New Models / 16 September 2025 / Michael Taylor

Say hello to the cheapest electric car in South Africa

The BYD Dolphin Surf has finally arrived in South Africa.

A highly anticipated model, the Dolphin Surf is the smaller counterpart to the BYD Dolphin, which debuted last year.

More importantly, the Surf is considerably cheaper with prices starting at just R339,900 compared to the Dolphin’s sticker of R539,900.

This makes it the most affordable electric vehicle (EV) in the country, undercutting the Dayun S5 by R60,000.

“The BYD Dolphin Surf represents a pivotal moment for electric mobility in South Africa,” said Ming Xing, Brand and Marketing Manager at BYD South Africa.

“We are bringing a truly affordable and well-equipped urban electric vehicle to the mass market. This isn’t just about making EVs available; it’s about making them a viable, attractive option for everyday South Africans.”

Powertrain

The Surf is available in two specifications – Comfort and Dynamic – which dictate the battery size and range.

The Comfort features a 30kWh pack good for 232km, while the Dynamic has a slightly larger 38.8kWh battery that extends the range to 295km.

In either case, the power cells feed power to a front-mounted electric motor that generates 55kW and 135Nm.

Regarding their charging capabilities, the Comfort supports charging speeds up to 30kW DC.

The Dynamic can support a faster speed of 40kW, which the manufacturer claims can achieve a 30 to 80% charge in just under 30 minutes.

Another selling point is vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging – a feature that lets owners use the car’s battery to power external devices

Features

The small hatchback may be considered an entry-level car, but that doesn’t mean it has a bare-bones features list.

Both iterations of the Surf come with 16-inch alloy wheels, electric side mirrors, automatic LED headlights and daytime running lights, and a full-width LED taillight bar.

The boot can take 230 litres of luggage, but this can be expended to 930 litres by folding the rear seats.

It is equipped with keyless entry and start, a multifunction steering wheel, synthetic leather upholstery, a four-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, automatic air conditioning, four speakers, USB Type-A and Type C ports, a 7-inch digital driver display, and a 10.1-inch inch infotainment screen with voice commands, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Chinese EV also has front airbags, side curtain airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, tyre pressure monitoring, cruise control, hill assist, regenerative brakes, rear parking sensors, and a reverse camera.

The Dynamic will throw in a few more features, though its main selling point is its larger battery and improved range.

This version adds front-side airbags, a six-way electric driver’s seat, a four-way manually adjustable front passenger seat, a one-touch electric driver’s window, and a wireless phone charger.