Latest news with #supermini
Top Gear
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
BYD Dolphin Surf Review 2025
One of the cheapest electric superminis. And for buyers coming out of a three year old Skoda Fabia, the equipment list will feel like science fiction. It's kitted out with a full suite of connectivity and driver assist. You can unlock and drive it from your smartwatch, and send a link to a friend so they can do it too. External power means you could run a small cook stove in the wild. All of which is right there with the £18,650 base model. Advertisement - Page continues below It comes from BYD, a brand with mushrooming sales and a colossal footprint. Shortly after launch, manufacture of the Dolphin Surf moves to a vast brand-new plant in Hungary. You could accuse BYD of bait and switch with that entry price. It's for a relatively small battery car with just 137 miles of range. Fine as a commuter car, but you'd soon tire of motorway work: call it half an hour of charging for every hour at 70mph. So you're nudged into the middle Boost trim, which ups the electric range to 200 miles. But it costs another £3,300. That said, we suspect BYD knows this is the one you want, so at launch there's a deposit contribution bringing the Boost as close as £10 a month more on PCP than the small-battery Active. Rivals begin with the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03 at the bottom end. Although they're cheaper, they're smaller. Heartland rivals are the Stellantis pair, the Fiat Grande Panda and Citroën ë-C3. At the top of the Dolphin Surf range you draw level with the base Renault 5. Which is a problem for BYD. Advertisement - Page continues below How big is it? It's not quite a supermini because it's narrow, so fits only two abreast in the back. Same as the Hyundai Inster. And it's tall, so on its little wheels it looks a bit gawky. It's 4.0 metres in length, a squeak longer than a Toyota Yaris. EV-native underfloor design and the tall roof help with interior space. There's plenty of legroom in the back, and a deep boot. But a 'city car' is the bus. Surely this needs to be more than an urban runabout? Fair point. And to look at the spec, you might think the bigger-battery version will tackle proper journeys. First, its space means no-one is going to get cramp or face a Ryanair-style baggage policy. The seats are comfy and the stereo is fine. But the screen system will drive you bananas. Not least because unless you use Spotify (no other music source) you can't have any kind of navigation indication displayed at the same time as the music track name. So we were endlessly swiping and jabbing between the two display modes. More fundamentally, the ride isn't great, with turbulent low-speed bounce giving way to a float on faster bumps. On a motorway you're assailed by tiring wind noise. The ADAS features aren't much help. And unless you've bought the relatively expensive Comfort spec, which has more power, you'll be mashing the accelerator to accelerate up a slip road. On the bright side, this meek performance is a key to its real-world efficiency. Numbers then? The Active spec has a 30kWh battery giving 137 miles WLTP. Its 89bhp motor manages 0-62mh in 11.1 seconds. Boost ups the battery size to 43.2kWh, and range is now 200 miles. Same motor as before. But performance dips a little because of extra weight and perhaps its larger tyres (on 16s not 15s) gearing it up. It's 12.1s 0-62mph. Sorry, but it feels slower than that. For extra poke, get the Comfort, which has the Boost's battery but a usefully spicier 156bhp, cutting the 0-62mph to 9.1s. Range drops marginally to 193 miles WLTP. On a motorway the real drop will be more, unless you can resist using the extra power to hit the overtaking lane. That bigger battery charges at 85kW peak, for a half-hour 10-80 per cent top-up. Both batteries are BYD's robust and cost-efficient LFP chemistry, so you won't harm them by frequently discharging going close to flat and back to 100 per cent. Use the capacity you pay for. Our choice from the range BYD 65kW Boost 43kWh 5dr Auto £21,885 See prices and specs What's the verdict? ' Truth be told we found much of the Dolphin Surf's fancy tech – the display system and driver assists – annoying rather than helpful ' Can a million drivers be wrong? In China and South America, total sales of this car – known as the Seagull and Dolphin Mini – have already sold that number. But BYD took a while to intro it here, to revise the structure and safety systems in pursuit of all five EuroNCAP stars (the actual test isn't published as we write), and improve the sense of quality. Both those things are admirable. The cabin space and seat comfort are excellent. People are going to look at the rest of the equipment and wonder why the Citroen and Fiat rivals are so sparse. But truth be told we found much of the Dolphin Surf's fancy tech – the display system and driver assists – annoying rather than helpful. We'd likely soon default to phone mirroring and, y'know, driving. And when driving we'd notice the lack of polish and engagement. Small cars should be cheeky fun. This is off-target.
Top Gear
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Hyundai Inster Driving, Engines & Performance
Driving What is it like to drive? Acceleration doesn't feel too bad. We used to be elated when a supermini could crack 10 seconds 0-62mph. OK, this one can't either, but it isn't far off, registering 10.6s. The lower-range car is 11.7s. The next bit, getting to 70, takes patience even in the 115bhp version. Still, the pedal is well modulated and drive take-up is smooth, so when your main scope of operation is within the ring road, it's a really easy thing to get along with. Advertisement - Page continues below You can choose from three levels of regeneration, and after that the handover to the friction brakes is neat and well modulated. And it's comfy, you say? Plenty. The suspension is on the soft side, which makes sense for this kind of car. The damping keeps pretty good control of things on undulating roads. In corners it rolls and squeals the tyres. Lots of small cars do that, but they give you a laugh because they let you feel the road through the steering and even adjust the course with what little power they have. Not so much here – the Inster is too numb and po-faced for our taste, and it's best driven at a gentler pace. That said it feels solidly built, with no shudder or flex, and the suspension is quiet. This makes the soft ride feel pretty sophisticated for a baby car. It's very finished, not at all cheap. Only the wind noise betrays it – can get a bit irritating on the motorway, that. Tell me about range and charging. The WLTP range figures are 203 miles and 229 miles respectively for the smaller and bigger batteries in 01 spec. The 02, with its bigger wheels, forfeits six miles of WLTP. Expect these numbers to fall on motorways of course. But every Inster has a heat pump and battery heater, meaning you can pre-warm the battery when plugged in, so winter range shouldn't be awful. Advertisement - Page continues below Charge power is a little low, peaking at 73kW for the smaller battery and 85kW for the bigger one. That means half an hour 10-80 per cent, which sounds fine except that half-hour won't add ever so much distance. With the 01, you'd be back to 10 per cent in little over 100 motorway miles. Is there any tech to speak of? It comes with a full set of driver-assist and active-safety features. You don't expect adaptive cruise with lane centring on a car this small, but here it is, even on the base trim. A neat option is Hyundai's system that puts a blind spot camera view into the instrument screen when you indicate – might be worth going for if you can afford it, the A- and B-pillars are quite thick, so visibility at junctions and over your shoulder is a little compromised. Highlights from the range the fastest 85kW Cross 49kWh 5dr Auto 0-62 10.6s CO2 0 BHP 114 MPG Price £28,690 the cheapest 71kW 01 42kWh 5dr Auto 0-62 11.7s CO2 0 BHP 95.2 MPG Price £23,440 the greenest 85kW Cross 49kWh 5dr Auto 0-62 10.6s CO2 0 BHP 114 MPG Price £28,690
The Independent
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
BYD Dolphin Surf review: Is this what a budget Tesla should be like?
BYD has only been selling cars for two and a half years in the UK, yet the Dolphin Surf is its sixth new model. After the BYD Seal U DM-i, it's the best car the brand makes. It's a true supermini in size – a little smaller than a Ford Fiesta – but thanks to the EV packaging it has much more passenger space inside. The tech list is impressive, too. You get much of the same kit that bigger BYDs get, including the brand's signature rotating screen, so you can choose either a landscape or portrait layout, although it defaults to landscape when Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are at work. You can decide if it looks cute or not – we think it looks better in the metal than in these pictures – but where it can be tricky to get small cars with short wheelbases to ride nicely, the Dolphin Surf rode over the broken surfaces and speed humps of our test route really well. We were impressed by the ride quality and the refinement, too, while performance is good enough for the car to feel nippy enough. Even the standard stereo sounded okay. Most buyers will ignore the entry level Active car with its 137 miles range. For an extra ten pounds per month on a PCP you can get the Boost model with a 200 mile range and a few more bits of kit. Unless you really want to knock a few seconds off the 0-62mph time and insist on powered seats, we'd not bother with the Comfort trim. The biggest problem the Dolphin Surf has, though, is the quality of the competition, with the likes of the Renault 5, Fiat Grande Panda and Citroen e-C3 all costing similar money to the bigger battery Dolphin Surfs. However, a six year warranty does give you more peace-of-mind with the BYD. How we tested We joined BYD's mega-launch of the Dolphin Surf in North London, taking it on streets that we knew well – over plenty of speed humps – stopping in the supermarket car park, trying the car in the front and the back, filling the boot and giving all the tech a thorough testing. BYD Dolphin Surf: From £18,650, Independent rating: 8/10 Pros: Bags of space, loads of kit, comfortable drive, competitive finance offers Cons: Only seats four, air-con not climate control, no rear wiper BYD Dolphin Surf specs Price range: £18,650 to £23,950 Battery size: 30kWh / 43.2kWh Maximum claimed range: 200 miles Miles per kWh: tbc Maximum charging rate: 85kW Battery, range, charging, performance and drive Unless you're paying cash and are on a strict budget, we'd swerve the entry-level Active model with its 30kWh battery and 130 mile range. Not that it's short on kit – every model gets a generous roster of tech and luxury gadgets – it's just that the Boost model will only cost you ten pounds per month more over four years on BYD's PCP finance. Both the Boost and top-spec Comfort trim get a 43.2kWh battery, but with motors with different outputs. The Boost is oriented towards range – it'll claim a maximum of 200 miles – while the Comfort adds a little more performance with 0-62mph in 9.1 seconds, a whole three seconds quicker than the Boost model. The Comfort still manages to claim a decent 193 mile range, though. Maximum charging speeds for such a small, affordable car are pretty good, with 85kW for the bigger battery (with a 10 to 80 per cent charge taking 30 minutes) and 65kW for the smaller battery with the same 10 to 80 per cent time. What we liked most about the Dolphin Surf was its mature driving manners. The ride is impressive, even over the broken streets and speed humps around our North London test route, while the steering felt nicely weighted, too. It's an easy car to drive, too, with good visibility and easy controls, although the brakes on our test car felt a little bit spongy – we'd have rather had a bit more of an instant reaction from a push of the brake pedal. While the acceleration is hardly brisk, but just about nippy enough around town, what's more important is the impressively small turning circle, which is handy for parking and manoeuvring around town. Interior, practicality and boot space The Dolphin Surf has a surprising amount of space inside. You can fit a six-foot tall passenger behind a six-foot tall driver, which is exactly what we did. The Surf is only a four-seater, though. There are only two seat belts in the back, although three abreast might be a bit tight. The flat floor makes the back seats feel more spacious, though. Up front, access is easy and the vegan leather (we guess that means plastic) seats are comfortable, and while there are plenty of hard plastics on the dash, there's some soft touch materials across the middle and on the doors. Everything looks good, too – the Dolphin Surf is part of BYD's Ocean Series so the interior lines are wave-like. The door bins are a decent size, there are two cup holders in the centre console, which also has storage underneath. The drive selector is on the dash rather than in between the front seats, while there's no separate parking brake – it gets applied automatically when you select park. Like all the other doors, the rear hatch opens wide for easy access with total space above and below the false floor totalling 308 litres – not far from what was on offer in a Ford Fiesta. The rear seats split and fold easily, too. Technology, stereo and infotainment BYD's 10in infotainment screen is one of the Dolphin Surf's many highlights. Apart from the clever rotating party trick (which won't work if you're using the wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto), the usability is impressive. Not only do you have 'hey BYD' voice control – which you can personalise with different 'wake' words – you can control the heating and ventilation with three fingers dragged up and down to alter temperature or left and right to alter fan speed. The only problem is that it's air-con rather than climate control – the latter would allow you to set a desired temperature, and the system would automatically adjust to suit. Instead, we found ourselves constantly fiddling temperatures and fan speed to get the right levels. You can personalise the row of fast keys across the bottom of the screen – you'll need to do that to get easy access to the rear demister, which you'll need to rely on as, bizarrely, there's no rear wiper. The digital driver display is a bit odd too, with the speedo shoved over to the side and a scrolling display in the middle showing efficiency, average speed and time driven. We'd much rather have a large speedo in the centre. Whatever model you choose, you'll get some impressive kit that includes adaptive cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlights, the ability to use your phone as your car key and wireless phone charging, too. While the stereo is limited by the number of speakers, it actually sounds okay. Prices and running costs With the vast majority of buyers opting for finance, list prices aren't as important as they were. Even so, BYD has gone for a headline-grabbing £18,650, although that's for the 130 mile range Active model few people will buy. That's because it's only ten pounds a month cheaper than the £21,950 Boost model, which will cost £279 a month after a £279 deposit on a four-year 3.9 per cent APR PCP deal. The Comfort model costs £23,950 which puts it up against more talented and even bigger rivals, while that model will cost £309 a month with £309 down on the same terms. We registered a reasonable 4.5 miles/kWh efficiency on our test route in a Comfort-spec car, meaning that model's 193 mile range should not only be achievable, but beatable if you use the car mainly around town. BYD Dolphin Surf rivals: FAQs How long does it take to charge? This small, affordable car offers impressive charging speeds: 85kW for the larger battery and 65kW for the smaller battery, both reaching 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. How much does it cost - is it worth it? On a monthly PCP for £279 a month with £279 down, the mid-spec Boost model looks to be a good deal. But there are similarly talented small EV superminis that also have good finance deals on them. What's the battery and main warranty like? The main warranty of six years is impressive, while the eight-year battery cover is par for the course. Why trust us Our team of motoring experts have decades of experience driving, reviewing and reporting on the latest EV cars, and our verdicts are reached with every kind of driver in mind. We thoroughly test drive every car we recommend, so you can be sure our verdicts are honest, unbiased and authentic. The verdict: BYD Dolphin Surf The BYD Dolphin Surf is a talented little car with a grown-up feel. We like the drive, the tech and the space. Judge it by the monthly payments rather than the list price and £279 down with £279 a month over four years looks hugely competitive. But it has entered a market brim-full of talent and charm, which will make life tough for the little BYD.
Auto Express
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 celebrates, well guess…
Volkswagen has revealed a new Polo Edition 50 to celebrate the popular supermini's half century of existence. Priced from £26,350, it'll be available in what VW calls limited numbers in the UK, with sales kicking off later this month. Unique to the Polo Edition 50 is the Crystal Blue paintwork, further enhanced by 17-inch alloy wheels and unique Edition 50 badges. Uprated LED front and rear lights are also standard fit, helping give the whole car an almost luxurious feel above and beyond the usual found in the supermini class. Advertisement - Article continues below Inside, VW has fitted more Edition 50 badges, plus a gloss black dashboard insert and privacy glass on the rear windows. Equipment has also been upgraded with a panoramic glass roof, dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera and keyless access and starting. Under the bonnet is a single 89bhp three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine option, matched to a five-speed manual transmission. There's no sign of a dual-clutch option, or more powerful powertrains, leading to an unusual combination of a very high equipment list paired with one of the lower-specification engines. Yet while it might be easy to sign this special edition off as a rather thin effort in celebrating 50 years of an iconic model like the Polo, VW has much bigger plans later in the year when its all-electric ID.2, or arrives as the lynchpin for the brand's entire future line up. While the Polo isn't going anywhere quite yet, it'll be the new ID.2 which represents VW's actual celebration of offering an affordable model to buyers wanting the Volkswagen experience, just as the first Polo did 50 years ago. Only now, it won't have a combustion engine. Now you can buy a car through our network of top dealers around the UK. Search for the latest deals…
Auto Express
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: Honda Jazz hybrid is music to our ears at just £200 per month
Super-frugal hybrid powertrain Spacious interior; Magic Seats Only £200.03 a month We'll put our neck on the line here and say the Honda Jazz is the most sensible supermini money can buy. Trouble is, its efficient hybrid engine, smart interior, upmarket fit-and-finish and respectable character don't come cheap. Until now, that is. Advertisement - Article continues below Scouring the Auto Express Find a Car service, we found is offering the judicious Jazz for three pence more than £200 a month, finally placing it at a similar level to the Renault Clio, Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo. This two-year deal requires a £2,750.33 initial payment, while mileage is capped at 5,000 a year. This can be revised up to 8,000 a year for just under £14.50 a month, though. At the heart of the Jazz is its super-frugal hybrid powertrain. It mates a 1.5-litre petrol engine to two electric motors, meaning it can travel further on electric power than a lot of its rivals. Fuel economy is, unsurprisingly, impressive at over 62mpg, and 120bhp keeps the car feeling quick and zippy, particularly around town. Over the years, every generation of the Jazz has embarrassed its rivals by having more interior space. The same is true of the current car – its tall windows mean visibility is excellent, and the interior is packed with numerous cubbyholes. The pièce de résistance, though, are the famous Magic Seats, which allow the rear seat bases to fold up so you can carry awkwardly shaped items with ease. For £200 a month, you might be expecting the entry-level model, but that's not the case. Here you'll be getting a Jazz in Advance spec, so things like heated front seats and steering wheel, wireless Apple CarPlay, a nine-inch touchscreen, and 16-inch alloys wheels all come as standard. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Honda Jazz leasing offers from leading providers on our Honda Jazz hub page. Check out the Honda Jazz deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here…
