00:00Welcome to the new video from the Car Magazine Tuning Blog.
00:03Today we're talking about the BYD Dolphin Surf.
00:07An electric compact car from China that's causing a stir with an entry-level price of under 20,000 euros.
00:14While European manufacturers are still hesitating or merely making announcements,
00:18BYD is already bringing the affordable iCar onto the road.
00:23The Dolphin Surf clearly shows how serious the Chinese manufacturer is about its electric offensive,
00:28and at a price that seems almost utopian here in Germany.
00:34In fact, the Dolphin Surf was still available for under 20,000 euros at its market launch,
00:39which made it the cheapest fully-fledged electric car on the European market,
00:43at least in terms of calculations.
00:46However, as of July 1st, the price was raised to around 23,000 euros.
00:52Still an unbeatable offer when you look at the other models in this segment.
00:58By comparison, Volkswagen has not even presented the ID.2 ready for series production yet,
01:04let alone the ID.1 planned for under 20,000 euros.
01:09Renault has also only announced an affordable Twingo so far.
01:13BYD, on the other hand, delivers, and is so with a car that can do more than just look good.
01:18With a length of around 4 meters and a wheelbase of around 2.5 meters,
01:24the Dolphin Surf offers a compact format without feeling too small.
01:29In fact, it presents itself on the road with a much more mature feel than other electric models.
01:34Although its narrow track and small wheels make it seem a bit nervous,
01:40especially in ruts, the chassis irons out uneven surfaces with ease.
01:46The steering is direct and the braking system is refreshingly powerful.
01:51The handling is also far superior to its price point.
01:54Although it still lacks a little bit of a one-paddle feeling,
01:58the two adjustable acceleration levels at least allow for comfortable deceleration
02:02by simply lifting the accelerator pedal.
02:07Customers can choose between two drivetrain variants.
02:11The basic version has 88 horsepower, while the top model delivers 156 horsepower.
02:16This is also noticeable in the acceleration behavior.
02:20When starting from a traffic light,
02:22the more powerful Dolphin Surf pulls away pleasantly quickly.
02:26The top speed of both versions is limited to around 150 kilometers per hour.
02:32This is perfectly adequate for city traffic and cross-country journeys,
02:36although it may take some getting used to for die-hard combustion engine drivers.
02:42Compared to the similarly sized Firefly from NIO,
02:44however, the Dolphin seems a little less manageable,
02:48which is due to its more comfort-oriented setup.
02:51However, the decisive factors in an electric car are not only performance and design,
02:56but above all the battery.
02:58Here too, BYD offers two options.
03:01The basic version comes with LFP cells and a capacity of around 30 kWh.
03:06This gives a range of around 220 kilometers in the standard cycle.
03:11In practice, it will probably be less.
03:13Charging is done at a maximum of 65 kilowatts,
03:16which is quite slow by today's standards.
03:21Those who can invest more, starting at around 27,000 euros,
03:25can get a battery with over 43 kWh,
03:28which charges at up to 85 kW and ideally enables a range of over 320 kilometers.
03:34In city traffic, it should even be able to cover over 500 kilometers.
03:38This is definitely an option for commuters or as a second car.
03:43But how does BYD manage to offer an electric car with so much technology at such low prices?
03:49The main savings were made on materials.
03:52The plastics in the interior look cheap, especially in the doors and on the dashboard.
03:56A frunk, i.e. a small additional trunk under the hood, has also been omitted.
04:03Even a simple trunk cover is missing.
04:07In return, the Dolphin Surf impresses with its use of space.
04:11The backseat offers enough space even for larger children
04:14and the trunk has a capacity of between just over 300 and more than 1,000 L.
04:18Perfectly acceptable for this vehicle class.
04:23And BYD is generous in terms of equipment.
04:26Even the basic version has a rotatable touchscreen,
04:29which, although not particularly large, is still functional.
04:35There are digital keys via smartphone or smartwatch,
04:39air conditioning, reversing camera,
04:40and in the higher spec models even assistance systems
04:43such as adaptive cruise control or lane departure warning.
04:48Excessive sensors in the steering wheel or door panels have been omitted,
04:53but this makes operation easier and more intuitive,
04:55especially for less tech-savvy users.
04:58Anyone familiar with an old rotary dial telephone will also be able to handle this.
05:04Of course, the Dolphin Surf is not the best electric car,
05:07nor is it the most luxurious small car.
05:09Its charging capacity could be improved,
05:12and the hard plastic in the interior is not very pleasant.
05:15However, the overall package of format,
05:19everyday usability, performance, and equipment
05:21makes it a serious competitor in this price range.
05:26For anyone who was previously satisfied with a polo,
05:29the Dolphin Surf is a fully-fledged replacement,
05:31only electric.
05:33Whether the little BYD will be a big success remains to be seen.
05:37But with its affordable price,
05:41well-thought-out concept,
05:42and comparatively generous amount of space,
05:44it definitely has what it takes to secure a firm foothold in the European market.
05:50At least until the European competition finally delivers.
05:53You can find the link to read the article in the video description.
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