BYD Dolphin Surf: This rival to the R5 electric vehicle finally fixes one of its major flaws

The BYD Dolphin Surf, available in Europe since the summer of 2025, has received its first major update. This Chinese compact electric vehicle can now accommodate five passengers, up from four previously. And that’s not all...

Just one year after its launch in Europe, the BYD Dolphin Surf is already seeing improvements. This Chinese compact electric car, aimed at competing with the Renault 5, has received an update to address one of its main limitations: it now offers five seats instead of four. This upgrade comes alongside several new features inside the vehicle.

A fifth seat that changes everything

At 3.99 meters in length, the Dolphin Surf has dimensions comparable to those of its European competitors. But until now, it could only accommodate four people. BYD has decided to address this issue by adding a third seat belt in the back, as well as an additional headrest. This is good news, but space might still be tight... As it’s only 1.72 meters wide (excluding mirrors), the Dolphin Surf remains a compact city car.

Also read

The new Citroën 2 CV is here! Here’s everything you need to know about this electric city car priced at 15,000 euros

The trunk retains its 308-liter capacity. BYD states that the four-seater and five-seater versions will be available together in certain markets. In France, the new configurations are already available for order on the Boost and Comfort trims. The older models remain available until stock is exhausted.

A modernized and better equipped interior

The manufacturer didn’t just add an extra seat. The Comfort trim now comes with a 12.8-inch central screen that integrates Google services, including Maps and the Play Store. The digital dashboard size increases from 7 inches to 8.8 inches. Another notable change is that the gear selector has moved from the dashboard to the steering column. The steering wheel has also been redesigned; it becomes heated on the Boost and Comfort versions, while the Boost trim adds heated seats.

All versions now come equipped with air conditioning, two USB-C ports at the front, and a rear seat area. BYD also adds a new white color option and 16-inch alloy wheels to the Active trim level.

Range of up to 322 km

Under the hood, nothing has changed. The Dolphin Surf retains its 30 and 43.2 kWh batteries. They are still paired with either an 88 or 156 hp motor. Range varies from 220 to 322 km depending on the version. Fast charging reaches 85 kW on both higher trim levels, with a claim of reaching 80% charge in 31 minutes.

In France, the new Dolphin Surf Boost five-seater starts at 24,490 € (compared to 19,990 € for the four-seater Active version), or 26,490 € for the Comfort version. However, in October, BYD offers commercial discounts of 3,800 € on the Boost and 2,800 € on the Comfort, bringing their prices down to 20,690 € and 23,690 € respectively. Note that this is a manufacturer promotion, not government subsidies.

In fact, the change from 4 to 5 seats may affect the eco-score calculation, as was the case with the Hyundai Ioniq. But for now, there are no bonuses planned for the BYD model, which is produced in China.