Bmw 116i vs BYD Dolphin Active 70kW : which one is faster?

The launch: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Bmw 116i hits 100 km/h in 10.53 s versus 12.34 s for the Dolphin Active 70kW. Despite lacking instant torque, 109 hp of power compensates. At this point, the Bmw 116i leads by 1.81 s and sits roughly 31 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Bmw 116i is doing 104 km/h against 101 km/h for the Dolphin Active 70kW. The gap is 1.20 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Bmw 116i crosses the line in 17.45 s versus 18.84 s. The 1.39 s gap represents roughly 47 m of track — a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the Bmw 116i continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 143 km/h versus 136 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Bmw 116i finishes in 32.17 s versus 34.35 s, with a 2.18 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Bmw 116i is capped at 200 km/h, the Dolphin Active 70kW at 150 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit — it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 21.36 seconds. The 1.81 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.