BYD Dolphin Mini leads compact electric sales in Brazil with low consumption

It took just three years for compact electric cars to reach the top of sales in Brazil. The best-selling in the segment is the BYD Dolphin Mini, which starts at R$109,990. The model was the one that used the least energy among all the battery-powered cars evaluated in this cycle of the Folha Mauá Ranking.

The low consumption in urban use makes it possible to travel 342 km in traffic, according to measurements made by IMT (Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia).

Good autonomy contributes to the model's popularity among app drivers, which helps boost sales. Between January and September, the model assembled in Camaçari (BA) had 60,606 units registered in the country, according to data from Fenabrave (an association that brings together vehicle distributors in Brazil).

In the performance tests, the model that stood out the most was the GWM Ora 03 Skin. The hatch needed 7.8 seconds to go from zero to 100 km/h.

How tests are carried out

The cycle of this edition of the Folha Mauá Ranking had 81 cars tested between the second half of July 2025 and the first half of July 2026. Performance and consumption evaluations were carried out in partnership with IMT (Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia).

To measure the performance of cars, IMT uses the V-Box, equipment that uses a GPS signal. Acceleration and recovery tests are carried out on the ZF company track, in Limeira (interior of São Paulo).

The stage that checks consumption in the city is 27 km long. To simulate a road course at 90 km/h, test drivers drive for 31 km.

Both routes are in São Caetano do Sul (ABC), where the institute's headquarters are located. If the car is flex fuel, two measurements are taken: one with ethanol, the other with gasoline.

A charger installed in the IMT measures the energy consumption of electric and plug-in hybrid models. The test calculates the cost of driving 100 km in urban and highway modes.