This is the problem with CHEAP cars

Save approximately ₤ 3750 on an EV with the Electric Cars And Truck Grant:

This is the brand new BYD Dolphin Browse!

It's the second most inexpensive electrical cars and truck you can purchase in the UK, with the Dacia Spring still holding the crown for the cheapest electrical car on sale. The concern is, with a starting price of simply ₤ 18,650, should you pick the BYD over its closest & dearest competitors? Let's take a closer look.

In regards to the outside style, it's definitely a little bit of an eye-catcher, especially in this luminous yellow paint! There's a fair bit of black cladding to be found across the automobile to help separate the colours, although the front end still has an overall strange style. Along the side, you'll discover flush door manages to assist with aerodynamics, while at the back, there's a reasonably big boot cover spoiler in addition to a full-length light bar – not bad for an automobile at such a low price point!

On the within, the BYD Dolphin Browse comes with a number of qualities you would get out of a car at such a low cost point. Disallow a number of locations on the doors and the dash, there are scratchy plastics throughout. Thankfully, the guiding wheel is of a great size and comes with numerous performance buttons. There is likewise a digital dial and infotainment screens, but the dials are reasonably little and include an extremely small speedometer, while the infotainment system can be a bit laggy. There are a number of physical buttons, but there are more rocker-style buttons instead of clickable ones.

There are 2 battery alternatives offered for the Dolphin Surf – a 30kW with 137 miles of variety, or a 43kW with as much as 200 miles of range. There are three trim levels and two motor options readily available: the entry-level 88hp, or a 156hp one.

So does the Dolphin Browse sound attracting you? Or would you rather sprinkle out on something a bit more expensive? Let us know in the remarks!

Change your car with Carwow:

Mat's BYD Dolphin Surf choice:

Hyundai Inster review:

Renault 5 evaluation:

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:35 Rate
00:58 Style
02:28 Interior
06:35 Rear seats
07:39 Boot
09:06 Annoying Features
10:37 Great Functions
12:21 Batteries, Range & Motors
13:45 Purchasing vs Leasing
14:42 0-60mph
15:04 Driving Impressions
18:44 Brake Test
19:01 Decision

Comments

80 responses to “This is the problem with CHEAP cars”

  1. @carwow Avatar
    @carwow

    Save up to £3750 on an EV with the Electric Car Grant: https://bit.ly/Electric-Car-Grant-2025

    1. @jaydenjai8453 Avatar
      @jaydenjai8453

      Wsg

    2. @deuelle Avatar
      @deuelle

      ok

    3. @TrueSkyl1n3 Avatar
      @TrueSkyl1n3

      You can’t, even on the Gov website there are NO cars available that are eligible for the £3750 grant, and only FOUR models of Citroen that are eligible for the £1500, quit lying.

    4. @anthonymitnaul3595 Avatar
      @anthonymitnaul3595

      Matt/carwow, can you guys make a video on why cheap cars have to be ugly? Also, why can’t manufacturers build sports cars that look like lambos and ferraris for less than 50k? It’s just a shape of a car…I don’t understand

    5. @JunitafluxcyfatriciaJunita Avatar
      @JunitafluxcyfatriciaJunita

      Other countries do not provide tax cuts for EVs, only 0% VAT tax for EVs. So it’s a simpler system and doesn’t add anything unnecessary to the bureaucracy.

  2. @miamimo70 Avatar
    @miamimo70

    6k in China, 18 grand here, jeez

    1. @Getonwithit204 Avatar
      @Getonwithit204

      Just shows how much we get ripped off.

    2. @tinktinkputra2316 Avatar
      @tinktinkputra2316

      Who got the 12K extra then?

    3. @Lukea256 Avatar
      @Lukea256

      @@tinktinkputra2316 Government, tariffs on Chinese cars.

    4. @defaultname25 Avatar
      @defaultname25

      As above but also transport over ocean/land

    5. @Warlequin Avatar
      @Warlequin

      market protection in the works!

  3. @macarronewitchis Avatar
    @macarronewitchis

    In Brazil it is called dolphin mini, and it is the best selling ev. Also it does not have the entry level model.

    1. @carmagica Avatar
      @carmagica

      Ah, the dolphin mini perfect for zipping around Brazil while making everyone else jealous. No entry level model? I guess they figured if you’re going electric you might as well do it with style and maybe a splash or two!

  4. @mraaron6277 Avatar
    @mraaron6277

    The battery capacity in the description should be KWh not KW, just messaging to help

  5. @Bat148 Avatar
    @Bat148

    4:30 Matt handled that Horse fly as if it owed him lunch money

    1. @adfasfuiuiui1056 Avatar
      @adfasfuiuiui1056

      what an original comment.

    2. @purwantiallan5089 Avatar
      @purwantiallan5089

      He handled that brilliantly.😅

    3. @stephan8885 Avatar
      @stephan8885

      He handled it the only way one should handle those little effers

    4. @TheTwilightBong Avatar
      @TheTwilightBong

      😂😂😂😂😂😂

  6. @georgealex19 Avatar
    @georgealex19

    Price in China 6k, price in the UK over 18k “we’ve added some safety stuff” 😂

    1. @carmagica Avatar
      @carmagica

      Ah yes the classic we’ve added some safety stuff price hike! 😂

    2. @rainey06au Avatar
      @rainey06au

      China edition mustn’t have doors or wheels.

    3. @lemcakes32422 Avatar
      @lemcakes32422

      well 60k for a Skoda

    4. @bernardshum2719 Avatar
      @bernardshum2719

      So how safe is the 6k version? Carwow needs a trip to China to investigate. Or are we simply being ripped off?

    5. @idfumetoo Avatar
      @idfumetoo

      That’s just not true. The starting version in China costs over 10k. But it’s like every other vehicle for example Volkswagen which is half the price in China. It’s funny how people think this is a thing for only Chinese EVs

  7. @BoulderDash24 Avatar
    @BoulderDash24

    No wonder car manufacturers call the UK ‘Treasure Island’ when they can charge nearly £20,000 for a £6,000 car.

    1. @jirk1236 Avatar
      @jirk1236

      Tbh a lot of it is in duty and taxes.

    2. @BoulderDash24 Avatar
      @BoulderDash24

      ​@@jirk1236They aren’t twice the cost of the car though!

    3. @CatholicSatan Avatar
      @CatholicSatan

      The model tested was _not_ the only for China cheapest model without safety features…

    4. @lemcakes32422 Avatar
      @lemcakes32422

      yeh German cars are overpriced £60k for a skoda

    5. @BoulderDash24 Avatar
      @BoulderDash24

      ​@@CatholicSatanSafety features and taxes will not cost BYD £13,000!

      Kerchiiing.

  8. @nicolasmoraes5621 Avatar
    @nicolasmoraes5621

    Fun fact: Here in Brazil the Dacia Spring (Renault e-Kwid in our Market, with some downgrades to cheap out even more) was around R$150k. With BYD, placing the Dolphin at R$120k, with much better interior and overall package, it made Renault drop the e-Kwid to R$100k.

    1. @FireWyvern870 Avatar
      @FireWyvern870

      Same thing with wuling in Indonesia. Because of this car (called atto 1 here), Wuling Binguo price dropped by half, matching the atto 1 price.

    2. @parzival-firsttothekey4299 Avatar
      @parzival-firsttothekey4299

      I’ve driven the Dacia spring at a dealership in Europe once and I’m honestly curious how this car could be downgraded even more? Do they put out seats or wheels? 😅

    3. @FelipeArthurCarvalho Avatar
      @FelipeArthurCarvalho

      Man, you’re outdated. In Brazil, the Seagull costs BRL 120k, and the electric Kwid BRL 100k.

    4. @JunitafluxcyfatriciaJunita Avatar
      @JunitafluxcyfatriciaJunita

      After byd came to Thailand and Indonesia all Japanese cars were discounted 😂

    5. @Metik69 Avatar
      @Metik69

      What is the price in pounds Stirling?

  9. @Jp-us3wy Avatar
    @Jp-us3wy

    If you look at this car from 6 to 8k perspective its a bargain but shame its expensive in uk

    1. @老虎-s9e Avatar
      @老虎-s9e

      I’m in China, and what he said is not true. The price of a brand-new car won’t be less than $7,500. To get a $6,000 price, I would need to scrap my old car, which is just a tax rebate method used by the government to stimulate consumption.

  10. @mraihan7400 Avatar
    @mraihan7400

    Bro that’s a quite weird shaped Lamborghini huracan…

    1. @Makkiebobo730 Avatar
      @Makkiebobo730

      Ikr

    2. @d.s.2868 Avatar
      @d.s.2868

      😂

    3. @WindHaze10 Avatar
      @WindHaze10

      I knew that front looked familiar.

    4. @egywalando5453 Avatar
      @egywalando5453

      same car designer bro, search it up

    5. @LichKing909 Avatar
      @LichKing909

      Yup, since the designer is the same

  11. @alincioaba464 Avatar
    @alincioaba464

    Quick remark: The battery capacity is measured in kwh and not kw, as you printed on the screen around 12:35.

    1. @leegoodman297 Avatar
      @leegoodman297

      Bugs the hell out of me when they miss out the hours. You’d never say the top speed of my car is 100 miles or it can go 0-60 miles in 10 seconds 🤦🏻

    2. @alincioaba464 Avatar
      @alincioaba464

      ​@@leegoodman297yep. Also for me. They are a top youtube channel but for sure in the future they will remember!

  12. @Risayogi Avatar
    @Risayogi

    In Indonesia, it’s name is BYD Atto 1. It is the cheapest EV in Indonesia, Rp 195 million (£8910) for the lowest trim and Rp 235 million (£10740) for the highest trim. It pretty much destroys the Indonesia EV car market. Crazy.
    Some things to point out, we do loose some features, well quite a lot actually. The screen can’t be rotated, no 360° view camera (just back camera for parking), not adaptive cruise control (just regular one), no split fold back seat (back seat folds in full).

    1. @vonlathen12 Avatar
      @vonlathen12

      Di UK harganya kalo dirupiahin lebih dari 400 juta 😂.
      Jauh bgt sm harga di indo apalagi dibandingin harga cina.

    2. @aristoadricaprio6759 Avatar
      @aristoadricaprio6759

      Salute BYD.

    3. @krisnadiimam4556 Avatar
      @krisnadiimam4556

      U forget to mention we lost the under floor storage under the boot along with the fact its only available with 74hp as well.

    4. @ogerep2877 Avatar
      @ogerep2877

      @@krisnadiimam4556 versi brasil jg gak ada

    5. @PsychedMedia Avatar
      @PsychedMedia

      Di Malaysia kami ada Perodua Myvi seharga Atto1 di Indo, bigger space, full ADAS, 600km fuel range , more power and harga petrol sekitar 7rb rupiah. Dont know if the Atto1 can sell well if its ever goes for sale in Malaysia..

  13. @jonathanfgh1 Avatar
    @jonathanfgh1

    German designer Wolfgang Egger designed the Lamborghini Aventador before he designed the BYD Seagull. Both cars have the same nose and headlight treatment.

    1. @bavariancarenthusiast2722 Avatar
      @bavariancarenthusiast2722

      Yeah it’s prove that can’t buy everything…

  14. @cullypettigrew Avatar
    @cullypettigrew

    Upgraded safety and uk import tax on a 6000 car…18000 really? Someone is being seriously ripped off!

    1. @PeterStaniforth Avatar
      @PeterStaniforth

      Yeah, us.

    2. @manilove2pwn Avatar
      @manilove2pwn

      @@PeterStaniforth only the mugs who buy it. they will have super low IQs so don’t worry about

    3. @purwantiallan5089 Avatar
      @purwantiallan5089

      It supposed to be $10.000.

    4. @Daniyal-y4n Avatar
      @Daniyal-y4n

      BYD doesn’t get all the money these are the tariffs from the uk so the uk gets the import money.

    5. @Daniyal-y4n Avatar
      @Daniyal-y4n

      BYD doesn’t get all the money these are the tariffs from the uk so the uk gets the import money

  15. @FelipeArthurCarvalho Avatar
    @FelipeArthurCarvalho

    In Brazil, BYD charges around £16,400 for this car and it’s called “Dolphin Mini”. It’s currently the best-selling EV here, offering the best price-to-range ratio in our market. It also has slightly more rear seat space, and the seatbelt design seems safer than yours.

    However, the battery is different. It’s a 38kWh pack with 73.5 hp. One notable omission is the pedestrian warning sound. It’s been completely removed here, and there’s no option to activate it, unlike yours, which I believe allows toggling it on or off. Personally, I see that as a safety downgrade.

    We do have rear parking sensors and a 360° camera system, but some safety features were cut, like interior cameras for lane assist or driver monitoring. The extra storage compartment under the boot floor is also gone.

    It’s a mix of good and bad. South America is a very important market for BYD. They even built their largest factory outside China here in Brazil, yet we still get a stripped-down version compared to Europe. It is slightly cheaper here, but still far from affordable for most of the Brazilian population. That said, despite all the cuts and compromises, it was BYD that made electric cars truly reality in the country.

    1. @MaveRick01 Avatar
      @MaveRick01

      Yeah but I’ve heard from another youtuber that BYD factories are basically employing modern day slavery, with stupidly low wages and barely any time off, so is it really worth it?

    2. @sherlock_backs Avatar
      @sherlock_backs

      Yep, same thing in uruguay

    3. @sherlock_backs Avatar
      @sherlock_backs

      ​@@MaveRick01cant tell, byd’s manufacturing lines are highly automated and employ state of the art manufacturing techniques, however, byd manufactures every component of the car, its not crazy to asume that some components might be made on poorer regions of china

    4. @purwantiallan5089 Avatar
      @purwantiallan5089

      ​@@sherlock_backsand sometimes even on some cars in Honduras or Panama.

    5. @tenpoundburrito Avatar
      @tenpoundburrito

      I read the same thing, that the Brazilian government is suing BYD for using essentially slave labor to build and run their factory in Brazil.

  16. @Anon-c6g7b Avatar
    @Anon-c6g7b

    Not allowing you to control things like ac without moving your eyes off the street to look at an ipad and then also adding monitoring that yells at you if you look away for half a second is the most diabolical design in modern cars

    1. @jonnyqi Avatar
      @jonnyqi

      There are voice activated controls you know…unless you are a mute….

  17. @mayakaylock Avatar
    @mayakaylock

    They install screens first, followed by surveillance cameras, haha. What a fantastic transition from physical buttons:D

    1. @DivideBYZero69 Avatar
      @DivideBYZero69

      bot

    2. @AdvancedGamingYT Avatar
      @AdvancedGamingYT

      Bot

    3. @lindacruz2866 Avatar
      @lindacruz2866

      Can’t stand these $ 100 touch screens and everything is connected and controlled by it! But people are falling for it and manufacturer’s are cashing in! Cheap to make and expensive to fix! Double the profit! Besides, these EV’s are all recycle material like cell phones! Again – people are falling for ’em!

    4. @GAFUKIS Avatar
      @GAFUKIS

      Sybau bot

    5. @astroplutonium Avatar
      @astroplutonium

      Elon did that 10 years ago. Did you just enter the EV world?

  18. @AmyMacredie Avatar
    @AmyMacredie

    Did I ‘miss the bit where he tells us that the model he’s driving, the ‘Comfort option, is £23,950 … ?

  19. @FemaleJesse1 Avatar
    @FemaleJesse1

    Did I ‘miss the bit where he tells us that the model he’s driving, the ‘Comfort option, is £23,950 .🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

  20. @Jessica3t7g1 Avatar
    @Jessica3t7g1

    Quick remark: The battery capacity is measured in kwh and not kw, as you printed on the screen around 12:35.😂😂😂😂😂

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