BYD Dolphin Surf is a small, simple £18k motor packed with things that please… it knocks its rivals out the park
I'M a big fan of small and simple cars because I like value for money more than I do screens and gadgets.
This
Advertisement
4
This BYD Dolphin Surf is small and simple
4
The Dolphin Surf has four seats, three with ISOFIX anchor points and a surprisingly practical boot
Just press and go.
It's value for money at £18,650.
And yet it's got a rotating touchscreen and all those gadgets thrown in anyway.
Where's the catch?
Advertisement
read more on motors
I can't see one.
It knocks a
Finance from £269 a month with £269 deposit. Or £199 a month with about £3k deposit.
It'll cost pennies to run.
Advertisement
Most read in Motors
I reckon many will be bought as second cars but end up being the one owners use the most.
Dolphin Surf has four seats, three with
Japanese giant unveils its new bargain EV with quirky 'bug eye' headlights
Properly comfy seats by the way. Made of 'vegan leather' whatever that means.
Big drink holders. Phone storage tray.
Advertisement
Apple CarPlay. Reversing camera.
Adaptive cruise control for your out-of-town runs.
All things that please and all included in the price.
You can even use your little BYD bud as a mobile power bank – running everything from party lights to a fridge.
Advertisement
Now I should spell out that Dolphin Surf comes in two
The entry-level Active gets you a 137-mile battery by the WLTP test and a big enough e-motor to keep you swimming in quick traffic.
Then there's the £22k Boost nudging 200 miles from the 43kWh
'BRIM THE BATTERY'
Both use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry for higher levels of durability and safety.
Advertisement
So you can 'brim' the battery every time without depleting it.
Both roll on Hankook tyres. Another positive.
Even the lime green paint job is free.
How safe is it? It's engineered to attain a four-star safety rating.
Advertisement
The body uses 68 per cent high-strength steel and the car is brimming with anti-crash gear.
The car will be made in Hungary soon – and avoid tariffs.
I told you BYD would quickly chime with UK drivers and the Chinese are already outselling Honda, Citroen, Fiat and more.
There are a load of plug-in hybrids coming next, including a junior SUV and a pick-up truck called Shark.
Advertisement
Key facts: BYD DOLPHIN SURF
Price: £18,650
Battery: 30kWh
Power: 87hp
0-62mph: 11.1 secs
Top speed: 93mph
Range: 137 miles
CO2: 0g/km
Out: Now
4
The Dolphin Surf boasts a rotating touchscreen
4
There's also a phone storage tray, Apple CarPlay and a reversing camera
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme -
Sun Club.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Radically-improved Nissan Leaf is now a proper ‘made in Britain' EV with bigger battery, cabin & quirky nod to its maker
EVERY Five Guys has a sign on the wall that says: 'Today's potatoes are from . . .' Somewhere local. Advertisement 5 The next 'Made in Britain' motor coming our way is the radically improved Nissan Leaf Credit: David Shepherd 5 This new Leaf has the option of a 270-mile battery or a 375-mile battery Credit: David Shepherd 5 Up front, that slick twin-screen dash has built-in Google for maps, music and more Credit: David Shepherd That makes me happy. Because not only does it mean the chips will be fresh and tasty, it's a reminder that you're backing British farming . Helping to put food on the table for someone else. It's the same with some cars. Advertisement READ MORE ROAD TESTS If you buy a But you also support tens of thousands of people who work in the British car industry. So everyone wins. The next 'Made in Britain' motor coming our way is the radically- improved Advertisement Most read in Motors Now a proper long-distance family motor that happens to be electric. Rather than a fugly eco car with phish range. Nissan leaf being sold for £19,000 - but there's a catch as it's dubbed 'Nissan grief' by viewers Let's just say the original Leaf was a rubbish getaway car. You'd be better off on foot. This new one has the option of a 270-mile battery or a 375-mile battery. Advertisement So you might need to charge it once a fortnight. The smooth body and flat belly help it slice through the air. Steering wheel paddles adjust the levels of braking regen to add more electrons on the go. After trying a prototype, I am pleased to say Leaf 3.0 drives nicely too. Smooth, quiet, sophisticated, fast when you want to go fast, relaxed when you don't. Advertisement The new multi-link rear axle, compared to the old torsion-beam set-up, really improves ride and handling. It's actually shorter than the old car, with a smaller turning circle, so it's easier to park and manoeuvre in town. Yet the cabin is bigger. There's room for a rear-facing child seat in the back. There wasn't before. The boot is bigger and more useful with luggage dividers from a Qashqai. Advertisement Up front, that slick twin-screen dash has built-in Google for maps, music and more. Bose headrest speakers direct satnav and calls to the driver's lugholes. So they don't spoil the song for everyone else. The big glass roof, with thermal protection, dims in sections. And actually increases headroom. There's lots of charging ports for devices and drink holders for your Five Guys milkshakes. Like I said, proper family car. Advertisement Other observations. The 3D rear lights. I like them. Two upright bars and three horizontal bars. That's because 'two' and 'three' in Japanese sound like 'Ni' and 'San'. 5 The big glass roof, with thermal protection, dims in sections. And actually increases headroom Credit: Supplied 5 Those striking 3D rear lights aren't just for show – they spell out 'Nissan' in Japanese numbers: two (ni) and three (san) Credit: David Shepherd Advertisement That's also why Nissan's legendary race cars wear the number 23. Let's hope there's a sporty Leaf NISMO further down the line because I'm told there's room for a rear e-motor to make it 4WD. For now, though, we applaud Sunderland for giving us a practical electric car we would be proud to own. It just needs a badge that says it's home-grown. Advertisement KEY FACTS: NISSAN LEAF Price: £31,000 Battery: 52kWh Power: 217hp 0-62mph: 7.6 secs Top speed: 99mph Range: 270 miles CO2: 0g/km Out: January
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Legendary car brand set to RETURN to UK after a decade away – but only with the right line-up
A LEGENDARY car brand is gearing up for a return to UK roads after nearly a decade – but only if the timing and model range are right, according to its European boss. The Japanese manufacturer known for iconic models like the Shogun and Lancer left the UK market in 2020 during the Covid pandemic, when a sharp drop in sales forced a rethink of its global strategy. 2 Mitsubishi is phasing out the current versions of the Eclipse Cross and budget-friendly Space Star But now, Mitsubishi, says it's looking at Britain as a key part of its European comeback. 'If you look at the potential and size of the market, it's our preferred route to go back, basically. But we need to have the right product line-up for that,' said Mitsubishi Europe president Frank Krol, speaking to Since its withdrawal, Mitsubishi has re-established itself in much of Europe, using models developed through its Alliance partnership with Renault. This includes the Colt supermini and ASX crossover – both rebadged versions of Renault cars. Earlier this year, Mitsubishi reintroduced the Outlander plug-in hybrid SUV to Europe, a model that previously enjoyed major success in the UK and topped the PHEV sales charts. The brand's line-up is set to grow further with the launch of the Grandis, a compact SUV based on the Renault Symbioz, which will be unveiled on 1 July. An all-new electric SUV, built on the same EV platform as the Renault Scenic and Most read in Motors At the same time, Mitsubishi is phasing out the current versions of the Eclipse Cross and budget-friendly Space Star (also known as the Mirage in the UK), as they no longer comply with updated EU safety regulations. Krol said a return to the UK would need to be led by the right models – likely including the upcoming 'These newer models would better reflect our brand values,' he suggested, hinting that they would have more appeal for British buyers familiar with Mitsubishi's legacy of practical and robust vehicles. A new version of the Outlander could appear around 2027, given that the current generation launched globally in 2021. Despite the long absence, Mitsubishi still enjoys strong name recognition in the UK – but that won't last forever, Krol warned. 'It is not preferred to have extremely a long period without any sales presence,' he said. 'That's something we would need to consider.' 2 But now, the company says it's looking at Britain as a key part of its European comeback Credit: simon thompson
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Trick to clean your house even faster with '30cm rule' as top Dyson whiz reveals common vacuum fail we're all guilty of
A TOP Dyson designer has revealed exactly how fast to move your vacuum cleaner – and going slower can actually save you time. It turns out that racing around your house isn't necessarily the best way to get the cleaning out of the way quickly. 6 You may have been vacuuming wrong your entire life Credit: Dyson 6 You'll want to visualise one of these during your next vacuum cleaning session Credit: Getty 6 The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach took a trip to Dyson's Oxfordshire HQ Credit: Sean Keach Vacuuming an entire house can be a bit of a nightmare, especially if you've got loads of furniture, carpets, and a dog or cat. So going fast can be tempting now that vacuum cleaners are often wireless and lightweight – just look at SPEED TEST I took a trip to Dyson's Oxfordshire campus where I heard from Dyson designer Jonny Gray, who revealed the exact speed you'll want to be moving your vacuum cleaner. "To be exact, about 0.3 metres a second is probably where you want to be in terms of speed," Jonny explained. Read more on Dyson That's a 30cm ruler, so if you imagine moving across one of those every second, you're getting it right. "I'm sorry to say that the slower you go, the cleaner your floors will be," Jonny said. Of course, he warned that you can also end up going too slow. The Dyson design whiz said you'll get "diminishing returns the more you go over it". Most read in Phones & Gadgets So it's important to not go too slow or fast – and stick to the 30cm rule. "The IEC standards that we get are 0.5 metres a second," Jonny, Senior Design Manager at Dyson, told us. Watch Sir James Dyson unveil secret PencilVac, world's slimmest vacuum cleaner "But we have demonstrated that you get around 100% pick-up over the course of three passes with 0.3 metres a second speed." If you rush around, your vacuum cleaner will end up missing bits. And if you go too slow, you're simply wasting time – and it won't be worth the wait. FOOD FOR FLOORS Jonny, who works on vacuum cleaners at Dyson's gigantic Malmesbury campus, spends time trying to pick up all manner of difficult debris. 6 Dyson's senior design manager Jonathan Gray revealed the secret to vacuuming Credit: Sean Keach 6 The Sun was given a peek inside Dyson's debris cupboard, filled with commonly spilled items Credit: Sean Keach And he also told The Sun that Cheerios are one of the trickiest things for a vacuum cleaner to collect due to their size. But he warned that US-style Froot Loops are even trickier to collect. Dog biscuits are also difficult for vacuum cleaners to pick up, Jonny revealed. But the brainy Dyson designer explained that if you follow the 30cm rule, you should be able to get a "100% pick-up" rate – even during a nightmare Cheerio spillage. WHAT'S IN DYSON'S SECRET FOOD CUPBOARD? Here's what The Sun's tech editor Porridge oats Rice Pasta Long-grain rice Nylon pieces Japanese sushi rice Japanese tea leaves Sugar Bread crumbs Finishing plaster Cotton wool balls Cheerios Popping corn Cat food Hair Tapioca pearls Froot Loops Dog biscuits Bicarbonate of soda Cat litter Picture Credit: Sean Keach Dyson's Lab includes a cupboard filled with different materials for testing with its vacuum cleaners. That includes porridge oats, British and even American rice, sugar, cotton wool, and cat litter. And they even have Japanese sushi rice and tea leaves, to make sure that the vacuum cleaners they flog to Japan are up to snuff. Read iconic British inventor Sir James Dyson's exclusive comment piece for The Sun here. 6 How many of these items have you spilled at home? Credit: Sean Keach
