Brief Summary
This video reviews the BYD Dolphin Surf, an affordable electric car. It covers the car's design, interior, practicality, driving experience, and value proposition. The reviewer highlights both good and bad features, comparing it to competitors like the MG4 and Renault 5, and concludes that it's worth considering, especially for its efficiency and city driving capabilities, but advises potential buyers to compare costs and consider alternatives.
- Affordable EV with a focus on value.
- Practical for city driving with a small turning circle.
- Efficient energy consumption compared to some rivals.
- Interior and driving experience have some drawbacks.
- Competitors offer better overall packages for similar prices.
Intro
The video introduces the BYD Dolphin Surf, noting it's the second cheapest electric car available after the Dacia Spring. Originally named the BYD Seagull in other markets, it was renamed for the UK market. The presenter outlines the video's agenda, which includes examining the exterior and interior design, assessing its practicality, and evaluating its pros and cons through a test drive.
Price
The BYD Dolphin Surf is a top-selling car in China, with over 60,000 registrations in May alone, due to its low price. While it costs the equivalent of £6,000 in China, the UK version is more expensive due to upgraded safety kits and import duties. Despite the increased cost, it remains one of the cheapest new cars available in the UK. The video aims to determine if the car's low price reflects its quality or if it's an underrated bargain.
Design
The BYD Dolphin Surf has a somewhat odd appearance, resembling the Chevy Bolt or Spark. The range-topping version features LED lights, while lower trims have standard halogen lights. The standard colour is yellow, with other colours (white, blue, and black) costing extra. The car includes cladding on the side to break up the colour. Entry-level models have 15-inch steel wheels, while other versions have 16-inch alloys. The door handles are flush with the body to improve aerodynamics. The rear features a full-length light bar and a bumper design that the presenter finds slightly awkward.
Interior
The interior materials feel cheap and scratchy, although there are some softer areas where arms rest. There are concerns about the build quality, with the dash appearing to separate from the surface underneath. The design includes small vents for demisting the windows, which the presenter worries could be a hazard for kids. The seats are well-liked and consistent across all trims. The steering wheel feels good in the top-spec version, with buttons to control the screen and driver display, although the speedometer is small. The infotainment system is adequate for a cheap car, but the shortcut buttons are limited and the settings menus are difficult to navigate, with small font sizes. The car monitors the driver's attention, issuing warnings if the driver isn't looking at the road. The screen can be rotated between portrait and landscape modes. The climate controls are adjusted via the touchscreen, which is not very user-friendly. Top versions include wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, but the system can be laggy.
Back Seats
The back seats are impressive, offering good headroom and decent knee room. The seats are not too close to the floor, providing adequate under-thigh support, and there's a completely flat floor for ample foot space. The rear is strictly a two-seater. Fitting a baby seat is easy due to the wide-opening back doors and accessible Isofix anchor points, with plenty of space even when using bulky rear-facing seats. Storage includes door bins. The rear doesn't feel cheap compared to the front, with similar soft-touch materials. The rear windows don't fully retract, and the mounting of the front seat belts looks cheap.
Boot
The boot capacity of the Dolphin Surf is 308 litres, slightly less than the Renault 5. It can fit three airplane carry-on suitcases. The boot has an awkward shape and a large load lip. The rear seats can be folded down, but there's no adjustable boot floor. The seat belts tend to snag. There are tie-down points and some storage space underneath the floor, where the battery leads are kept.
Annoying Features
The rear doors are long, making them difficult to open in tight spaces, and the actual door opening is smaller than the door size suggests. The car requires the brake pedal to be pressed to turn on the ignition, preventing operation of the windows without fully activating the car. There is no front boot, and the cup holders lack grippers, causing bottles to topple over. Despite being a new electric car, there are no USB connections in the back.
Good Features
The car's USB ports output 60W of power, allowing laptops to be charged. All models have vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, enabling the use of household appliances via an adapter plugged into the charging port. The reversing sound is a pleasant wind chime noise. All models include adaptive cruise control and a reversing camera as standard. Higher trims feature a surround-view camera with a high-quality image. The front passenger seat has Isofix anchor points, allowing for three baby seats in the car, although the front passenger airbag needs to be deactivated via the screen. The car comes with a 6-year warranty.
Batteries, Range & Motors
The Dolphin Surf is available with two battery sizes: a 30 kWh battery with a claimed range of 137 miles and a 43 kWh battery with a claimed range of about 200 miles. There are three trim levels and two power outputs: 88 horsepower and 156 horsepower. The most expensive model with the largest battery can charge at up to 85 kW on DC charging.
Buying vs Leasing
The UK government's £650 million in grants aims to reduce the cost of electric cars, potentially offering up to £3,750 off through manufacturer applications. These grants also apply to leasing, potentially lowering monthly rentals. Employees with EV salary sacrifice schemes can combine these savings with tax benefits. A 36-month lease for the BYD costs from £255 per month, but for a similar price, one could lease an MG4, or a Renault 5 for £8 less, which offers more range, a better interior, and a more stylish design. It's crucial to research the total cost of buying or leasing the Dolphin Surf and compare it to alternatives like the Renault 5 and MG4, as these may offer better value.
0-60mph
The car is tested from 0 to 60 mph using specialist timing gear in sport mode with ESC off. The recorded time was 7.76 seconds, which is faster than the manufacturer's claim of 9.1 seconds.
Driving Impressions
The car's performance surprised the reviewer. Initially, the reviewer preferred the MG4 for handling, the Renault 5 for comfort and luxury, and the Hyundai Insta for brakes and overall vibe. However, after spending more time with the Dolphin Surf, the reviewer warmed to it, especially when driven in sport mode, which improves the steering and throttle response. The suspension is bouncy but not uncomfortable. The car handles surprisingly well on twisty roads. It excels in city driving due to its good visibility and small turning circle. The car lacks one-pedal drive and adjustable regenerative braking. The safety system is overly sensitive. The brakes feel unnatural, and the hazard lights activate with slight pressure. The car has adequate performance for motorway speeds and overtaking. It is reasonably quiet at higher speeds, with some road noise and wind flutter from the door mirrors. The car averages 4 miles per kilowatt-hour, resulting in a real-world range of 173 miles, which is 89% of the manufacturer's claim.
Brake Test
During a brake test from 60 mph, the car's braking performance was not great, with a stopping distance of 41 metres and unstable handling.
Verdict
The reviewer concludes that the BYD Dolphin Surf is worth considering.
