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NEW BYD Dolphin Surf review – better than a Renault 5?| What Car?

Watch our BYD Dolphin Browse evaluation to find out how this brand-new electrical cars and truck (aka the BYD Seagull in some markets) compares to a Renault 5 and other rivals. Does China really now make the very best small EV?

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Comments

56 responses to “NEW BYD Dolphin Surf review – better than a Renault 5?| What Car?”

  1. @pjosiahjoseph6730 Avatar
    @pjosiahjoseph6730

    Looks like a mini-lamborghini urus from the front

    Reply
    1. @whatcar Avatar
      @whatcar

      We can see where you’re coming from! Some some angles, at least.

      Reply
    2. @PassportToPimlico Avatar
      @PassportToPimlico

      BYD does always seem to be very good at designing front ends.

      Reply
    3. @HyperVanilo Avatar
      @HyperVanilo

      Same designer, Wolfgang Egger

      Reply
    4. @mgmarrison Avatar
      @mgmarrison

      Glad this isn’t just me thinking it.

      Reply
    5. @hermesliteratus882 Avatar
      @hermesliteratus882

      Is that bad?

      Reply
  2. @ktwei Avatar
    @ktwei

    I still don’t understand how European brands design larger cars with less interior space than this.

    Reply
    1. @oliverstemp9132 Avatar
      @oliverstemp9132

      The C3 is more spacious.

      Reply
    2. @madmcadder4536 Avatar
      @madmcadder4536

      I know exactly why. This Chinese car is practical but the external dimensions look wrong. Tiny wheels and the length to height is visually not pleasing to the eye. European designers know this and the Renault 5 for example has sacrificed the rear seat room in the back for a car that will sell on looks.

      Reply
    3. @2012mpe Avatar
      @2012mpe

      Simply Europeans live in a luxury mentality. So they want to have nice looking cars instead of practicality

      Reply
    4. @seanelstob5922 Avatar
      @seanelstob5922

      It’s a ridiculous trend that needs to end. I’m driving a 2016 Fiesta with more room in the front and back than many cars in the similar class. Why haul around more car with less space. People have been conned for far too long.

      Reply
    5. @cliveharrington1553 Avatar
      @cliveharrington1553

      I think it looks fine, could be a big seller ​@@madmcadder4536

      Reply
  3. @stefanomacchi1977 Avatar
    @stefanomacchi1977

    It nose went up on acceleration and down on breaking? It remember me of my old Alfa33 in the 90s… When you had half tank of gasoline and did a quick start the nose went so up that the gasoline indicator went to full… in a hard breaking the reserve light will light up… 😀 Still that car could do some of the best and fast cornering in my life. Good old times…

    Reply
  4. @Ray-ki6fs Avatar
    @Ray-ki6fs

    If you’re right about the pricing, what happened to the £15k entry price tag, that all you motoring journalists have been predicting?

    Reply
    1. @AlternativPerspectiv Avatar
      @AlternativPerspectiv

      YOU.. are discovering that YOU… ‘eat’ the tariffs.

      Reply
    2. @crm114. Avatar
      @crm114.

      @AlternativPerspectivThe UK doesn’t currently impose tariffs on Chinese cars.

      Reply
    3. @1maico1 Avatar
      @1maico1

      @AlternativPerspectiv The car import tariff has been 10% in the UK for a long time. No distinction is made between where are car comes from or if it is ICE or EV.

      Reply
    4. @topgazza Avatar
      @topgazza

      It’s called profiteering

      Reply
    5. @AlternativPerspectiv Avatar
      @AlternativPerspectiv

      @@1maico1 So the ACTUAL price of that car should be 10% less? Right?

      Reply
  5. @Marvellann Avatar
    @Marvellann

    BYD Seagull was a great car in 2023. This EU rehash feels outdated. Geely Geome is the new Chinese favourite in this category that beats the Seagull, hopefully it won’t take 2 years to come to EU.

    Reply
    1. @andrewkirk3159 Avatar
      @andrewkirk3159

      The car that may come to Europe using the Geely Geome’s GEA (Global Intelligent New Energy Architecture) modular platform is likely to be branded as a Smart.

      Reply
    2. @dzonikg Avatar
      @dzonikg

      In Serbia here there is Geely EX5 ,i sit in it and look very good ,price is little more then 30k euro with incentive’s but here no one buys EVs ,only some die hard fans,there are Geely cars on road but all are gas ,they are basicly Volvo with few less stuff

      Reply
    3. @Marvellann Avatar
      @Marvellann

      @@dzonikg Same here in Slovakia, people are generally not pro-EVs. EX5 is a great car, but not widely available in the EU {only Slovenia, Croatia, Poland, Romania}. Hopefully this will all change with the new Volvo factory built in here.

      Reply
  6. @ajs-qv5fe Avatar
    @ajs-qv5fe

    great little car that will help many to make their dive into the EV realm – chinese EV’s reliability record has been pretty good and the surf will surely serve its owners well for years to come …

    Reply
    1. @oliverstemp9132 Avatar
      @oliverstemp9132

      Other than the MGs that keep breaking down.

      Reply
    2. @JamesHughes65 Avatar
      @JamesHughes65

      @@oliverstemp9132 Mine doesn’t.

      Reply
    3. @AmicusAdastra Avatar
      @AmicusAdastra

      EV car should be an option, not an obligation. Forcing peoples to buy cars they can’t afford or don’t want will only make everyone hate it.

      Reply
    4. @madmcadder4536 Avatar
      @madmcadder4536

      ​@@AmicusAdastrawho is forcing you?

      Reply
    5. @oliverstemp9132 Avatar
      @oliverstemp9132

      ​@@JamesHughes65lucky you 😂

      Reply
  7. @brandywell44 Avatar
    @brandywell44

    How about a review of massive price inflation as these leave China and enter the UK?

    Reply
    1. @ciybersal3499 Avatar
      @ciybersal3499

      This is bigger than seagull just like dolphin Europe is bigger than dolphin China, you can Google to see size has grown

      Reply
    2. @kin9225 Avatar
      @kin9225

      @@ciybersal3499wow! That definitely worth the extra £10k over the China model😅

      Reply
    3. @dzonikg Avatar
      @dzonikg

      @@mrpugster Depends off country ,i wanted to buy Chery car ,there getting popularity here and i like the look ,interior ,until my friend from Australia showed me priced there in Australia for totaly same car with same specs,30% lower .Yes i know that AUstralia is closer to China but i also know that car shipping cost maybe 500$ the most and not 8000

      Reply
    4. @surreyguysurrey4898 Avatar
      @surreyguysurrey4898

      All these people moaning about UK prices the Chinese prices are heavily subsidised by the Chinese government!

      Reply
  8. @TimDLee-no4on Avatar
    @TimDLee-no4on

    It is good to see an increasing range of small, and more affordable, cars for British customers to choose from. I am astonished at the negative comments, especially as purchase is not compulsory! I am in favour of competition, and for allowing the market to influence the price point. More EVs please to widen choice and increase competition.

    Reply
    1. @madmcadder4536 Avatar
      @madmcadder4536

      Are you from China?

      Reply
  9. @jabonorte Avatar
    @jabonorte

    More of a Spring competitor for me. The Inster and R5 look to be a level above, and worth the extra cash. The one I really like the look of is the new Micra. And no, I never thought I’d ever find myself saying that.

    Reply
    1. @Kennon959 Avatar
      @Kennon959

      The Inster is just a re-engined city car in Korea it’s petrol powered originally so it has the usual ICE to EV flaws

      Reply
    2. @KookyBone Avatar
      @KookyBone

      Dead on Arrival – Here in Germany you get the Inster with 42kw battery starting from 19.990€, so it has same battery as the big battery seagull, but starts at the same price… And even the big battery version of the inster starts at 22.500€, the Inster seem to be much better in about any aspect and Hyundai has a good service network built up already… Again BYD is just 5000€ to expensive… Should have 15-17000€

      Reply
    3. @Kennon959 Avatar
      @Kennon959

      @@KookyBone tarrifs play a factor towards the pricing but any EV is overpriced in Europe compared to home markets.

      Reply
    4. @dogsbodyish8403 Avatar
      @dogsbodyish8403

      @@Kennon959 … and underpriced compared to the UK.

      Reply
    5. @kokariko Avatar
      @kokariko

      @@KookyBone There is 17990 EUR promo for SURF Boost version in Italy. Not a bad offer at all for EV, but I agree with rest with Hyundai.

      Reply
  10. @antoineleloutre3151 Avatar
    @antoineleloutre3151

    Not a Stellantis fan, but I have a soft spot for the Panda in that category

    Reply
  11. @ermv Avatar
    @ermv

    The Dolphin Mini is a very popular Uber car here in Brazil

    Reply
  12. @yagoceron Avatar
    @yagoceron

    I’m gonna launch a car channel where I will test Android Auto in every car and won’t say a word about CarPlay 😅

    Reply
  13. @androo4519 Avatar
    @androo4519

    Really like the look of it and the narrowness will make it perfect for city traffic. Makes sense in base versions at the low price, but not when the price is similar to the R5. I see this as a city car and the R5 as a supermini.

    Reply
  14. @ianmatters9913 Avatar
    @ianmatters9913

    £24k for comfort trim may as well get a MG4 or the Dolphin for simliar money bigger car and bigger battery

    Reply
    1. @PJWey Avatar
      @PJWey

      Choice is a wonderful thing

      Reply
  15. @lordwafflesthegreat Avatar
    @lordwafflesthegreat

    *Why is it so huge…*

    I miss the old 2010-ish Fiat Panda and similar sized cars. When a Polo or a Punto were thought of as being an “average to small” car. When 60-70hp was plenty for the less-than-a-tonne car. Now you need 125+hp just to get you moving, and you get barely better mileage.

    Reply
  16. @waynehobbs5175 Avatar
    @waynehobbs5175

    That tangy yellow/green is nice. Better than orange MG4.

    Reply
    1. @dcvariousvids8082 Avatar
      @dcvariousvids8082

      Certainly better than Kia’s standard colour for its EV3. That being, unwashed unpeeled heritage carrot.

      Reply
  17. @jaisabai4155 Avatar
    @jaisabai4155

    I’m anxiuosly awaiting the BYD Jellyfish 😍

    Reply
    1. @mealien0808 Avatar
      @mealien0808

      I’m waiting for the seahorse too

      Reply
  18. @gitgit1995 Avatar
    @gitgit1995

    Wish we had them in Australia!

    Reply
  19. @matthewnightingale4675 Avatar
    @matthewnightingale4675

    I still don’t think most Chinese brands, including BYD understand the true demands and desires of European customers. Exterior and interior styling is almost always slightly off and the naming strategies seem just strange. But they are heading in the right direction, so it won’t be long.

    Reply
  20. @MartynRogers-n7q Avatar
    @MartynRogers-n7q

    Corporate media journalists must live in a parallel world. Who is waiting for an EV? Anyone who wanted one already has one, though many have buyers’ remorse. Mostly, they are company cars. Anyone buying a Chinese car in the current geo-political situation deserves all the woes that will follow in due course. It is going to be the next mis-selling scandal and people will not forget corporate automotive journalisms connivance and complicity.

    Reply

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