BYD DOLPHIN SURF named Best Small Electric Car for Value at 2026 What Car? Awards
23 January 2026 BYD has started 2026 in a positive fashion, with the DOLPHIN SURF claiming the title of Best Small Electric Car for Value at the prestigious What Car? Awards.
The DOLPHIN SURF’s generous equipment levels, impressive powertrain and competitive pricing have earned the recognition of What Car?’s judges in the biggest annual car awards ceremony in the country.
Commenting on the award, Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?, said:
“While the DOLPHIN SURF isn’t the cheapest electric car you can buy, it’s far more capable than the few models that you can have for less, so well worth the extra. It offers stronger performance, faster charging and a longer range. What’s more, interior quality is a step above what you get in rivals, and it comes with a more user-friendly infotainment system.”
The DOLPHIN SURF is the smallest electric vehicle in BYD’s lineup, but just like its larger range mates, it offers buyers a long list of standard equipment. A rotatable 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay ™, Android Auto™, and built-in navigation, vegan leather seats and a 30kWh battery are all included in the entry-level Active trim, which starts from just £18,675 on the road. The DOLPHIN SURF is covered by a six-year warranty, while the industry-leading Blade Battery is covered for up to eight years or 155,350 miles.
On accepting the prize, Bono Ge, country manager for BYD UK, said:
“We're thrilled to have received this award from the team at What Car?. BYD strongly believes that the DOLPHIN SURF offers buyers class-leading technology at an affordable price, so we take huge pride in the fact that this has been recognised by What Car?’s highly experienced and influential reviewers.”
About BYD
BYD is a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Founded in 1994 as a rechargeable battery maker, BYD now boasts a diverse business scope covering automobiles, rail transit, new energy, and electronics, with over 30 industrial parks in China, the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Hungary, and India. From power acquisition and storage to its applications, BYD is dedicated to providing zero-emission energy solutions that reduce global reliance on fossil fuels. Its new energy vehicle footprint now covers six continents, over 100 countries and regions, and more than 400 cities. Listed in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, the company is known to be a Fortune Global 500 enterprise that furnishes innovations in pursuit of a greener world. For more information, please visit www.bydglobal.com.
About BYD Auto
Founded in 2003, BYD Auto is the automotive subsidiary of BYD, a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Aiming to accelerate the green transition of the global transportation sector, BYD Auto focuses on developing pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company has mastered the core technologies of the entire industrial chain of new energy vehicles, such as batteries, electric motors, electronic controllers, and automotive-grade semiconductors. It has witnessed in recent years significant technological advancements, including the Blade Battery, the DM-i and DM-p hybrid technology, the e-Platform 3.0, the CTB and iTAC technologies, the DiSus Intelligent Body Control System, the XUANJI Architecture, and the Super e-Platform. The company is the world’s first carmaker to stop the production of fossil-fueled vehicles on EV shift and has remained top of new energy passenger vehicle sales in China for 12 years in a row.
About BYD Europe
BYD Europe is headquartered in the Netherlands and is the first overseas branch of BYD Group, with a commitment to evolving the international brand BYD Auto to deliver safe and efficient sustainable solutions in new energy vehicles through world-leading technological innovations.
For more information, please visit www.byd.com.
Contacts:
Mike Gale
Head of PR, BYD UK
E: michael.gale@byd.com
M: +44 7908 905678
Rachel Goodwin
PR Manager, BYD UK
E: rachel.goodwin@byd.com
M: +44 7399 678373
Alex Ingram
Press Officer, BYD UK
E: alex.ingram@byd.com
M: +44 7539 534571
