range and driving

Choosing motors and batteries for your BYD Dolphin is simple, because there’s only one option. You get a 60kWh battery which is good for 265 miles of range according to official tests, paired with a 204hp motor driving the front wheels.

It feels more than peppy enough for a sensible family hatchback, with 0-62mph taking 7.0 seconds. The Dolphin feels at-home on the motorway as well, with very little wind or road noise entering the cabin. It does fidget around over potholes in town though, and the rear visibility isn’t great.

There are a few more options to choose from when buying a Born. Entry-level cars get a 231hp motor and 265 miles of range, making it very similar to the Dolphin, but the model we’re looking at here is the VZ.

It has a 79kWh battery which is good for 367 miles of range, and the rear-mounted motor puts out 326hp. This means it feels significantly quicker than the BYD, with 0-62mph taking 5.6 seconds.

I also prefer the way the Cupra drives. It’s not as sporty through the bends as the aggressive styling lets on, but it still feels more agile than the Dolphin and it handles bumps better as well. It does have a similar issue with rear visibility though.

New BYD Dolphin vs used Cupra Born: my expert verdict

So then, which of these cars should you buy? Both have their pros and cons, but if it were my money then I’d go for the Cupra.

I’m a sucker for a bargain, and getting a £45,000 car for less than £30,000 just two years after it went on sale is too good to ignore. You’re getting more range, better performance and a posher interior than the BYD, and, while I know looks are subjective, I prefer the Cupra’s sporty styling.

That said, the BYD Dolphin is not without merit. Buying this car brand new gets you a six-year warranty, whereas the Cupra will only have three of its five years of coverage left. It’s also really well-equipped, better for rear passengers and decent to drive. If you’re after a great-value electric hatchback, I can recommend the BYD Dolphin.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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