Our last dance with the BYD brand was an unmitigated disaster and the less said about it the better, but we’ve just tried their new economy city car and I have to say it was a blast – and at a ridiculously low price.
BYD, which is taking Europe – and parts of the rest of the world – by storm and rattling the cage of Elon Musk by targeting Tesla as the world’s most successful EV manufacturer, has already overtaken Musk’s company in some markets.
We at Examiner Motoring have long argued that the Chinese automotive industry, of which BYD is a substantial part, is now flexing its large-scale muscles outside its home shores and will become an essential part of the motoring landscape, gaining massive ground with sophisticated yet affordable products.
European car makers remain severely rattled by the Chinese onslaught, which gains momentum daily. We’ve seen a raft of new manufacturers launch here, and some are gaining remarkable traction among buyers.
Already this year BYD, starting from scratch, is an amazing 14th in the car sales charts, having accumulated 2,628 registrations to the end of November, a 79.88% increase on the same period last year. No European, Japanese, or Korean manufacturer comes anywhere near that level of penetration.
With the likes of MG, XPENG and Leapmotor also advancing swiftly in sales terms, and Tesla struggling against negative figures, the advance of the Chinese industry is gathering momentum that will make it dominant in certain segments before long.
As the quality of their products rises exponentially while they maintain tight price control, the Chinese ascent is gaining altitude quickly without any apparent need for oxygen.
At this rate of growth, the Chinese are well positioned to capture an even greater share of the European market. And from BYD’s point of view, with established models such as the Seal, Seal-U, Sealion 7 and the original Dolphin, the company has marked its territory with considerable vigour.
Now, with the bargain-basement Dolphin Surf – and where BYD gets its quirky names is anyone’s guess – it is poised to make its biggest impact yet.
This is BYD’s smallest car so far and one we confidently predict will take the city EV market by storm. Indeed, it is so polished and so affordable it could dominate the small electric market for the next few years.
BYD stylish interior
We’ve always been huge fans of small cars here at Examiner Motoring and have extolled their virtues regularly. Sadly, their numbers dwindled in recent years, but they’re making a comeback; the new Renault 4 launched here this week, and several other manufacturers are jumping on the revived bandwagon.
By necessity – and capability – many electrics have been consigned to the city car market, but the focus has now shifted, with numerous new models designed specifically for urban users and some, like this one, fully capable of longer trips.
There are three spec levels available – Active, Boost and Comfort – and it is the latter we tested recently. Two battery sizes are offered: a 30 kWh unit on the Active model and a 43 kWh pack on the Boost and Comfort models.
The version we tested has a claimed range of 320 km – which is accurate enough and not greatly exaggerated, as happens with many electrics. It produces 155bhp, 220Nm of torque, a 0–100 km/h time of 9.1 seconds and a top speed of 150 km/h.
The top speed is common across all models, although the 0–100 km/h figure varies considerably, with the Comfort version being the quickest.
It uses a MacPherson strut suspension layout at the front and a torsion beam axle at the rear. While not cutting-edge, it gives the car decent ride and handling – something not all Chinese-made cars manage.
Around town it is an excellent companion, soaking up potholes with ease. Its tight turning circle and compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.
Out on the open road, it is no less impressive and its near wheel-at-each-corner stance gives it assurance rarely found in this segment. It will use more power on the motorway, with city consumption rising from 10.8 kWh/100km to 16 on longer runs.
BYD Dolphin Surf
Kit levels are astonishing for the class. There’s a 7″ digital instrument panel and a 10.1″ rotatable infotainment screen, plus vegan leather seats, electric front seats (the driver’s is heated), intelligent voice control, smartphone charging, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera.
It’s impressive and well assembled, with no downmarket or shoddy finishes. But – and this is a big but – a couple of things will drive you mad. The driver monitoring system is completely maddening and will admonish you – “Keep eyes on Road” shouted by a female voice – every time you glance away from dead ahead.
The heating controls and the menus for disabling safety systems such as lane keep assist and speed recognition are difficult to navigate, especially on the move, which ironically makes them less safe. The general fiddliness of the controls is a major black mark.
But there is good room for four adults, and the boot is generous, including a deep underfloor box reminiscent of the Ford Puma.
To be honest, I was taken aback by this little car. Other, bigger BYDs impressed with build quality and tech but were let down by range and driving issues. This one covers almost every base, and when you look at the price, it’s nearly gobsmacking.
We have constantly said the Chinese automotive industry “is coming.” On this evidence, they’ve arrived with very serious intent.
And I have to say this would almost certainly be a five-star review were it not for the over-complicated tech and the exceptionally over-enthusiastic driver monitoring lady. I’d hate to be married to her, but I do like her car.