BYD enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2025, with the new brand overtaking Tesla as the most popular EV brand in the UK. The new EV player broke into the market with their impressive Seal saloon and Atto SUV range, with the Dolphin Surf being the latest challenger to Western manufacturers.
READ MORE: Chinese answer to hot hatch Renault 5 that’s £5,000 cheaper
READ MORE: Panic in UK as China on track for ‘takeover’ of car industry as 200k sold
Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?, said: “While the DOLPHIN SURF isn’t the cheapest electric car you can buy, it’s far more capable than the few models that you can have for less, so well worth the extra. It offers stronger performance, faster charging and a longer range.
“What’s more, interior quality is a step above what you get in rivals, and it comes with a more user-friendly infotainment system.”
The Dolphin Surf is the smallest electric vehicle in BYD’s lineup, but this shouldn’t fool potential owners, with the model still packing a punch. The base Active trim is fitted with a 30kWh battery capable of between 137 and 200 miles on a single charge.
Pressing their foot to the floor, owners can expect to hit top speeds of around 93mph, hitting 0-62mph in just 11.1 seconds. Inside, the model is equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen that rotates and supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and built-in navigation.
BYD’s latest car is also fully covered by a six-year warranty, while its Blade Battery is covered for up to eight years or 155,350 miles.
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Set Daily Express as a ‘Preferred Source’ to get quicker access to the news you value.
All of this for just £18,675, almost £20,000 more affordable than the cheapest Tesla Model 3 and almost £5,000 less than its direct competitor, the Renault 5 ETech.
Bono Ge, country manager for BYD UK, said: “We’re thrilled to have received this award from the team at What Car?. BYD strongly believes that the Dolphin Surf offers buyers class-leading technology at an affordable price, so we take huge pride in the fact that this has been recognised by What Car?’s highly experienced and influential reviewers.”
SEARCH
CONNECT WITH US
TODAY’S PAPER
See today’s front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive.
EXPRESS.CO.UK
Daily Express uses notifications to keep you updated
