Four seats can be enough in a small electric car. Until the day you need to give somebody an unexpected lift, and suddenly that empty space between the rear passengers becomes rather frustrating.
BYD has addressed that problem with the updated Dolphin Surf.
The 2026 model is now available with five seats, adding a third position across the rear bench. Each passenger gets an adjustable headrest, although three adults sitting across the back of such a small car would still be a tight arrangement.
The original four-seat version isn’t disappearing. BYD intends to offer both configurations, depending on demand in individual markets.
The company has also made changes that existing owners might appreciate more than an additional seat.
Take the gear selector. Previously positioned on the dashboard, it now sits on the steering column. That frees up space around the central controls and changes how the driver interacts with the cabin.
The steering wheel has been redesigned, too.
Heating is now standard on Boost and Comfort versions, while the Boost also gains heated front seats. Every Dolphin Surf receives automatic climate control.
Those aren’t particularly glamorous improvements. They’re the sort of things that become noticeable during a cold morning commute.
The Comfort model gets a larger 12.8-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, including Maps, Assistant and access to applications through the Play Store.
Its digital instrument display grows from seven to 8.8 inches.
Elsewhere, BYD has replaced the previous combination of USB-A and USB-C connections with two USB-C ports. A luggage cover is now standard, and the entry-level Active receives 16-inch alloy wheels instead of steel ones.
The boot still holds 308 litres. Mechanically, little has changed.
Active models retain a 30 kWh battery and an official WLTP range of 220 kilometres. Boost and Comfort use a larger 43.2 kWh pack, delivering 322 and 310 kilometres respectively.
The Comfort is quicker, reaching 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds, compared with 12.1 seconds for the Boost.
DC charging peaks at 65 kW for the Active and 85 kW for the larger-battery versions. BYD quotes 31 minutes for a 10-to-80-percent charge on the latter.
There’s a new Skiing White paint option, plus revised upholstery choices.
None of these changes fundamentally alters the Dolphin Surf. It’s still a compact electric hatchback intended primarily for urban use.
But BYD has clearly listened to customers asking for a little more flexibility.
The fifth seat might not be used every day. Having it available could make the difference between choosing the Dolphin Surf and buying something larger.