BYD Dolphin Surf: Five-seater with enhanced features
BYD will now offer the Dolphin Surf with five seats as well. It also features a larger touchscreen, automatic climate control in all variants, and a shift lever located on the steering column.
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BYD displayed an updated version of the Dolphin Surf at the Paris Auto Show. This electric city car is the manufacturer’s most affordable electric vehicle in Europe and was previously only available with four seats. Going forward, BYD will also offer it as a five-seater. In addition to the new seating arrangement, the manufacturer has improved the infotainment system, controls, and standard equipment. Both four-seater and five-seater versions will be available simultaneously, with availability varying by market and demand.
Five Seats and an Updated Interior
The middle seat in the second row now comes with its own headrest, allowing the nearly four-meter-long compact car to accommodate five people. How comfortable the middle seat really is in a vehicle of this size will only become apparent in everyday use. The trunk capacity remains at 308 liters.
Some changes are also made to the materials: The Active and Boost trims will now feature fabric upholstery, while the Comfort version stays with vegan leather. A new blue interior color is added to complement the existing black and gray options. A trunk lid is now standard on all variants. Instead of a combination of USB-A and USB-C ports, there are two USB-C sockets available now.
Controls and Infotainment
In the Comfort trim, the central touchscreen size increases to 12.8 inches. The system includes integrated Google services such as Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Play Store. The digital dashboard in the Comfort version is now 8.8 inches instead of the previous 7.0 inches.
Display
BYD has upgraded the equipment in several areas. All variants will now come standard with an automatic climate control system. The Boost version additionally features heated seats. The base Active model now comes equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, replacing the previous 15-inch steel rims. Previously, aluminum wheels were reserved for the Boost and Comfort trims.
Among the exterior colors, Skiing White has been added. This brings the total number of available colors to White, Lime Green, Obsidian Black, and Ice Blue.
Powertrain, Battery, and Charging Capacity
BYD does not provide any new details regarding the drive system, battery, or charging capacity in this latest announcement. The stated combined fuel consumption of 15.5 to 16 kWh per 100 kilometers matches previous figures, indicating that the technology remains unchanged for now.
To date, BYD offers the Dolphin Surf in two battery sizes based on LFP technology. The Active version uses a 30-kWh battery and a motor with 65 kW (88 HP), achieving a WLTP range of 220 kilometers. This variant can be charged at up to 65 kW using direct current. The Boost and Comfort versions employ a 43.2-kWh battery, delivering WLTP ranges of 322 and 310 kilometers respectively. While the Boost version also has 65 kW (88 HP) of power, the Comfort version boasts 115 kW (156 HP) and 175 Nm of torque. With the larger battery, charging speeds of up to 85 kW are possible at fast chargers, while the Dolphin Surf charges at 11 kW using alternating current.
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