1. Introduction
The BYD Seagull is an all-electric city car produced by Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD since last year. It hit the international markets, including Brazil and Latin America, in 2024 as the “BYD Dolphin Mini.“
The Seagull is below the BYD Dolphin in the brand’s electric vehicle lineup, currently the smallest model compared to its siblings. Therefore, it competes in the A00-class in China, which is equivalent to Europe’s A-segment.
2. New Features in 2024
As mentioned, the Seagull gained a new name, “BYD Dolphin Mini,” overseas in 2024, with more affordable pricing. Its Honor Edition variant starts at approximately $9,700. Apart from these, there are no major feature updates for the 2024 model year.
3. Design and Aesthetics:
A. Exterior design and style
It integrates multiple sharp lines, angular-shaped headlights, and a sloping roofline with rear lamps attached to a light bar.
It comes with a quirky single windshield wiper, a low bonnet line, huge headlights, conventional l door handles, and a large roof spoiler.
It also has plastic inserts on its doors and C-pillars, a rear spoiler, and 16″ alloy wheels, giving it a sporty appearance despite its high profile.
B. Interior design and materials
The BYD Seagull has a 4-seater, 5-door design in a hatchback body structure. It offers a spacious interior with a boost in the wheelbase-to-length ratio at 66%, a 2 percentage points increase from the Dolphin’s 64%.
The Seagull dashboard features a two-tone ‘wing’ design inspired by the Ocean series. It has a rotatable 10.1″ touchscreen infotainment system and a 7″ digital instrument cluster, which offer a minimalist interior design.
C. Build quality and fit and finish
BYD has a reputation for equipping its offerings with high-quality materials despite their cheap pricing. The interior of the 2024 Seagull will also surely come with a mix of soft-touch materials, leather, and metal accents.
D. Ergonomics and comfort
The BYD Seagull is an easy model to use to find the ideal driving position, even with irregularities such as strange gearshift control through a kind of switch on the dashboard.
It offers a wide range of comfort features, including the following:
- Air-conditioning
- Electric windows, locks, and mirrors
- Leather seats with electric adjustment for the driver
- Steering column adjustable for height and depth
- A digital dashboard
- In-person key
- A wireless phone charger
E. Cargo space and storage
It has a minimal 230-liter boot space, as the brand designers focused more on passenger space. With dimensions of 148.8 x 67.5 x 60.6 inches, the Seagull boasts a spacious interior and a sleek exterior.
4. Performance and Driving Dynamics:
A. Powertrain and battery specifications
It features a front-mounted electric motor with a total output of 55kW and 135Nm of torque.
It uses a 38kWh lithium-ferrous phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade’ battery that enables a driving range of 280 km (Brazil’s PBEV standard).
B. Acceleration and top speed
It can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 14.9 seconds. It has a top speed of 130km/h.
C. Handling and ride quality
The 2024 BYD Dolphin Mini is more suitable for urban driving than long-distance trips. It has a high driving position, and its electrically adjustable seat enables a good range of adjustment. The steering column also offers a very precise adjustment system.
D. Braking performance
Its light steering and small dimensions make it easy to maneuver and navigate even narrow streets and slow-moving traffic. It also comes with very efficient hydraulic brakes.
E. Regenerative braking
The sensitivity setting of its energy regeneration system also does not change much, as the performance remains reserved even in the most extreme circumstances.
5. Range, Charging, and Efficiency:
a. EPA-estimated range and real-world range
The BYD Seagull comes with an estimated driving range of 405 km. No available data about its EPA range. Meanwhile, presented below are the model’s real-world range estimates:
Range | Consumption | |
| 90kmh/56mph perfect condition | 247km / 153 mi | 15 kWh/100km / 4,1 mi/kWh |
| 90kmh/56mph with 2KW heating | 222km /134mi | 17,2 kWh/100km /3,6 mi/kWh |
| 70mph/112kmh perfect condition | 206 km / 128 mi | 18 kWh/100km / 3,5 mi/kWh |
| 70mph/112kmh with 2KW heating | 187km / 116mi | 19,8 kWh/100km / 3,1 mi/kWh |
| 120kmh/75mph perfect condition | 195 km / 121 mi | 19 kWh/100km / 3,3 mi/kWh |
| 120kmh/75mph with 2KW heating | 179 km /111mi | 20,7 kWh/100km /3,0 mi/kWh |
B. Charging options and infrastructure
It is compatible with a DC charging port with a maximum output of 40kW, which can be charged from 30% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, its AC charging speed is rated at 6.6kW.
C. Energy consumption and efficiency
It has a CLTC-rated range of 405 km (252 mi) with an energy consumption of 9,14kWh/100km / mi/kWh.
6. Infotainment and Connectivity:
A. Dashboard and instrument cluster
Following the brand’s Ocean series design, the Seagull’s dashboard features a ‘wing’ layout portraying a seagull’s wing with a two-tone design.
It has a rotatable 10.1″ touchscreen infotainment system and a 7″ digital instrument cluster.
B. Infotainment system and features
As mentioned, it offers a rotatable 10.1″ touchscreen infotainment system and a 7″ digital instrument cluster. It comes with an on-board voice assistant – activated by a button on the steering wheel or simply saying “Hi, BYD.”
C. Smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto)
It supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
E. Over-the-air software updates
The 2024 BYD Seagull (BYD Dolphin Mini) also supports over-the-air software updates and satellite navigation, among others.
7. Safety and Driver Assistance:
A. Driver assistance and safety systems (ADAS)
It offers the following driver assistance and safety systems:
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
- Intelligent Speed Limit Alarm (ISLI)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Its safety package also offers LED headlights and taillights with automatic lighting, a driving mode selector with three modes (Eco, Normal, and Sport), an automatic speed controller, a reversing camera, and rear parking sensors.
It also has six side and curtain airbags in the cabin, in addition to the obligatory traction and stability controls.
8. Reliability, Maintenance, and Warranty:
A. Reliability and build quality concerns
There is not a lot of information available yet on the reliability and build quality of the BYD Seagull, as it is a new model expected to be released in 2024.
B. Maintenance and service requirements
BYD likely has not yet released a 2024 maintenance schedule for the Seagull (Dolphin Mini).
C. Warranty coverage and options
There is a lifetime warranty for the electric system (first owner). The warranty period for the entire vehicle is 6 years or 150.000 km.
D. Insurance costs and considerations
No data.
E. Resale value and depreciation
No data.
9. Comparison to Competitors:
A. Comparison against competitors
| 2024 BYD Seagull | Citroën ë-C3 | |
| Battery | 38kWh | 44.0 kWh |
| Range | 280 km (Brazil’s PBEV standard) | 300 km (WLTP) |
| Top Speed | 130km/h | 135 km/h |
| Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h | 14.9 sec | 11.0 sec |
| Price | 8.870 euros | 23,300 euros |
As you can observe in the table above, the Citroën ë-C3 boasts a more powerful performance compared to the 2024 BYD Seagull. However, the latter is way more affordable at only 8.870 euros compared to the ë-C3’s 23,300 euros pricing.
10. Variants and Pricing:
A. Available trims, options, and pricing
The 2024 BYD Seagull (Dolphin Mini) costs 115,800 BRC before incentives in the Mexican market or approximately $35,000 in Australia.
The BYD Seagull or Dolphin Mini might be an ideal option for those who want to try battery-powered cars without spending too much money. It may serve as a good second car for families, but it may not be typically purchased as a primary vehicle due to its limitations, especially in range.
11. Conclusion:
The 2024 BYD Dolphin Mini is a subcompact car with good internal space, decent equipment, and a range comparable to larger electric cars. This makes it a great option for those who only need one car in their household. The most attractive feature of this car is its competitive price, which makes it a genuine alternative to traditional combustion-engined city cars.
BYD’s Seagull or Dolphin Mini is undoubtedly an enticing electric car for budget-conscious customers. Despite its affordability, it offers a sufficient driving range and a wide range of technologies like a 10.1″ rotating touchscreen, DiLink intelligent connectivity, etc. However, its small build limits the interior space for both passengers and cargo. Therefore, customers who value speed and interior space may not find the Seagull the perfect choice.
