Mini Aceman vs BYD Dolphin

What's the difference?

VS
Mini Aceman
Mini Aceman

$55,990 - $65,990

2025 price

BYD Dolphin
BYD Dolphin

2024 price

Summary

2025 Mini Aceman
2024 BYD Dolphin
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Not Applicable, 0.0L

Not Applicable, 0.0L
Fuel Type
Electric

Electric
Fuel Efficiency
0.0L/100km (combined)

0.0L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • B-pillar blind spot
  • Lack of range on E model
  • Rear cabin is space limited

  • 7.0kW AC charging
  • Not as big on the inside as some rivals
  • Occasionally overzealous active safety
2025 Mini Aceman Summary

How much of a vehicle’s personality is determined by its tech? I’m pretty certain a Porsche 911 is still a 911 despite now being turbocharged, liquid-cooled and fitted with electric power-steering.

And surely a Toyota Corolla is still the spiritual equal of the original Corolla of the 1960s, despite the current car being front-drive, roughly the same size as an early Camry and fitted with a hybrid driveline and CVT transmission.

But what about our old friend the tiny, two-door Mini first seen in the late 1950s? Specifically, can the new Aceman variant still claim all (or, indeed, any of) its Mini-ness?

Okay, it’s still front-wheel drive and retains a few crucial visual clues. But let’s be clear here, it’s not only built in China as part of a joint venture between parent company BMW and Great Wall Motors, it’s also now a five-door hatchback and uses nothing but volts to get around. Can there be any Mini left in it?

Mini also claims the Aceman is part of a spearhead attack to take the brand towards an EV stance. Fitting in between the Mini Cooper two-door EV and the Countryman EV in both front and all-wheel-drive form, the Aceman theoretically broadens that range but, in reality, is more or less a replacement for the discontinued Clubman badge.

And despite the five-door layout, Mini is also happy to maintain that the original Mini’s genius in rewriting the book on interior-space-to-footprint ratio still shines through here. Maybe. At least it’s smaller than the hulking (by Mini standards) Countryman.

So here’s how it pans out: If you want a five-door, electric Mini that isn’t as big as a Countryman, the Aceman is your, er, man.

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2024 BYD Dolphin Summary

It’s about time for a change. Since the beginning of the EV era, Tesla has been the dominant name, and not without good reason.

Tesla made electric cars popular, cool, and above all, accessible. To this day, the Model 3 and Model Y remain excellent purchases in their respective categories.

And yet, the tide seems to be turning. Many buyers haven't been thrilled by Elon Musk's antics, how popular the Tesla brand has become or maybe they never liked the look and feel of Tesla to begin with.

For those prospective EV buyers, it looks like BYD is set to be the next big thing in electric cars.

Offered at a far more accessible price-point, the Chinese brand still stands out with its distinctively styled vehicles and innovative features.

And the new car we’re looking at for this review, the Dolphin hatchback, could be the one to elevate the brand to the levels of popularity and recognition Tesla currently enjoys.

At the time of writing, it was also the most affordable electric car you can buy in Australia. But is it more than that? Read on to find out.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Mini Aceman 2024 BYD Dolphin

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