Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Pamsimhaho, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Verdict
Citadine électrique de 3,99 m commercialisée en France depuis mai 2025, classée 5 étoiles à l'Euro NCAP, avec 220 à 322 km WLTP selon la batterie. Aucune panne ni aucun rappel documenté n'a été trouvé pour la version européenne, mais le recul est très faible et les retours publiés manquent. Elle est homologuée pour 4 places selon deux sources et son coffre est modeste.
- Reliability
- not rated
- Indicative prices
- €22,600 – €22,600
- Euro NCAP
- 5/5
Which version to choose
Versions to favour: Dolphin Surf Boost 88 ch.
Dolphin Surf Active 88 ch
Electric · Automatic · 88 hp · 15.5 kWh/100 km · Crit'Air green
Entrée de gamme : 88 ch, batterie LFP de 30 kWh, 220 km WLTP et 15,5 kWh/100 km (Automobile Propre), citadine limitée aux trajets urbains.
Dolphin Surf Boost 88 ch
✓ RecommendedElectric · Automatic · 88 hp · Crit'Air green
88 ch avec batterie LFP de 43,2 kWh, jusqu'à 322 km WLTP selon Lesvoitures.fr.
Dolphin Surf Comfort 156 ch
Electric · Automatic · 156 hp · Crit'Air green
156 ch avec la même batterie de 43,2 kWh, 310 km WLTP selon Lesvoitures.fr.
Market prices
€22,600 – €22,600
Indicative range: 2025 à 2026, médianes par année de 46 annonces en ligne relevées par iAutos (années d'au moins 3 annonces).
Collected on 28 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.
Importing this model
Prices abroad
Yearly medians of each country's listings (AutoScout24, in euros; United Kingdom: cinch dealer, in pounds), over years with at least 3 listings. Useful to judge an import (add transport, inspection and registration).
| Country | Range | Median | Gap vs France | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | €22,600 – €22,600 (2025 to 2026) | €22,600 | — | — |
| Germany | €19,999 – €22,670 (2025 to 2026) | €22,670 | 0 % | 220 |
| Spain | €20,490 – €21,181 (2025 to 2026) | €21,181 | -6 % | 19 |
| Italy | €20,150 – €21,900 (2025 to 2026) | €20,275 | -10 % | 42 |
Median gap shown only when the country's estimate covers the same years as the French one. Add transport, roadworthiness test and registration.
You are importing the car to:
Import penalty (malus) in France
- The CO₂ malus follows the scale of the year the vehicle was first registered, in France or abroad (WLTP or NEDC scale depending on its registration certificate).
- For an imported used car, it is reduced by a flat-rate discount based on its age in months (scheme in force since 1 March 2025). The weight malus also applies on first registration in France.
- The malus is zero for a car more than fifteen years old or first registered before 1 January 2015.
Source: BOFiP (French tax doctrine), CO₂ and weight malus · CO2 malus and weight malus: imported used car in France
Paperwork and procedures
- Importing a used car from another EU country: the step-by-step process
- Importing a car from an EU country: all the documents to gather
- Carte grise for an imported car: cost, taxes and the official simulator
- CO2 malus and weight malus: imported used car in France
- Importing a used car from outside the European Union: the steps
- Buying a used car in Germany and bringing it back to France
- Buying a used car in Spain and bringing it back to France
- Buying a used car in Italy and bringing it back to France
Importing and registering in Belgium: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing and registering in Switzerland: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing a car into Switzerland: customs, tax and registration
Importing and registering in Luxembourg: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing and registering in the United Kingdom: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Check an imported car's history
HistoVec only covers the vehicle's life in France. For a car coming from abroad, a VIN-based report helps spot inconsistent mileage or a reported accident.
Check the car's history: 20% off → (new tab)Partner link
Known faults
Recent model: not enough hindsight yet (years, mileage) for faults to be publicly documented, so reliability is not rated. This is no guarantee: have the car checked all the more carefully before buying.
Manufacturer recalls
See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “BYD Dolphin Surf”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.
Battery, range and charging
| Version | Battery | Range | 7.4 kW wallbox (0 to 100%) | Rapid charging (10 to 80%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin Surf Active 88 ch | 30 kWhstated | 220 km WLTP | — | — |
| Dolphin Surf Boost 88 ch | 43.2 kWhstated | — | — | — |
| Dolphin Surf Comfort 156 ch | 43.2 kWhstated | 310 km WLTP | — | — |
Minimum times at the car's maximum accepted power, without losses or the slowdown near full. “—”: not found in our sources.
Battery warranty : Battery warranty not collected yet for this model: ask the seller or the manufacturer.
A 2025 BYD Dolphin Surf (1 year old) keeps about 98% of its original capacity on average: an average loss of 2.3% a year measured on more than 22,700 EVs, higher with a lot of rapid charging. Only a battery test gives a car's real figure. Geotab (new tab)
Inspection checklist
BYD Dolphin Surf I — inspection checklist
Things to check
- Identifier la batterie : 30 kWh (220 km WLTP) ou 43,2 kWh (310 à 322 km), l'autonomie en dépend fortement.
- Demander l'état de santé de la batterie et la date de fin de la garantie constructeur.
- Faire contrôler par un concessionnaire BYD les campagnes de rappel éventuelles avec le numéro de série.
- Vérifier le nombre de places inscrit sur la carte grise : deux sources indiquent une homologation pour 4 places.
- Tester le freinage et les aides à la conduite lors de l'essai.
Questions to ask the seller
- Quelle version est-ce (Active, Boost ou Comfort) et quelle autonomie affiche-t-elle en charge complète ?
- Y a-t-il eu des mises à jour logicielles ou des interventions sous garantie ?
- Pouvez-vous fournir le carnet d'entretien et la facture d'origine en France ?
Test-drive tip: read the fault codes
A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.
Electric or hybrid equivalent
No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost
Alternatives
Photo: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0
BYD Dolphin
I · since 2023
- Price
- €28,140 – €30,490
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Fuel types
- Electric
_front_view_01.png/1280px-2021_Dacia_Spring_Electric_(France)_front_view_01.png)
Photo: Ubi-testet, CC BY 3.0
Dacia Spring
I · since 2021
- Price
- €9,800 – €14,400
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Fuel types
- Electric
Photo: Cutlass, CC0
Citroën C3
III · 2016–2024
- Price
- €6,000 – €11,400
- Reliability
- 2.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Peugeot e-208
II · since 2019
- Price
- €13,690 – €23,345
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Fuel types
- Electric
Photo: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
MG MG4 Electric
I · since 2022
- Price
- €18,999 – €29,880
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Fuel types
- Electric
Photo: Navigator84, CC BY-SA 4.0
BYD Atto 2
I · since 2025
- Price
- €27,890 – €27,980
- Reliability
- not rated
- Fuel types
- Electric
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of parts for the BYD Dolphin Surf I (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.
Frequently asked questions
La BYD Dolphin Surf est-elle sûre ?
Euro NCAP lui a attribué 5 étoiles en septembre 2025, d'après la presse et BYD Europe.
Quelle est l'autonomie de la BYD Dolphin Surf ?
220 km WLTP avec la batterie de 30 kWh (Active), 322 km pour la Boost et 310 km pour la Comfort avec la batterie de 43,2 kWh, selon Lesvoitures.fr.
Quel est le volume de coffre de la Dolphin Surf ?
308 litres, jusqu'à 1 037 litres banquette rabattue, selon la fiche technique d'Automobile Propre.
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