Car Wars: Ford Puma Gen-E vs BYD Dolphin

It’s time for another EV face-off.

Putting the Ford Puma Gen-E and the BYD Dolphin through their paces is Alvin from team Octopus EV, and Imogen from team Everything Electric. Let’s see what they make of these two sub-£30k, city-friendly EVs.

1. Two small EVs, similar price – very different stories

The Ford Puma Gen-E and BYD Dolphin might sit in the same starter-EV bracket, but that’s where the similarities end. One is a familiar household name turned electric; the other is a bold challenger packed with new tech.

2. Puma Gen-E: Ford's best-seller, now electric

The Puma Gen-E follows on from Ford’s hugely successful petrol Puma, keeping the familiar bubbly crossover shape and feel. It looks cute and compact on the outside, yet is super practical inside.

3. BYD Dolphin: playful design with serious innovation

The Dolphin leans into its name, with flipper-style door handles, a fin-like centre console and wave-inspired interior details. It’s part of BYD’s ocean-themed line-up and brings a level of design consideration you don’t always see at this price point.

4. Safe, simple and sorted inside the Puma

Inside, the Ford’s tech is deliberately straightforward. The infotainment system isn’t trying to be flashy; it just works. You get the features you need without it feeling overcomplicated, which suits its “safe pair of hands” reputation.

5. Dolphin's V2G is a game-changer

Through Octopus, the BYD Dolphin becomes one of the first genuine Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) propositions for customers: charge the car, export energy back to the grid in controlled amounts, and effectively unlock free charging. For tech-curious drivers, anyone excited about the future of energy, and those that just love a great deal, the Dolphin is hard to beat.

Ford Puma Gen-E

Est. Range: 170mi (real world)

Efficiency: 256 Wh/mi

Acceleration: 0-62mph in 8 sec

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BYD Dolphin

• Est. Range: 210mi (real world)
• Efficiency: 288 Wh/mi
• Acceleration: 0-62mph in 7 sec

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