1 day ago
20
BYD has introduced the Dolphin Surf EV as one of the UK’s cheapest cars – not just the cheapest EV, but one of the cheapest new cars of any kind.
Electric Cars
BYD has introduced the Dolphin Surf EV as one of the UK’s cheapest cars – not just the least expensive EV, but one of the most affordable new cars of any kind.
This position could be reflective of the positioning of the Surf – sold in China as the Seagull – in Australia, if it comes here, wearing the beach-themed name.
At present, the cheapest petrol car available in Britain is the Dacia Sandero, which starts from £14,715, or around $AU30,735.
The BYD Dolphin Surf has entered slightly higher, priced from £18,650 ($AU38,950), significantly undercutting the Dolphin hatch, which is priced from £26,195 ($AU54,705).
While prices in the UK are significantly higher than those in Australia, where the Dolphin hatch starts from $29,990 plus on-road costs, the position of the Dolphin Surf as a cheaper model points to the possibility of the Surf arriving not only as Australia’s cheapest EV, but one of the cheapest new cars available.
The least expensive new car in Australia currently (before discounts or drive-away offers) is the Kia Picanto Sport manual, from $18,390 before on-road costs, with the new MG 3 Vibe starting from $21,990 drive-away.
If the Dolphin Surf arrives in Australia with the same 29 per cent lower price than the Dolphin, as per pricing in the UK, it would enter the market at around $22,400.
Not the outright cheapest new car, but low enough to be the third-cheapest, ahead of the Hyundai Venue manual, from $22,750 plus on-road costs.
The Dolphin Surf may not be alone, however, with a potential race for Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle about to re-ignite.
Undercutting the Dolphin Surf in the UK market are the Dacia Spring EV, from £14,995 ($AU31,320) and the Leapmotor T03 from £15,995 ($AU33,410).
The latter is a chance for Australia, with Chinese brand Leapmotor looking to expand its presence here.
While the T03 is not yet confirmed for Australia, the larger C10 medium SUV is already positioned at the more affordable end of the medium SUV class (from $43,888 plus on-road costs) undercut only by the $39,990 BYD Atto 3 Essential and $40,990 Geely EX5 Complete in the electric medium SUV segment.
Without the pressure from another similarly sized model in its line-up, the Leapmotor T03 may not be pressured into an internal price battle in the same way the Dolphin Surf may be.
BYD Australia Head of Product Sajid Hasan, previously stated, “We do aim to pretty much cover every segment, BYD globally has a product in each segment.”
With the BYD Atto 2 already confirmed for the small SUV segment, and a starting price of around $35,000, the brand still has room to slot in a smaller, more affordable model.
Overseas, the entry-level Dolphin Surf is powered by a 30kWh battery, allowing a 220km WLTP-rated driving range. Power is provided by a 65kW front-mounted motor, A longer-range 43.2kWh version (310km WLTP range) and a more powerful 115kW version are also offered.
In Australia, the base model Dolphin Essential hatch has a 340km WLTP range from a 44.9kWh battery, with a 70kW motor driving the front wheels.
Electric Cars Guide
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
