BYD Dolphin Surf, from R341 900
BYD's city-friendly hatchback lowered the price of entry to EV ownership in South Africa — and it's since become the country's best-selling EV. Here's the full spec and price breakdown.
The BYD Dolphin Surf — South Africa's best-selling EV.
The EV that broke SA's R400k barrier
Before the Dolphin Surf arrived in September 2025, getting into a new EV in South Africa meant spending at least R400 000 or more. BYD's compact city car — also sold abroad as the Atto 1 or Dolphin Mini — changed that overnight, launching from under R340 000. It's noticeably compact: 3 925 mm long and 1 720 mm wide, roughly the footprint of a Mini Cooper, but with a surprisingly roomy cabin thanks to having no engine or transmission tunnel to work around. It has since gone on to become South Africa's best-selling EV.
Power comes from a single permanent-magnet synchronous motor producing 55 kW and 135 Nm. The entry Comfort derivative uses a 30 kWh BYD Blade battery for a claimed 232 km WLTP range, while the Dynamic steps up to a 38.8 kWh pack for a claimed 295 km WLTP range (BYD also quotes higher city-cycle figures approaching 400 km under gentler driving conditions).
Comfort vs Dynamic
Comfort
R341 900 · 232 km WLTP- 30 kWh Blade battery
- 10.1-inch floating touchscreen
- Multifunction steering wheel
- Keyless entry & start
- Dual front & curtain airbags
Dynamic
R395 900 · 295 km WLTP- 38.8 kWh Blade battery — longer range
- Electrically adjustable front seats
- Adds side airbags
- Everything in Comfort, plus more
BYD Dolphin Surf spec sheet
Powertrain & battery
| Motor | Single permanent-magnet synchronous motor |
| Power | 55 kW |
| Torque | 135 Nm |
| Battery (Comfort) | 30 kWh BYD Blade — 232 km claimed (WLTP) |
| Battery (Dynamic) | 38.8 kWh BYD Blade — 295 km claimed (WLTP) |
Dimensions
| Length | 3 925 mm |
| Width | 1 720 mm |
| Height | 1 590 mm |
Tech & connectivity
| Touchscreen | 10.1-inch, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay |
| App connectivity | BYD App — remote lock/unlock, battery status, cabin pre-conditioning, range tracking |
| Convenience | Multifunction steering wheel, keyless entry & start |
Safety
| Euro NCAP rating | 5 stars |
| Standard (Comfort) | ABS, EBD, ESC, dual front & curtain airbags |
| Additional (Dynamic) | Side airbags |
| Lighting | Auto LED headlamps with Follow Me Home function |
| Other | Electric parking brake, hill-start assist |
Warranty & ownership
| Vehicle warranty | 3 years |
| Battery warranty | 8 years / 200 000 km |
| Service plan | 3 years |
Common questions
Thinking of going electric?
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