BYD's latest electric is a VW-beater for buyers on a budget

A wave of reasonably affordable electric cars is rolling into Europe and Build Your Dreams (BYD) is riding the crest.

In Germany, Volkswagen is still fettling the ID.2 which will sell for around €25,000 and the Wolfsburg-based company is tight-lipped about the bargain ID.1 which is pitched at under €20,000.

Renault has only just announced the Twingo for under €20,000, while the Chinese are surging ahead with the Dolphin Surf which beats them all on price.

The Dolphin is a zesty urban runabout with a more mature feeling than many of its competitors.

It is more expensive than electric economy models like the Dacia Spring or the Leapmotor T03, but punters get a "proper car" for their money.

Standing at 3.99 metres with a wheelbase of 2.50 metres, the BYD is a full-fledged four-seater rather than a micro-car. It also comes across as mature when driving.

The narrow track and small wheels do make it seem a little nervous sometimes and it struggles to cope with ruts. Unfortunately, the suspension is sometimes fazed by larger potholes too but the steering is precise and the brakes have refreshing bite.

The manufacturer has programmed three different driving profiles and two levels for brake recuperation, even if it is not quite enough to enable genuine one-pedal driving. When the driver takes his or her foot off the accelerator pedal the car decelerates but does not come to a standstill.

BYD has bolted two different electric motors to the front axle. The base model has a magnet motor with 65 kW/88 hp and the top-of-the-range version has one delivering a more sprightly 115 kW/156 hp.

Although there is a three-second difference in sprint times between the two variants, the more powerful of the two is pleasantly lively like most modern electric cars and it will usually pull away first at the traffic lights. Outside the city, both of them run out of urge at 150 km/h anyway.

This is on par for the electric world, but it might not be enough for many drivers used to combustion engines. And compared to the similarly stubby Firefly from Nio, for example, the BYD is less manoeuvrable and agile.

The key differences are in the batteries. In the basic model, the LFP cells only have a capacity of 30 kWh and they have to be recharged after 220 standard kilometres. They take plenty of time to juice up too at the DC charging station with a maximum of 65 kW on tap.

Hand over €26,990 and BYD will supply you with a car that has 43.2 kWh and which promises a more acceptable 322 kilometres of range.

According to the developers, over 500 kilometres should be possible in city traffic which is enough to make the Dolphin a suitable commuter or second car.

Besides the mediocre charging performance, the choice of materials bears witness to the Chinese company's rigorous cost-cutting. The plastics in the doors and on the dashboard do look a bit cheap and nasty for those used to more premium interiors.

Inside there is a surprising amount of space for passengers and luggage. Kids at least will be comfortable in the second row and the boot, with 308 to 1,037 litres, is quite acceptable for this class.

There is no shortage of equipment included in the list price either. Like all BYD models, the Dolphin Surf has a rotating touchscreen next to the steering wheel, even if it is hardly bigger than a postcard.

There is a digital key for your mobile phone or smartwatch, climate control and camera and, in the more expensive variants, even extras such as automatic distance control or lane guidance assistance.

Sadly this budget did not allow for an array of sensor fields in the steering wheel or door consoles. The keep-it-simple layout with physical buttons and controls mean though that even those older drivers who grew up with a dial telephone will still be able to operate this car.

No, the Dolphin is not the cheapest electric car nor the best small car on the market, and the low price is no excuse for its lamentable charging performance.

That said, the format and performance are suitable for everyday use and the overall ambience and equipment are better than most other cars in this price segment.

Anyone who was previously happy with the likes of a VW Polo will take to this car too. The smallest BYD could actually become a big player in the European market and once again outshine VW & co.