BYD Dolphin Surf (2025) Launch Review 

The BYD Dolphin Surf is South Africa’s most affordable new electric car. The model, which is marketed as a cute city slicker, made its public debut in Cape Town this week.

One of the biggest drawbacks of electric cars in our new-vehicle market is not charging infrastructure (or lack thereof) or a limited choice of models, but rather their asking prices, which are prohibitively high due to various import duties and taxes. Until this week, a consumer could only get into a new battery electric passenger car if they were willing to spend at least R400k (the starting price of the little-known Dayun S5), but the 2025 BYD Dolphin Surf lowers the barrier to new EV ownership to R340k (September 2025).

What’s on offer?

There are 2 derivatives in the 2025 BYD Dolphin Surf line-up: Comfort and Dynamic; the key difference between them is their BYD Blade batteries’ capacities (30 kWh and 38.8 kWh, respectively). Range is naturally the key question: the Comfort and Dynamic’s claimed ranges are 232 km and 295 km (WLTP).

Propulsion comes courtesy of a single Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor that produces 55 kW/135 Nm and drives the front wheels via a single-speed automatic transmission. Interestingly, it appears the SA-spec derivatives offer lower outputs compared with their European-market counterparts.

While this vehicle scored a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating, it is worth noting the tested model has a more comprehensive ADAS system with things like autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and so on. Will the SA-spec Dolphin Surf get the same result? We hope Global NCAP assesses this model in the near future.

• BYD Dolphin Surf Prices, Specs & Features

What is the 2025 BYD Dolphin Surf like to drive?

The launch route for the 2025 BYD Dolphin Surf, a short drive along Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard, was designed to mirror the daily commute of its target customers. BYD noted that with an average daily travel distance of about 55 km, the route was a good example of how the Dolphin Surf would typically be used.

We would have liked a stint on a freeway to gauge the BYD’s top-end performance and overtaking acceleration, but we never escaped the urban sprawl. Then again, cruising at these double-digit urban speeds is where an EV is at its most efficient, as it doesn’t have to battle excessive wind resistance.

As for the newcomer’s energy consumption, we saw an impressive indicated return of 12.5 kWh/100 km after our short drive. And, thanks to its fast-charging capability and small battery capacity, you’re unlikely to spend much time plugged in at a charging station. Our Dynamic test unit’s 38.8 kWh battery supports 40 kW DC charging, and BYD says the variant can be recharged from 30% to 80% in around 30 minutes.

With a kerb weight of around 1.3 tonnes and “only” 55 kW on tap, we didn’t expect the Dolphin Surf to exhibit typical electric-car eagerness. Indeed, its performance is rather leisurely, but to be fair, it’s more than adequate to allow you to slip past slower traffic with ease. There are drive modes to choose from, but we couldn’t feel differences between them, other than slightly more urgent responses in Sport.

Our drive was too short to thoroughly assess the BYD’s ride and handling, but nothing about the Dolphin Surf’s general road manners was jarring. At low urban speeds (around 60 kph), the ride quality was composed, and the steering felt light and easy to use. But then, the road conditions were near perfect.

Most consumers favour a high seating position these days, and to that end, the BYD Dolphin Surf driving position is more crossover- than hatchback-like.

The cabin’s general fit-and-finish is a mixed bag. Yes, this little city slicker benefits from the crisp, high-resolution infotainment touchscreen that can rotate from a landscape to a portrait orientation (although we couldn’t figure out how to make it do that during the evaluation!), as well as a neat wireless charging cradle, but some of the trim materials and fixtures, such as the inner door handles, felt insubstantial.

The rear bench’s seatback doesn’t have split-folding capability, which is a pity considering the load bay is small, but as this is an affordable car aimed at singles and couples, it’s probably not a deal-breaker.

What does the 2025 BYD Dolphin Surf cost in South Africa?

Prices (correct in September 2025) include a 3-year/100 000 km vehicle warranty (with an additional 5 years and 100 000 km for the battery pack) as well as a 3-year/60 000 km service plan.

At the launch event of the 2025 Dolphin Surf, held in Cape Town, BYD also announced an “Early Adopter Package”, which the brand said included a “V2L socket, portable charger, point-to-point cable, a 7kW home-charger wall box, a R999-a-month insurance package (Absa), and a R10 000 cash incentive.”

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Summary

BYD’s new little city slicker bucks the trend by providing electric mobility at a competitive price. Before the recent arrival of the Dolphin Surf, the best-known “affordable” compact electric hatchback was the GWM Ora 03, a bigger offering with more range, but one that started at well over R600k.

Our first taste of the cute Dolphin Surf was promising. Sure, some aspects of the model irked us, but they’re easily overlooked at this price point. Our new-car market sorely needs more affordable new-energy vehicles, and it will be fascinating to see to what extent buyers warm to BYD’s pint-sized newcomer. We eagerly look forward to doing a thorough assessment of this product in the near future.