While large electric SUVs have dominated recent launches, there’s a growing trend towards electric compact cars.
Renault 5 E-Tech, Citroën ë-C3, Hyundai Inster, Dacia Spring… The segment is expanding, with increasingly attractive prices. It’s within this category that the BYD Dolphin Surf arrives, marking the latest European launch by the Chinese giant.
An “Europeanized” version of the popular Seagull, the Dolphin Surf aims to attract with a starting price of €19,990. Does it offer more? We went to find out, taking it for a spin.
BYD Dolphin SurfTechnical Specs
| Model | BYD Dolphin Surf |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 3.99 m x 1.72 m x 1.59 m |
| Power (horsepower) | 156 horsepower |
| 0 to 100km/h | 9.1 s |
| Autonomy level | Semi-autonomous driving (level 2) |
| Max speed | 150 km/h |
| Main screen size | 10.1 inches |
| Car-side plug | Type 2 Combo (CCS) |
| Starting price | €19,990 |
|
Try it out |
Product sheet |
BYD Dolphin SurfExterior: No Fuss
At 3.99 m long, the Dolphin Surf fits right into the B segment, but its narrow width (1.72 m) and unusual height (1.58 m) give it a somewhat tall silhouette; for comparison, an electric R5 is 5 cm wider and 8 cm shorter, giving it a more streamlined look.
Clearly, its design lineage with the Chinese Seagull is evident; the Dolphin Surf distinguishes itself with specific, more aggressive bumpers tailored to meet European safety standards—adding 16 cm to the small car in the process.
The style remains simple, with a design that emphasizes sharp edges. A few features try to enhance the line, such as the floating roof or the rear strip, visually widening the otherwise abrupt rear hatch.
Other colors than this bold “Lime Green” are available, but are limited to light blue, white, and black—also the only options available, as is often the case with Chinese brands.
BYD Dolphin SurfCabin: Room for Four
A Trendy Presentation
However, the dashboard of the little BYD looks good. Following the wave-like spirit of the regular Dolphin, it indulges in some padded plastics (not all cars in this segment can boast the same), as well as soft-touch inserts on the front and rear door panels.
The hard plastic on the upper part, however, seemed prone to retaining dust; similarly, the door panel plastics easily marked when hit by raindrops. Reaching this price point requires some compromises.
The seats, meanwhile, feature faux leather upholstery, while the front seats adopt an (almost) bucket style—though their lateral support is almost non-existent. Notably, there’s no storage under the central armrest, although this is partially offset by a space under the central console, equipped with cup holders and an induction charger.
A Strict Four-Seater
Where the BYD Dolphin Surf pays for its relative narrowness is in its seating capacity: the rear bench only accommodates two passengers, with no intention of fitting a fifth person, according to brand spokespeople.
This could be a drawback, especially compared to its rivals that almost always offer five seats (the Inster should benefit from this in the coming weeks), but let’s be consoled by the generous space allocated to rear passengers: there is ample legroom and headroom. Only the high side windows might limit the view for younger passengers.
As for the trunk, BYD announces a capacity of 306 liters. This is average (a Citroën ë-C3 promises 320 liters, while an R5 settles for 277 liters), aided by a double floor, but disadvantaged by the lack of a luggage cover, even as an option or accessory. Too bad. No front trunk (frunk), despite the compact motor block.
BYD Dolphin SurfInfotainment: BYD Style
A key feature on the Dolphin Surf’s dashboard is its 10.1-inch screen, standard across all versions. This panel maintains the features of its bigger siblings, including the brand’s favorite gimmick: the ability to pivot it—though the utility remains questionable, especially since it’s impossible to use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay in vertical format.
The interface is similar to that of the Atto 2, BYD’s latest European launch, with the ability to adjust the ventilation speed by sliding three fingers from left to right or the temperature from top to bottom—unfortunately, without displaying degrees Celsius, but a rather obscure scale from 1 to 13. Note that the air conditioning is not automatic.
Other improvements include a much more detailed route planner than previous versions, although the recharge stop calculations seemed overly optimistic. Worth testing on a long trip.
Another flaw, also typical of BYD, involves sometimes complicated menus to navigate or understand, with useful functions buried in sub-menus: three steps to activate the heated seat, four steps to dismiss the vigilance alert—it’s a lot.
The instrument cluster also adopts BYD’s typical interface, with a rather small font, but with comprehensive information. A power and battery charge indicator complete the small panel.
BYD Dolphin SurfDriving: A Promising Preview
A Spec Sheet in Line
We took a brief drive in the BYD Dolphin Surf. We tested the top-tier Comfort version, which comes with a proprietary 43.2 kWh LFP Blade battery, promising up to 310 km of range according to the WLTP cycle. It’s paired with a 156 hp (115 kW) front motor, a robust figure for a car weighing 1,310 kg.
More accessible versions feature a reduced spec sheet. The mid-range retains the large battery but with an 88 hp (65 kW) motor, while the entry-level model makes do with a 30 kWh battery, limiting its range to 220 km WLTP.
This is roughly what the competition offers. The Citroën ë-C3 / Fiat Grande Panda duo promises 320 km WLTP with a 44 kWh battery, and the €20,000 version will also have to settle for a 30 kWh battery. Meanwhile, the entry-level R5 promises 310 km WLTP with a 40 kWh battery.
Zippy!
In this brief city circuit, mostly conducted in wet conditions, the BYD Dolphin Surf performed well. The punch of its motor was quite exhilarating, showing surprising dynamism at traffic lights. It can achieve 0 to 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds.
During the test, conducted on wet roads, we noted safe handling. Certainly, the tires quickly caused the front to slide in optimistically taken corners, but the rear remained stable. However, an annoying daily issue was highlighted: the lack of a rear wiper—especially problematic as the very vertical rear window is highly exposed to water spray.
The suspension is quite firm (typical of narrow cars), but not uncomfortably so. Its narrowness benefits agility and parking, which is made even easier with the standard 360° camera on the high-end version, a rare feature in this segment.
The turning radius (9.9 meters) is quite good, easing city maneuvers.
The braking system provides a natural and reassuring pedal feel, but the two levels of regenerative braking offer only moderate deceleration—and are buried in a submenu. A characteristic typical of Chinese models.
At the end of this city test, conducted in the rain at about 17°C, the onboard computer displayed an average consumption of 12.1 kWh/100 km. That theoretically promises a range of 357 km under these conditions.
The theoretical WLTP consumption (which takes into account energy losses during recharging) is reported between 15.5 and 16 kWh / 100 km, which is rather high for a car of this size.
Fast charging, promising to take the battery from 10 to 80% in 30 minutes at a power of 85 kW on the large battery, could not be tested.
BYD Dolphin SurfPrice, Competition, and Availability: An Attractive Price/Equipment Ratio
With an entry price of €19,990, the BYD Dolphin Surf becomes the third electric vehicle to be sold under €20,000 in France, joining the Dacia Spring and the Leapmotor T03.
True, one must contend with limited range, but the features are plentiful. Standard equipment includes connected GPS, air conditioning, a backup camera, and adaptive cruise control. The mid-range adds the large battery, 17-inch wheels, automatic wipers, and an electric driver’s seat, all for €23,990. Finally, the high-end version offers the 360° camera, induction charger, heated front seats, and automatic headlights for a check of €25,990.
This offer is all the more remarkable as it includes the European customs surcharge, amounting to 17% (in addition to the standard 10%). To circumvent this, and possibly even benefit from the ecological bonus in France, the Dolphin Surf should eventually be manufactured in the factory in Hungary (currently under construction), but no date has been announced yet.
Meanwhile, the Leapmotor T03 and the Dacia Spring cannot compete in terms of versatility (smaller, less autonomy), but the Citroën ë-C3 / Fiat Grande Panda and the Hyundai Inster are in direct competition.
Their offerings are competitive, not to mention a better brand image and their eligibility for the ecological bonus, which helps smooth the extra cost at purchase—even though their technological equipment is not equivalent. The Renault 5 E-Tech 40 kWh remains more expensive, but could sway buyers on emotional appeal.
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Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.