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BYD Dolphin Surf is a small, simple £18k motor packed with things that please… it knocks its rivals out the park

BYD Dolphin Surf is a small, simple £18k motor packed with things that please… it knocks its rivals out the park

The Irish Sun11-06-2025
I'M a big fan of small and simple cars because I like value for money more than I do screens and gadgets.
This
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This BYD Dolphin Surf is small and simple
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The Dolphin Surf has four seats, three with ISOFIX anchor points and a surprisingly practical boot
Just press and go.
It's value for money at £18,650.
And yet it's got a rotating touchscreen and all those gadgets thrown in anyway.
Where's the catch?
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I can't see one.
It knocks a
Finance from £269 a month with £269 deposit. Or £199 a month with about £3k deposit.
It'll cost pennies to run.
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I reckon many will be bought as second cars but end up being the one owners use the most.
Dolphin Surf has four seats, three with
Japanese giant unveils its new bargain EV with quirky 'bug eye' headlights
Properly comfy seats by the way. Made of 'vegan leather' whatever that means.
Big drink holders. Phone storage tray.
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Apple CarPlay. Reversing camera.
Adaptive cruise control for your out-of-town runs.
All things that please and all included in the price.
You can even use your little BYD bud as a mobile power bank – running everything from party lights to a fridge.
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Now I should spell out that Dolphin Surf comes in two
The entry-level Active gets you a 137-mile battery by the WLTP test and a big enough e-motor to keep you swimming in quick traffic.
Then there's the £22k Boost nudging 200 miles from the 43kWh
'BRIM THE BATTERY'
Both use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry for higher levels of durability and safety.
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So you can 'brim' the battery every time without depleting it.
Both roll on Hankook tyres. Another positive.
Even the lime green paint job is free.
How safe is it? It's engineered to attain a four-star safety rating.
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The body uses 68 per cent high-strength steel and the car is brimming with anti-crash gear.
The car will be made in Hungary soon – and avoid tariffs.
I told you BYD would quickly chime with UK drivers and the Chinese are already outselling Honda, Citroen, Fiat and more.
There are a load of plug-in hybrids coming next, including a junior SUV and a pick-up truck called Shark.
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Key facts: BYD DOLPHIN SURF
Price: £18,650
Battery: 30kWh
Power: 87hp
0-62mph: 11.1 secs
Top speed: 93mph
Range: 137 miles
CO2: 0g/km
Out: Now
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The Dolphin Surf boasts a rotating touchscreen
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There's also a phone storage tray, Apple CarPlay and a reversing camera
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