BYD Yuan Pro could cause ‘Dolphin effect’ among electric SUVs in Brazil

The BYD Yuan Plus will gain a smaller (and cheaper) brother in Brazil in 2024. The BYD Yuan Pro has dimensions equivalent to those of a Nissan Kicks and will serve as BYD’s cheapest SUV in Brazil, but you need to be aware of Don’t confuse the car.

It turns out that, in China, Yuan Pro is a clone of the Ford EcoSport sold since 2015. The car that will be sold as Yuan Pro in Brazil is the Yuan Up, a recently launched compact SUV that shares a series of features with the BYD Dolphin.

What BYD Yuan Pro is like

In China, there are very simple versions with a 95 hp electric motor (same as the Dolphin) and a 32 kWh. However, the Yuan Pro configuration that BYD is considering selling in Brazil is the most expensive, with 177 hp and a 45 kWh battery (like the Dolphin), with a range of 401 km in the Chinese cycle (CLTC).

The battery capacity is slightly smaller than that of a Peugeot e-2008, which has 50 kWh, but the BYD Yuan Pro has dimensions equivalent to the largest compact SUVs. There are 4.31 m long, 1.83 m wide, 1.67 m high and 2.62 m wheelbase – 8 cm less than a BYD Dolphin.

Continues after advertising

If at the front the “grille” style, which joins the narrow LED headlights, is in line with the design of the BYD Song L, the rear with interconnected lights flirts with the style of the Dolphin. LTurn signal and reverse lights are hidden in the bumper with a protruding design and silver parts.

And it’s worth noting that the SUV has a rear wiper and that the model no longer features “Build Your Dreams” in full on the rear lid, like other models. The tendency is for them to just use “BYD”.

Continues after advertising

Inside, the Yuan Pro has a good amount of space. The raised roof allows the rear seat to have a higher position and its floor is entirely flat, making life easier for the fifth occupant. At the front, the two seats are electrically adjustable.

The dashboard is different from other BYDs, which is good. The digital instrument panel is a little wider, the multimedia center screen is 12.8 inches and rotating and just below it is the elevated central console, with side handles around the space dedicated to the wireless charger for smartphones (with ventilation, including). Below is a storage compartment accessed from the sides.

Continues after advertising

Some of the few buttons in the cabin are around the gear selector, which is a more conventional lever. The entire console has a soft-touch finish, as do the door panels. The steering has height and depth adjustment.

In terms of equipment, the Yuan Pro may have advanced safety systems as standard, such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistant and emergency braking.

Continues after advertising

BYD Yuan Pro price in Brazil

As for the prices of its smallest electric SUV, BYD’s intention appears to be to repeat the relationship between the Yuan Plus and Song Plus: they cost the same R$229,800, but one is electric and the other is a plug-in hybrid. Therefore, the Yuan Pro would cost the same price as the Song Pro – another one in line to be launched in Brazil.

The estimate is a price of R$30,000 below the Plus line. This means that if they arrived in stores today they would cost R$199,800. But it’s best not to create expectations for a price below R$200,000, as the import tax for hybrids and electrics will have two increases until the end of the year, when the Yuan Pro is scheduled to be launched in Brazil.

In other words, the BYD Yuan Pro would be positioned above the Dolphin Plus, but still at an interesting price compared to other electric SUVs, such as the Seres 3 and the Peugeot e-2008 (which is temporarily discontinued, awaiting its restyling) .

Considering the content, space and finish, the tendency is for the Yuan Pro to become the new reference in the segment. What comes after that is a reduction in competitors’ prices, exactly what happened after the launch of the BYD Dolphin in Brazil.