It may be a bit of an enigma, with a short, yet confusing history and different names in different regions, but the small BYD Dolphin Surf (as it is badged here) – with its mini-Lamborghini looks, wide range of amenities and a highly affordable price tag – is set to be a game-changer in the local EV market.
As part of BYD’s Ocean series, the sub-B-segment hatchback, revamped last year, is known as the Seagull in China, the Dolphin Mini in Latin American markets, and the Atto 1 in Nepal. It is unclear what necessitated the somewhat nonsensical name changes, but they annul the original design concept by Wolfgang Egger.
You see, Egger, who also designed cars for Alfa Romeo, Audi and Lamborghini (hence the shrunken Lambo cues), included a dashboard design depicting a seagull’s wing in the interior (with an interesting rotatable 10.1” touch-screen infotainment system), but how this relates to Dolphin and Surf is anyone’s guess.
MOST AFFORDABLE EV
Anyway, the attractive four-door, five-seat hatchback with its sharp lines, angular headlights and stretched wheelbase in a car only 3,780 mm long, is set to make waves in the local market, as it now is the most affordable EV in South Africa – with the entry-level Comfort available for R339,900 and the upscaled Dynamic retailing for R389,900.
This means you’ll pay R60k less for the Dolphin Surf than for the comparable Dayun S5 model imported by Enviro Automotive. This is about R40k more than the retail price for a Hyundai i20, and about R100k over what a Suzuki Swift goes for.
How BYD has managed to bring the compact Dolphin Surf in at this price point is unclear (perhaps the company’s Memorandum of Cooperation with power utility Eskom for future collaboration to bring accessible charging infrastructure to road users has played a role), but it means you get a lot of car for your money.
FIVE-STAR SAFETY
At the heart of the Dolphin Surf is BYD’s Blade Battery and purpose-built e-Platform 3.0, featuring 61% high-strength steel and a hot-forming tensile strength of over 1,500 MPa in key parts, which ensures a rigid body structure. Importantly, this gave the Dolphin Surf an outstanding overall five-star score in the Euro NCAP tests. So, it is no cheap and nasty runabout.
The Dynamic model is equipped with a 38.8 kWh battery that delivers 55 kW of power to the front wheels. According to BYD, the vehicle offers a WLTP combined range of 295 km and supports DC charging of up to 40 kW, allowing for a 30-80% charge in just 30 minutes. The Comfort model features a 30 kWh battery, also delivering 55 kW of power to the wheels, for a WLTP combined range of 232 km and a maximum DC charging rate of 30 kW.
Both models ride on 16″ steel wheels. On a short drive from Battery Park through the city centre of Cape Town in the Dynamic model, the Dolphin Surf delivered a nippy and nimble drive, even in Eco mode (it also has Normal and Sport modes, as well as Snow mode), easily keeping up with surrounding traffic.
Also impressive was the quality level of interior appointments and detailing, with comfortable, supportive seats, a rotatable touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 7” digital instrument panel. Keyless entry via an NFC key and BYD App control further enhance the user experience. Voice control is activated by a simple “Hi, BYD,” and the 15W wireless charging pad has a built-in karaoke function.
Despite its small dimensions, the interior does not feel cramped, with 20 storage spaces throughout the cabin, and a 230-litre boot capacity that can be expanded to 930 litres with the rear seats down. Additionally, it can serve as a mobile energy source with its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function, utilising the car’s battery to power external devices. The Dolphin Surf also comes with a 7 kW Home Charger Wall Box, a 3-7 Charger, and a V2L socket.
LAST WORD
As an affordable and well-equipped urban electric vehicle backed up by a three-year/100,000 km warranty, a three-year/60,000 km service plan and an eight-year/200,000 km battery warranty, the BYD Dolphin Surf brings a new dimension to electric mobility in South Africa, making EV ownership a viable and attractive option for everyday South Africans.
Targeted at younger, budget-conscious, city-dwelling customers, most likely first-time EV buyers, the Dolphin Surf ticks all the boxes as an accessible, eco-friendly city car with good tech features. It may just be the vehicle that kick-starts the EV revolution locally.
Report by FERDI DE VOS | Images BYD SOUTH AFRICA
