Five-star safety ratings for Seal and Dolphin

The newest BYD models to hit the market, the Dolphin and Seal, have earned five-star safety ratings from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program – ANCAP.

The battery electric BYD Seal and BYD Dolphin are just the second and third vehicle models to be rated against new 2023 criteria.

Both the BYD Seal and BYD Dolphin have been assessed for their structural crash protection through a rigorous series of physical crash tests, as well as their ability to actively avoid collisions with other cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and – new from 2023 – motorcycles.

In ANCAP’s destructive crash tests, the Seal achieved full points for 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 (MPDB) test, and rear passenger chest in the full width test, was assessed as Adequate.

For its size, overall, the Dolphin 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 Dolphin’s protection to child occupants in both frontal and side impact tests.

Like the Seal, the Dolphin is fitted with a centre airbag to minimise injury from head contact between front seat occupants or contact with the intruding side of the vehicle in side impact crashes, and effective protection was demonstrated by both vehicle models.

The models were also noted for their technology to prevent incidents with cyclists, and for door opening when submerged.

“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,” says 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.”

BYD Auto New Zealand brand manager Warren Willmot welcomed the news, with the rating opening up the vehicle for additional fleet sales as well as to cautious buyers.

“These ratings reflect BYDs commitment to safety,” Willmot says. “We are delighted with this announcement.”

“As well as a 5 Star ANCAP result, our customers can result assured knowing they have the safest and most durable battery technology available in the market today. BYD is the only battery manufacturer to show the results of the ‘Nail Penetration’ test, which the ultra safe BYD Blade Battery passes with ease.”

While not part of ANCAP testing, check out this interesting video from BYD, where they crash test a Seal twice before swapping the battery into a new vehicle that is still operational.