BYD Dolphin Surf: Trim levels explained
BYD is a Chinese car manufacturer that is rapidly expanding globally.
It began selling cars in the UK in 2023 and has already launched seven models in that time.
Its latest offering comes from the budget end of the market with the Dolphin Surf.
A compact and fun city car that rivals the likes of the Dacia Spring, but has even got its eyes on the likes of the Renault 5 and Hyundai Inster.
It offers a spacious interior, along with an angular exterior design and a claimed electric range of up to 200 miles.
There is a choice of two battery packs and three trim levels on offer, but which one represents the best value for money, and what features do you get as standard?
In this article, we find out by comparing the Dolphin Surf’s trim levels, seeing which one you should opt for.
Active – £18,650
The BYD Dolphin Surf comes in three different flavours, with the entry-level Active trim coming in at £18,650 – making it cheaper than a Hyundai Inster, but pricier than a Dacia Spring.
Under the bonnet, there is a 30kWh battery pack and electric motor which gives a claimed range of up to 136 miles on a single charge and produces a total of 87bhp. In terms of acceleration, the car can sprint from 0-60mph in 10.9 seconds and will reach a top speed of 93mph.
Standard equipment on the Active includes features such as rear parking sensors, a 10.1-inch rotatable touchscreen, a rearview camera and adaptive cruise control.
But, where this city car scores over the competition is that even this entry-level car comes as standard with a vehicle-to-load function (V2L), which allows for electrical appliances such as a coffee machine or microwave to be plugged in using the car’s battery.
Boost – £21,950
The mid-level Boost boasts more standard equipment, but also comes with a larger 43.2kWh battery pack and electric motor. This setup produces a total of 154bhp and can take the car from 0-60mph in 8.9 seconds, while the top speed is the same 93mph as in the lesser powered model.
In terms of range, BYD claims that the car can travel up to 200 miles between trips to the plug and that the car can charge at speeds of up to 85kW from a DC rapid charger, going from a 30 to 80 per cent top up in 22 minutes.
Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, electric folding door mirrors, electrically adjustable front seats and rain-sensing windscreen wipers.
Comfort – £23,950
The flagship Comfort is an extra £2,000 on top of the Boost trim level, but also comes as standard with the larger battery pack and electric motor; however, the range does slightly drop to a claimed 193 miles.
But, the list of equipment increases with a 360-degree camera, LED headlights, a wireless smartphone charger, heated front seats and rear privacy glass.
Which one should you buy?
Whichever BYD Dolphin Surf you’re looking at, they all come with an excellent amount of standard equipment, representing great value for money.
However, the smaller battery pack on the entry-level Active car only has a claimed range of 136 miles, which in the real world will more than likely be just over 100 miles.
We’d recommend the larger 43.2kWh battery pack found in the Boost and Comfort models. But, with the mid-level car coming with all the features you’ll ever need, while managing to cover more miles on a single charge and coming in at below £22,000, the BYD Dolphin Surf in Boost trim would be the smartest move if you’re thinking about buying one of these great urban city cars.
Sound like the BYD Dolphin Surf is for you? You’re in luck – it’s one of a number of the latest BYD models that we’re able to offer here at UK CarLine. Get in touch today to find out more.
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