BYD (Build Your Dreams) has introduced South Africa’s most affordable new battery-electric vehicle – the Dolphin Surf. Here’s what the electric city car offers and costs.
When Ciro De Siena travelled to Zhengzhou, China, in July, he got a taste of the BYD Dolphin Surf, also known as the BYD Atto 1 and Dolphin Mini (it differs from market to market), and at the time, he correctly predicted that it would be SA’s cheapest EV sold by a volume car manufacturer by some margin.
The local distributor of BYD had already lowered the entry price to South Africa’s electric car segment with the Dolphin electric small crossover – watch Ciro De Siena’s video review of the BYD Dolphin. But whereas pricing for the Dolphin begins at R539 900 (in September 2025, for the Dynamic Standard Range), the entry price for the former’s city-car sibling, the Dolphin Surf, starts well under R400 000.
Where the BYD Dolphin Surf fits in
It’s a sharp-looking little hatchback, that’s for sure. Measuring 3 925 mm in length and 1 720 mm in width, it’s about the same size as a Mini Cooper, but offers a surprisingly spacious interior.
It uses a single motor powered by BYD’s acclaimed Blade Battery that drives the front wheels. The model is available with 2 battery options: a 30 kWh unit powering a 55 kW motor that is said to provide up to 232 km of range (WLTP) and a 38.8 kWh unit with the same motor offering up to 295 km (WLTP).
Keep in mind that real-world range is reduced by factors like average speed (highway cruising), temperature (cold is problematic), regeneration, and driving style.
BYD Dolphin Surf supports 30 kW & 40 kW DC charging
Most impressive for a budget battery electric car are its fast-charging capabilities. Whereas the smaller-battery variant – the Comfort (30 kWh) – supports maximum DC charging of 30 kW, the Dynamic is rated for 40 kW, which means that its battery could be recharged from 30% to 80% in as little as 30 minutes.
Adding to its modern appeal is the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality that allows the model, which comes fitted as standard with 16-inch wheels, to act as a mobile power source for external devices.
Retains Dolphin’s rotating infotainment screen
Inside, drivers will find a faux-leather-trimmed cabin featuring a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen that can be rotated from landscape to portrait mode and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated and electrically adjustable side mirrors, cruise control, a reverse-view camera and parking sensors, as well as a voice command system activated by “Hi BYD.”
The range-topping Dynamic variant additionally features a rake- and reach-adjustable steering column (it’s only rake-adjustable on the Comfort), a 6-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, one-touch up-down driver’s window (with anti-pinch technology), as well as a wireless charging pad.
The BYD Dolphin Surf, which features a multifunction steering wheel, plus keyless entry and start on both Comfort and Dynamic derivatives, can also integrate with your smartphone using the BYD App.
From locking or unlocking the vehicle remotely to checking battery levels or pre-conditioning the cabin, this app, BYD says, “puts a user in control of their car, no matter where they are.” It also offers live tracking of range and recharging, and can send users service reminders and diagnostics alerts.
Meanwhile, the BYD Dolphin Surf has a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating; it comes equipped with auto LED headlamps (with Follow Me Home function), ABS, EBD, electronic stability control and dual front and curtain airbags on the Comfort variant; the range-topping Dynamic additionally features side airbags.
In addition to an electric parking brake and hill-start assist control, as well as a tyre-pressure monitoring system, the derivatives are equipped with ISOfix child-seat anchor points on the outer rear seats.
What does the BYD Dolphin Surf cost in South Africa?
| BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort | R339 900 |
| BYD Dolphin Surf Dynamic | R389 900 |
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 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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