SOCIAL CREATURES

BYD wants to go viral with its Dolphin Surf, but Hyundai thinks its Inster could be an even bigger social butterfly. We put the small EVs to the test

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HYUNDAI INSTER vs BYD DOLPHIN SURF

Small electric vehicles are finally getting their chance to shine

BARELY 12 months ago, the chances of getting your hands on a small electric car were pretty slim. One or two contenders were around, but more choice at this end of the market - especially where simple, clean EV powertrains designed for urban use make the most sense - will always be welcome.

Two such options have arrived recently: one from a brand that's in a fantastic run of form, the other from a manufacturer that has burst onto the UK market and introduced a range that grows more comprehensive by the month. Hyundai has been one of the best car makers this decade, with its Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric both winning our New Car Awards Car of the Year crown in the past five years.

Its latest electric car is significantly smaller than either of those champions, but not when it comes to personality; the Inster is a quirky-looking electric vehicle that stands out even among some very distinctive new rivals.

Here, it faces off against BYD's Dolphin Surf. The brand's arrival in the UK market has been largely promising, but so far its cars have never quite hit the highs to top their class. Could its smallest and cheapest contender yet be about to change all of that?

ON THE ROAD

FOR such small cars, this pair ride with remarkable compliance, easily making them feel grown up enough to live with every day. The BYD's tiny turning circle makes it great to drive in town, but its steering response and feedback have plenty of room for improvement. The Hyundai's naturalfeeling steering makes it more fun to drive than the BYD, but the Dolphin Surf is quieter at motorway speeds.

TECH HIGHLIGHTS