BYD Dolphin Surf: the 100% electric with a gasoline price
BYD's tenth model to arrive in Portugal marks a new phase for the Chinese brand in the European market. The Dolphin Surf is the new entry-level model in the range, a compact city car with a striking appearance and packed with technology, positioned at a price point closer to combustion cars than to most electric cars.
Despite its new name here, the Dolphin Surf is already well-known in other markets, where it is sold as the Seagull or Dolphin Mini. And with success: BYD claims to have already sold almost a million units of this model globally. It is, therefore, a newcomer in Europe, but has proven itself in other territories.
The name may suggest a connection with the BYD Dolphin, but the similarities are limited to the shared platform and some technical elements. While the Dolphin adopts rounded lines and a more fluid language, the Surf opts for a more angular and assertive design. It is shorter – around 30 cm – but also more aggressive in appearance.
The Dolphin Surf will be available in three versions: Active (€20,885), Boost (€24,990) and Comfort (€27,990), which is the one we drove. The entry-level version has a 30 kWh battery and an 88 horsepower engine, enough for a range of 220 km in the WLTP cycle. The Boost and Comfort versions use a 43 kWh battery, increasing the range to over 300 km. The Comfort also stands out for its more powerful engine, with 154 hp – enough to make the Surf quite agile in the city, even without sporty pretensions. Here, the key word is agility.
When it comes to charging, the Surf offers very reasonable values for the segment. In DC, it reaches 65 kW (Active) or 85 kW (Boost and Comfort), which allows charging from 10 to 80% in around 30 minutes. In AC, all versions accept 11 kW, ideal for charging at night or during working hours.
Optimized platform and nail-proof batteryThe Surf’s architecture is simple but ingenious – and highly integrated. BYD manufactures the main components in-house, including the Blade battery with LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry, known for its robustness and safety. The brand offers an 8-year or 200,000-kilometer warranty, which is above average in the segment.
Another differentiating element is the 8-in-1 powertrain system, which includes motor, inverter, control unit, charger, battery management and other elements in a single module. This approach reduces costs and complexity, contributing to an excellent balance between compact exterior dimensions and interior habitability.
Compact on the outside, surprising on the insideAt just 3.99 metres long, the Surf is positioned between the Dolphin and models such as the Dacia Spring. Its width of 1.70 metres ensures plenty of space for two occupants in the back, although the total capacity is limited to four seats – an honest choice, avoiding the promise of a merely symbolic third rear seat, as is the case in other city cars. There are ISOFIX anchorages in the two rear seats and even an extra one in the front passenger seat.
The exterior aesthetics play with balanced proportions, well-defined wheel arches, 16-inch wheels and a floating roof. At the front, the LED headlights and accentuated daytime running lights give it personality; at the rear, the light bar and integrated spoiler reinforce the style and help with aerodynamics.
The boot offers 308 litres, and with the seats folded down this increases to just over 1000 litres. In addition to this, there are more than 20 storage spaces throughout the cabin, including a specific compartment for cables, under the boot floor.
The cabin is simple and functional, but packed with technology. The instrument panel is minimalist, and the 10.1-inch touchscreen – rotatable, of course – centralizes the main functions. There are physical buttons for the essential controls, which continues to be an added value.
Even in the entry-level versions we find Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and BYD's voice assistant ("Hello BYD"). In the higher versions, there are treats: heated seats, wireless charger, ambient lighting and 360-degree cameras.
And there is also a function that is starting to become mandatory in the most interesting electric cars: Vehicle-to-Load (V2L). Yes, it is possible to connect a laptop, a speaker or even a coffee machine directly to the car battery.
Safety has not been neglected. The Surf comes with standard assistance features such as lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and automatic high beams. The structure is made up of 68% high-strength steel and the Blade battery passed the famous nail penetration test with flying colors – something that few manufacturers dare to do (and publicize).
First impressionThe Dolphin Surf was expected to start at under 20,000 euros – and it doesn’t. That’s a fact. But it’s also true that the price is still competitive, especially considering what it offers. A well-equipped Hyundai i10 also costs over 20,000 euros, and it’s not electric.
In terms of style, it has personality. We just weren't convinced by the black version, which tends to blur the car's lines. But there are other more expressive options that do it justice.
Ultimately, the Dolphin Surf delivers exactly what it promises: an affordable electric city car with good range, lots of technology and a striking look. It is another key piece in the puzzle of electrifying mobility – and one of the most rational at the moment.
Visao
