Tag Archives: EV

BYD, City cars, electric, Motoring

BYD Dolphin Surf an affordable, funky urban EV

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BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort

By Bill McCarthy

While many mainstream manufacturers are retreating from the city car and supermini segments – deeming small, affordable vehicles incompatible with EV development costs – BYD is charging in the opposite direction.

The Dolphin Surf is a compact, electric city car that doesn’t feel cheap, just smart and funky. UK pricing starts at £17,682 OTR for the Surf Active, with Boost models from £21,950 and the range-topping Comfort from £23,950.

Smart design

At under four metres long, the city car feels far more substantial. The tall, boxy shape maximises interior space, yet sweeping lines and angled headlights give it real road presence. A dot-matrix C-pillar creates a floating roof effect, while to the rear is a full-width LED light bar. The look is complemented by a not-so-subtle roof spoiler and stylish alloy wheels.

Interior and technology

BYD’s Ocean theme anchors the cabin with its signature ‘Wave Shape’ instrument panel, dominated by the standard 10.1-inch rotating touchscreen.

This centrepiece runs the latest interface, featuring customisable shortcuts and seamless smartphone integration with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and apps.

A slick feature includes controlling the ventilation by simply swiping three fingers up or down on the central screen. Intuitive voice command is activated with a simple “Hi BYD,” allowing key functions to be managed hands-free.

This is important as screens grow ever more complex and can be distracting. So much so that from this year, safety body Euro NCAP requires new vehicles to have physical buttons for key functions to achieve a maximum five-star safety rating. 

Standard kit is generous even on the base Active model, featuring vegan leather seats, a rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control, and V2L capability. Stepping up to Boost trim adds a larger battery, 16-inch alloy wheels, electric front seat adjustment, rain-sensing wipers, and power-folding mirrors.

The range-topping Comfort model adds a 360-degree camera, LED headlights, rear privacy glass, heated front seats, and wireless smartphone charging. That’s a lot of equipment for the money.

Practicality

With 308 litres of cargo space, the boot offers class-leading capacity comparable to many B-segment cars. Folding the rear seats opens up over 1,000 litres for larger loads. Storage features 20 clever compartments throughout the cabin, including a dedicated hideaway under the boot floor where the charging cable can be stored.

Performance and range

The Dolphin Surf prioritises urban efficiency over performance, powered by BYD’s safe Blade Battery – a signature brand of the company. It is available with a 30kWh pack in the Active trim or a 43.2kWh pack in the Boost and Comfort variants, with the latter receiving a 95kW (127bhp) motor. 

Acceleration is modest, reaching 62 mph in 12.1 seconds for the Boost and Comfort trims, while the lighter Active manages 11.1 seconds. WLTP Combined range peaks at 200 miles for the larger battery, extending to 305 miles in city driving – plenty for typical commuting.

On a mixed weather condition run, the range never exceeded 180 miles and dropped dramatically in heavy rain. A figure of around 150-170 miles in real-world mixed driving seems nearer the mark.

On the road

The vehicle is well-suited to brisk city driving, where its light, effortless steering is ideal for navigating and parking in tight spaces – aided by an impressively tight turning circle. However, it can feel a bit vague at higher speeds on the open road. When the accelerator is fully depressed, there is the occasional wheelspin from the front driven wheels.

On the road, it feels comfortable, but becomes unsettled on poorer quality surfaces. Refinement is strong, however, with minimal powertrain noise – just a distant electric motor whine.

Charging is practical: a 30-minute DC boost takes it from 10-80%, while a full AC charge at home takes approximately two hours. The V2L feature allows you to power household appliances directly from the car.

Safety and ownership

Safety is well covered for the segment, with equipment including a suite of airbags, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot detection, lane keep assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. The 360-degree camera on Comfort trim makes parking effortless.

Ownership peace of mind is boosted by a 6-year/93,750-mile vehicle warranty and BYD’s comprehensive 8-year/155,000-mile warranty on the battery t You can also unlock the car with your phone via NFC and start the climate control remotely via the app.

Verdict

At a time when some manufacturers are retreating from small cars, the Dolphin Surf offers genuine affordability and clever packaging. The real-world range is reduced in poor weather, but for urban duty, it is more than sufficient – and cheap.

Established rivals still hold the advantage of longer track records, but BYD’s strong warranty provides reassuring cover.

Factfile

  • Model: BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort
  • Price: £23,950
  • Mechanical: 95kW (127 bhp), front-axle electric motor, single-speed automatic
  • 0-62mph: 12.1 seconds
  • Max Speed: 93 mph (estimated)
  • Range: 200 miles (claimed WLTP Combined); 160-170 miles (estimated real-world)
  • CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
  • BiK rating: 3%
  • Warranty: Six years/93,750 miles; battery 8 years/155,000 miles
BYD, Electric/hybrid, Estate/Sport Tourer, Executive saloon, Motoring

Is BYD helping shape the future of PHEV?

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SEAL 6 DM-i Saloon and Touring

By Bill McCarthy

Stepping on the accelerator – or perhaps charging up the battery – in the UK, Chinese car maker BYD’s models are arriving thick and fast. The brand is rapidly expanding its line-up and has now introduced the SEAL 6 DM-i, a plug-in hybrid designed to offer the best of both worlds.

It provides electric driving for daily commutes and leisure with a claimed range of around 65 miles, backed by a 1.5-litre petrol engine for longer journeys.

Plug-in hybrids and full hybrids are ideal for those attracted to the idea of an EV but not ready to fully commit, often due to range anxiety.

The advantage of this plug-in is its 65-mile electric-only range, which allows drivers to avoid congestion and clean air charges, with low emissions making it cheaper to run. The petrol engine can then kick in to recharge the battery while on the move.

The car is available in two body styles: a sleek saloon and a still stylish, but more practical Touring model, which marks BYD’s first estate car in Europe. Trim levels include Boost and Comfort.

Both models offer an upmarket, stylish design that belies their price, starting at £33,990 for the Saloon and £34,990 for the Touring. Considering the standard equipment, this seems to represent a good buy for the money.

Interior and comfort

The cabin is a comfortable, tech-filled space with a minimalist setup common to modern EVs. Key features include:

  • A large, rotating tablet-style infotainment screen that controls major functions like connectivity, infotainment, and satellite navigation. Both accessible via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
  • Leather seats and plenty of USB ports.
  • A genuinely roomy interior, particularly in the rear, ensuring comfort even for larger adults on longer journeys.
Boot capacity

The estate offers excellent, if not class-leading, boot space. It provides 560 litres with the rear seats up, expanding to a maximum of 1,460 litres with them folded. The saloon remains practical for its segment, with a useful 450 litres of cargo space.

Safety and driver assistance

Standard features include multiple airbags, electronic stability control, and a robust body structure.

It also incorporates advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), typically featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring to enhance driver confidence.

Powertrain and performance

BYD’s “Super Hybrid” system operates primarily on battery power. On longer journeys, the petrol engine acts mainly as a generator to recharge the battery, promising a claimed total range of over 900 miles.

When more power is needed, the system can combine the power from both the engine and the electric motor for maximum performance.

Like other hybrids, it also uses regenerative braking to capture energy and recharge the battery while slowing down. 

However, it is wise to be sceptical of this maximum range figure, which is likely achieved under ideal conditions.

Real-world factors like driving style, cold weather, high speeds, and hilly terrain will reduce that number. While 900 miles seems fanciful in practice, other BYD models have proven highly economical, and the Seal appears set to follow suit.

On the road

The test drive involved urban driving through busy towns as well as longer stretches on country roads and fast dual carriageways. Both cars felt refined and comfortable, with the leather seats providing good support. It’s not the quickest EV off the mark, but achieving 60mph in around 8.5 seconds provides enough pace for most needs.

Handling proved decent, though the ride felt a little firm. There was some wind noise around the door mirrors and road noise from the tyres on poorer road surfaces, though this largely disappeared on better roads. En route, the models’ design and branding attracted considerable attention, a sign that BYD has quickly established a growing recognition in the country.

Every model comes with a six-year or 93,750 mile warranty. The vehicle supports AC charging from 15-100% in three or 2.7 hours (depending on the model), and a DC fast charge from 30-80% takes just 23 minutes. A 3.3kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function is also standard.

Verdict

A technologically advanced PHEV, the SEAL 6 appears to offer a substantial electric range for a practical transition from combustion engines, in either saloon or estate form. Its real-world efficiency and long-term reliability in the UK are yet to be proven. But it looks good, feels premium and is keenly priced.