Is the BYD Dolphin (Seagull) the cheapest usable EV in Europe?
The Seagull was BYD's answer to 'can we build an urban EV that anyone can afford?' Its export version — the Dolphin Surf — arrived in Europe in mid-2025 and immediately reset the price floor.
What you get
Two trims: Active (30 kWh LFP, 220 km WLTP) and Boost (43.2 kWh, 322 km WLTP). Both use BYD's e-Platform 3.0.
Standard: 8-inch driver display, 10.1-inch centre screen, air conditioning, cruise control, Bosch AEB, lane-keep, rear parking sensors. Heated seats and steering are options.
How it charges
AC: 7 kW single-phase (some markets 11 kW three-phase). DC: 65 kW peak — 10–80% in 30 minutes. Not fast, but perfectly adequate for a car this size.
V2L: 3.3 kW discharge — powers camping gear, e-bikes, appliances. Rare at this price.
The catch
The interior is basic — hard plastics, small boot (308 L), tight rear seats for adults. This is a 4-metre city hatch and it drives like one.
European price at launch: €19,990 (France) for the Active — genuinely cheap by 2026 standards, though local incentives shift the math significantly.
- 01Cheapest 5-star modern EV in Europe.
- 02Real 300+ km range on Boost trim.
- 03Not a road-trip car — it's an excellent urban runabout.
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