New to the ranks of BYD is the Dolphin Surf, the brand’s answer to the growing sub-€20,000 small electric vehicle market and joining the likes of the Dacia Spring, Hyundai Inster and Leapmotor T03 in this niche segment.
Remarkably, the Dolphin Surf is BYD’s sixth car to go on sale in Ireland in just over two years. More models will be added next year, likewise its current dealer network of 11. Savvy leadership appointments behind the scenes by importer MDL, have also been key to BYD’s disruption to the Irish car market. Take it from me, they know what they’re doing and believe in everything they say.
For the most part I do think that all models to date have been keenly priced, adding to a six-years manufacturer’s warranty and an eight years battery and electric motor warranty across the range. I am of course including the Dolphin Surf in that, but it is not without its caveats.
While you can get into one for €17,985, you will most likely need to spend between €22,000 and €24,000 for the better spec and bigger battery. The top-spec Comfort version I tested comes in at €24,113 (inclusive of grants and subsidies), which is a considerable price increase when you consider the larger Citroen e-C3 starts from €23,900.
This gets you a 43.2kWh battery with a range of around 300km, which proved pretty easy to achieve and, to the Dolphin Surf’s credit, even performed well on the motorways with no notable loss of charge at the legal speed limit. Its 85kW DC charging speed was more than enough at public charge points, while overall ride quality is excellent.
The Dolphin Surf’s dimensions are 3,990mm long, 1,720mm wide, 1,590mm tall, with a 2,500mm wheelbase, making it extremely easy to manoeuvre and park. Boot capacity is 308-litres extendable to 1,037-litres, however there is a sizable lip when rear seats are folded. Isofix points are located both front and rear.
I mentioned caveats, and the Dolphin Surf has a few. For starts, there is no rear wiper, limiting visibility when dirt inevitably builds up on the rear windscreen. The cup holders have no grooves, meaning cans and smaller coffee cups move about far to often.
Then there is the 10.1-inch infotainment screen. It is the bones of the same rotating touchscreens we have seen in all previous BYD models, but the font size for the Dolphin Surf is too small while its response to touch is too inconsistent. It is another example of a car’s centre touchscreen being too distracting for drivers. It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving, so why do some car makers not approach their touchscreens in the same vein?
Ironically, the Dolphin Surf is fitted with an infuriating driver monitoring system, which on a number of occasions had a go at me for simply checking my left side mirror and over the shoulder blind spots. While it can be turned off at the start of each trip, the system is far too sensitive and risks becoming a deal breaker.
The Dolphin Surf has its charm, but as an overall package it is BYD’s first hiccup since the brand’s launch in Ireland.
