BYD Dolphin Surf

FIRST DRIVE Chinese giant aims to make a splash in the electric small-car market with its rival to the Dacia Spring and Renault 5

- Steve Walker

THE Dolphin Surf electric city car arrives as the entry-level model in BYD's expanding UK model range, sitting below the Dolphin supermini and the Atto 2 small SUV. The giant firm already dominates its home market in China and has openly outlined its ambitions to become the world's biggest car maker in very short order. To do so, it plans to sell a whole load of Dolphin Surf models in markets around the globe. To help lower costs on European models, it's building them in Hungary.

BYD's effort is priced from around £18,000, splitting the difference between stripped-out econoboxes like the Dacia Spring and urban trendsetters such as the Renault 5. It's also on the large side for a city car, very close to four metres long and with a 308-litre boot. So again, BYD looks to have constructed a solid on-paper value proposition with which to lure buyers who are as yet unfamiliar with the brand.

The car looks strong on technology as well. The Dolphin Surf uses BYD's e-Platform 3.0 underpinnings that incorporate its trademark 'Blade' battery technology. This clever system has cells that act as structural elements of the battery, improving rigidity while saving weight and cost.

BYD has also flexed its muscles as a world-leading EV component manufacturer in creating what it claims is a world first eight-in-one electric powertrain system. This combines the electric motor, charger and other units into a single module that boosts efficiency, saving a lot of the space that is so crucial in a small car.