The BYD Seagull has grown by 42.5 cm and now comes with massage features and LiDAR. The affordable electric vehicle is upgrading its class.
BYD revealed the interior of the second-generation Seagull on September 30, 2026, known in Europe as the Dolphin Surf. The vehicle is 4,205 mm long, has an engine producing 95 kW of power, and comes equipped with features we wouldn’t expect from the brand’s most affordable electric car.
The current Seagull costs 69,900 yuan in China, which is approximately 40,000 zł. In Europe, the Dolphin Surf starts at around 97,500 zł.
The low price pays off. Seagull, Dolphin Surf, and Dolphin Mini ranked sixth among the best-selling electric cars in the world in the first half of 2026. According to CleanTechnica, BYD delivered over 152,000 units by the end of June.
The Great Seagull is larger in every aspect
The first official sketches of the body and cabin were released a week earlier by Zhang Zhuo, the general manager of the Ocean series. They came with slogans like “Brand new layout” and “Space size expands together,” signaling a new interior layout and more spacious interior. At the August Chengdu Auto Show, the manager also revealed the name Great Seagull and the target launch date of before the end of 2026.
We learned about its dimensions earlier, as the vehicle appeared in August documents from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, MIIT. The new Seagull is 4,205 mm long, 1,810 mm wide, and 1,570 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,650 mm.
Compared to the current model, the body is 425 mm longer, and the wheelbase is 150 mm greater. This is no longer just a cosmetic change. The current Seagull is only 3,780 mm long.
The engine power will increase from 55 kW, 75 HP to 95 kW, 127 HP. Autohome reported on September 28 that the drive will be shifted from the front axle to the rear axle. The freed space is used for a front trunk with a capacity of 94 liters, which BYD describes as rare in this class. The total trunk space is expected to reach 1,380 liters.
Massage, LiDAR and screens instead of dials
BYD describes the new generation with the slogan “Growing Up means living up to expectations.” Inside, we find ambient lighting, electrically adjustable front seats with massage functions, and a larger sofa offering more legroom. However, the manufacturer has not provided specific interior dimensions.
The cockpit will feature a larger central screen, a two-spoke steering wheel, and a redesigned console. There will be no separate driver display, so driving parameters will appear on the multimedia screen. Physical buttons will remain below it.
Prototypes have also been spotted with a LiDAR on the roof. This could indicate BYD’s God’s Eye B driving assistance system, but the manufacturer has not confirmed it yet. Local reports suggest that higher-end versions will also feature Blade LFP 2.0 batteries and 5-minute Flash Charging technology. For now, these are unofficial details, as is the reported European price of around 30,000 euros.
Sales will begin in China before the end of 2026. BYD has not yet announced the launch date of the Dolphin Surf’s successor in Europe, nor the battery capacity, range, or charging specifications. It will be these figures that determine whether the Great Seagull remains a budget city car or has become a much more expensive compact vehicle.
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