Opinions, first contact and photos

We can discuss whether it is the electric car is the one that would buy me if I could only choose one for my house. We can discuss whether the electric car is a good option to travel. We can discuss whether the small battery electric car is sufficient for the common of mortals.

I can give reasons for and against the electric car for all the previous situations. But there is a type of driver or a type of car, as you prefer, in which eThe electric car is perfect: The purely urban car.

I do not admit discussion here. As a second exclusively urban car, as a car to never get out of the city and its surroundings, as a car to move between traffic jams and take children to school, there is nothing like an electric car.

And Byd has the car of the moment.

Dolphin Surf Byd Technical Card

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There was an enormous expectation before knowing first hand this Byd Dolphin Surf. It is, in fact, one of the models that have generated more information in recent months to the point of sharing prominence (by volume of news generated) with the Renault 5 or the Xiaomi cars.

And there was a reason: the Seagull Byd is an electric car that outside our country has already sold One million units. The recipe is simple and basic. As simple as taking a lfp battery of contained capacity, putting a wheel in each corner of the chassis and putting on the street one of the cheapest electric cars on the market. So cheap that, to direct change, The Chinese price seems ridiculous.

To Spain, obviously, it could not arrive with a price of less than 10,000 euros. In the jump to Europe, the Seagull Byd has changed its name to adopt that of Byd Dolphin Surf. He has gained size because he grows up to 3.99 meters (in China it measures just over 3.75 meters) but, above all, he has taken the aforementioned recipe and has executed it perfectly.

The Dolphin Surf Byd is an urban and electric car that, in the absence of a long test, First it seems almost perfect. Broken the four meters and its 2.50 meters of battle leave a very good interior space for four adults without overwhelms. It measures 1.59 meters wide but does not feel as narrow as a Hyundai insertthat surpasses him in a couple of centimeters in this section. The 308 liters of trunk (to the roof) are more than enough for day to day.

But it is inside where Byd puts everything on his part to play what no one has played: a small and cheap electric car that does not feel … cheap. Padded at the door and in the central glove compartment, padded for the rear doors, broad, comfortable, electric and, why not, heated in their upper range.

The steering wheel has some well -executed buttons and easy to understand. In front, a seven -inch screen that performs the functions of instrument frame. The graphics have been updated to the screen in the face of what we have seen in other company models and the result is very good.

The plant is 10.1 inches. I do not ask for more size but the menus should be rethink. They are still, those of Byd, a little cumbersome to find according to what functions. Here it is added that the direct accesses of the lower part of the screen are too small and it costs to squeeze them in motion without distracting us more from the account.

Below, physical controls work as in the older brother, the Dolphin Byd (which has no second last name). That is, it slides up or down. An original solution but that generates some discomfort when putting the four flashing or selecting the transmission march.

First because the button Warning It should be a piece that we can press a single touch, quickly. And this is worth the Dolphin Surf and for all those cars that play to hide The button on the roof of the car or They make it a touch surface.

And, second, because the physical buttons of this Byd electric are so small that if I have to slide up or down the button I do not always grab the command well, which can be uncomfortable when maneuvering as quickly as possible.

The car is sold with two batteries and two mechanics. The most modest version has a battery of just 30 kWh and a 65 kW (87CV) engine. The largest battery model, 43.2 kWh, is sold with the same engine or with a 115 kW (156 hp) range.

In our case we have tried the top of the range that, for my liking, is left over. In the absence of trying the model with 87 hp, I would say that for the type of driving for which it is destined it is more than plenty. I would choose this last engine if in our day to day we have to move along a secondary road and we want greater safety in the overtaking.

In city, the car moves with an unusual ease. To the point that I have had to deactivate Sport mode Because the delivery of the power was too abrupt and in the urban environment it was somewhat uncomfortable. With comfort mode, moving between the streets is very comfortable.

In our case we have preferred to move with the address in Sport mode. The normal can be too artificial and soft although it is close to the current standards of the rest of the market models. The hardness of the brake can also be chosen and, again, it is preferable with Sport mode because the brake is a bit more immediate.

I would ask, yes, a slightly more contained body. If we ask you to wander quickly, the car can float a little and feel the body move from side to side through a suspension too soft. Of course, we will not suffer in the least to overcome highlights or eat potholes.

And, to round, The camera is very good quality. As in all byd cars, on the other hand. It is to praise that the brand has not saved here because for an urban car that is ideal to park on the street, a good camera is perfect to take advantage of the holes to the fullest.

During our test we have not had time to remove the car in a sustained way to a ring or a secondary road. We cannot give you consumption data or our sensations with the ADAS. The latter seems less relevant because, although it has this, I do not believe that a good behavior of adaptive cruise control sets the difference in this type of cars.

The consumption, on the contrary, is entirely relevant because with a good figure in city we can reach excessive savings if we compare it with a gasoline.

We say consumption because, if we are clear that we want A unique and exclusively to move by city And our daily chores, I would recommend the purchase of the model with a small battery. With a consumption of 13-14 kWh/100 km in city we are talking about just over 200 kilometers so we will completely spend the battery after four or five days if we do, As the Spanish driver average saysjust over 40 kilometers a day.

If you want to throw quick accounts. With a price of 10 cents/kWh, the cost of filling the 43.2 kWh battery is just 4.32 euros. With that money we can travel about 300 kilometers if consumption is more or less content. That is, we will spend 1.45 euros per 100 kilometers. Today, May 21, 2025, A liter of gasoline in Spain costs € 1,466/L.

This small battery is loaded to a maximum power of 65 kW and the largest, already 43.2 kWh, admits a loading power of 85 kW. Byd says that it can go from 30 to 80% of autonomy in 22 minutes in the first case and in 20 minutes in the second. Both admit alternating current load of up to 11 kW.

Right now, I would say that There is no better urban car In the market. To confirm it we have to perform an in -depth test but the Hyundai insert is a smaller car (although with a huge inner habitability) but more expensive. Of course, it offers a 49 kWh battery in its most expensive versions that if autonomy is prioritized can be decisive.

A Dacia Spring It is smaller, a little cheaper (although not much either) and feels less car, beyond its inner environment and its multimedia system is much lower than this by Dolphin Surf. A Citroën ë-C3 It is slightly larger but the perceived interior quality is lower and is also a system of infotainment that trusts everything to replicate our mobile phone.

Keep in mind that the prices of the Dolphin Surf BYD make it one of the most attractive options in the market if we take a balance and measure its equipment to weight. Next, we leave you the highlights of each version with a price, always, without aid of the MOVES III PLAN o Company discounts:

• Byd Dolphin Surf Active (30 kWh battery and 85 kW of power): All measures required by the European Union (Including the rear camera or emergency braking), front and rear sensors, 10.1 -inch touch screen, V2L of bidirectional load, Android Auto and Apple Carplay compatibility, LED daytime lights, opening and starting without key and adaptive cruise control. Price: 19,990 euros.
• Byd Dolphin Surf Boost (42.3 kWh of battery and 85 kW of power): All of the above and electrical front seats and rain sensor. Price: 23,990 euros.
• Byd Dolphin Surfort (42.3 kWh battery and 115 kW of power): All of the above and electrical and heated front seats, LED lights, tinted rear crystals, 15W wireless charger and 360º camera. Price: 26,490 euros.

To these prices can be added a launch discount campaign and the 7,000 euros discount from the Moves III Plan (in case of flattering a vehicle). Without having the aid of up to 3,000 euros to deduct in the income statement, the Dolphin Surf Byd can leave the dealership for 11,780 euros (Active version, with the smallest battery) and for 15,780 euros (Boost) or 18,280 euros (Comfort) with the largest battery.

Photos | Xataka

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