BYD Dolphin Mini

Model Overview

The BYD Seagull is an all-electric micro-hatchback (A00-segment) under BYD's Ocean Series, officially rolled out in April 2023. Positioned as a "national premium runabout", it targets the urban commuter market in the RM60,000 to RM90,000 price bracket and is the first A00-segment model built on BYD's dedicated e-Platform 3.0. The 2026 Seagull officially went on sale on 11 May of the same year, offering four core variants with official recommended retail prices ranging from RM69,900 to RM85,900. Notably, the 305km Free Edition and 405km Flying Edition can be optionally equipped with a LiDAR-based smart driving system, bringing their prices to RM90,900 and RM97,900 respectively—making it the first A00-segment EV in the industry to offer a LiDAR option. In terms of dimensions, the 5-door, 4-seater hatchback measures 3,780 mm in length, 1,715 mm in width, and 1,540 mm in height, with a 2,500 mm wheelbase. By May 2026, cumulative sales of the Seagull surpassed 1.38 million units within 27 months of its debut, establishing itself as a benchmark among Chinese domestic marques in the A00-segment EV space.

Design Language

Styled around BYD's "Marine Aesthetics" design philosophy, the Seagull sports a compact and dynamic silhouette. The 2026 model carries forward the signature profile of its predecessor while introducing several refined aesthetic tweaks. Up front, a closed-off grille is flanked by sharp LED headlamps, complemented by blacked-out accents on the lower intake for a sportier, more upscale front fascia. Sharp character lines run along the flanks, where a forward-raked stance enhances its athletic proportions. The exterior palette introduces two fresh colourways—Mango Orange and Mint Green—alongside three existing classics: Warm Sun White, Peach Pink, and Sprout Green. Apart from the entry-level variant, all trims now ride on new 16-inch "Star-burst" alloy wheels, while the illuminated "BYD" rear emblem has been seamlessly integrated into the light bar assembly for a cleaner, more cohesive tailgate design. Thanks to its diminutive footprint and a tight turning radius of just 4.95 metres, the Seagull darts effortlessly through congested city streets and slips easily into tight parking spots.

Inside, the 2026 Seagull places strong emphasis on personalisation and daily comfort. Taking centre stage on the dashboard is a standard 12.8-inch floating HD infotainment touchscreen across the range (upgraded from the previous 10.1-inch unit), powered by the latest high-tier DiLink 150 smart cockpit system. Drivers get either a 7.0-inch or an 8.8-inch fully digital instrument cluster depending on the variant. A new Oatmeal Beige interior theme joins the line-up alongside existing colour combinations such as Deep Sea Blue and Dune Pink, trimmed with soft-touch materials that lend the cabin a cosy, welcoming vibe. The steering wheel's centre boss swaps out gloss black plastic for supple soft padding with a streamlined switchgear layout, while an openable centre armrest storage box has been added below the console to provide both arm support and concealed stowage. Seating has also been upgraded from the previous one-piece bucket seats to conventional seats with separate 3-way adjustable headrests, paired with revised quilting and optimised ergonomic contouring for improved occupant support on longer journeys.

Powertrain and Performance

The Seagull is driven by a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous electric motor that has undergone continuous refinements. Mainstream variants deliver a maximum output of 55 kW (approx. 75 PS) and 135 Nm of torque, while top-spec variants get an uprated motor pushing 70 kW (approx. 95 PS); both complete the 0–50 km/h city sprint in 4.9 seconds. Top speed is capped at 130 km/h, perfectly suited for daily urban and highway commuting. Energy is supplied by BYD's proprietary lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery across the board, available in two capacity options: a 30.08 kWh pack offering a CLTC range of 305 km, and a 38.88 kWh pack rated for 405 km on the CLTC cycle. For charging, DC fast charging is supported across the range at 30 kW to 40 kW, taking roughly 30 minutes to juice up from 30% to 80% state of charge (SOC), while AC regular charging takes around 6 hours. A 3.3 kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) mobile power station feature comes standard across all variants, allowing users to run electrical appliances during outdoor camping trips. Employing a front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout, the electric drive unit and battery pack are centrally packaged within the floorpan, delivering a low and balanced centre of gravity. Energy consumption is rated at an economical 10.8 kWh/100 km, ensuring wallet-friendly daily running costs.

Chassis and Handling

Underneath, the Seagull employs a practical suspension setup comprising front MacPherson struts and a rear torsion beam, paired with a front-wheel-drive configuration. Built upon BYD's dedicated e-Platform 3.0 electric vehicle architecture, the floor-integrated Blade Battery acts as a structural member to enhance body rigidity and keep the centre of gravity low. The suspension is tuned primarily for comfort, soaking up minor road imperfections effectively on paved urban roads; combined with a sub-3.8-metre length and a 2,500 mm wheelbase, the car demonstrates agile and surefooted handling in town. Its electric power steering (EPS) is light and effortless at low speeds for stress-free parking and city manoeuvres, with self-centring weighting building up progressively at higher speeds for better cruising stability. Stopping power comes from ventilated front discs and solid rear discs, backed by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold as standard. Tyres are sized at 165/65 R15 on base variants, while mid-to-high trims step up to 175/55 R16 rubber. While the chassis excels at urban ride comfort and agility, local reviews note that high-speed cruising refinement feels somewhat hollow, and the rear torsion beam suspension can feel unsettled over harsher road undulations.

Cabin and Equipment

Every 2026 Seagull comes equipped with the advanced DiLink 150 smart cockpit system, displayed on a 12.8-inch floating touchscreen with a redesigned UI that delivers noticeably slicker response times and crisper graphics. The infotainment suite supports deeply integrated AutoNavi navigation, 3D digital car control, ONE ID personalised profile switching, full-scenario intelligent voice control, and a 3:7 split-screen layout; 4G telematics, OTA software updates, and an app store are also on board, accompanied by standard NFC smartphone keyless entry and Bluetooth digital keys. On the creature comforts front, automatic climate control is now fitted as standard across the range, joining features like a 50W wireless smartphone charging pad, 4-way tilt-and-telescopic steering adjustment (except base trim), 6-way power-adjustable driver's seat (mid-to-high trims), heated front seats, front separate-headrest seats (3-way adjustable), and 4-speed variable opposed windscreen wipers. Storage and charging provisions are well thought out, including an overhead sunglass compartment, front Type-A and Type-C ports, and a rear Type-C socket. The audio setup features 4 speakers on entry grades and 6 speakers on higher-spec trims. Boot capacity stands at a practical 200 to 300 litres in standard guise, expanding up to 930 litres with the single-piece folding rear bench dropped flat. With around 17 dedicated storage cubbies scattered across the cabin, it easily swallows everyday odds and ends.

Safety and Advanced Driver Assistance

Safety equipment on the 2026 Seagull has received a substantial upgrade. In terms of passive safety, 6 airbags (dual front, front side, and full-length side curtain airbags) are now standard across all variants—a significant step up from the previous 4-airbag setup. The chassis incorporates an EV-dedicated high-strength safety cell, with high-strength steel making up 61% of the body structure alongside hot-stamped ultra-high-strength steel in critical load paths to deliver comprehensive crash protection. Active safety is equally well-catered for, with all variants boasting a 360-degree HD panoramic camera, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Traction Control (TCS), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and rear parking sensors. Variants specified with the LiDAR package further add Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Driver Monitoring System (DMS), Front and Rear Collision Warning, and additional active hazard mitigation features.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) form the standout highlight of the 2026 update. Buyers can option the "Eye of the Gods" B - LiDAR Assisted Driving package (DiPilot 300), which packs a roof-mounted LiDAR unit, 5 millimetre-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, 8 HD cameras, and an NVIDIA Orin N computing chip (84 TOPS). This hardware suite powers City Navigation on Autopilot (CNOA), allowing the vehicle to autonomously handle traffic light recognition with real-time countdown displays, dynamic obstacle avoidance, courteous yielding, intersection gap negotiation, and roundabout navigation. Standard non-LiDAR 305km Free Edition and 405km Flying Edition models come factory-fitted with the "Eye of the Gods" C - Tri-focal Vision package (DiPilot 100), delivering Highway Navigation on Autopilot and full-scenario automated parking assist. By bringing LiDAR tech down into the A00 segment for the first time, the 2026 Seagull spearheads the "democratisation of smart driving", though market reception to its RM12,000 optional package remains to be seen.

Market Performance and Reception

The Seagull enjoyed its peak market momentum in 2024, consistently shifting 40,000 to 50,000 units per month and frequently topping the domestic new energy passenger car sales leaderboard. In 2025, total annual deliveries reached 529,500 units, cementing its undisputed leadership in the compact EV segment. However, the model faced strong headwinds in the first quarter of 2026: January sales dropped sharply to 5,329 units, dipping further to 5,856 units in February—a steep 78.1% year-on-year plunge that saw it fall out of the top 10 new energy passenger car rankings for the first time; despite a rebound to 14,409 units in March following aggressive dealer discounts, deliveries were still down 57.58% YoY. This sales contraction was primarily driven by cut-throat competition: chief adversary Geely Xingyuan, armed with standout USPs including a 2,650 mm wheelbase, a 5-seater cabin, a 14.6-inch touchscreen, and the FlymeAuto infotainment OS, racked up 27,362 sales in the first two months of 2026 alone—nearly 4.7 times the Seagull's volume; simultaneously, fresh rivals like the Wuling Bingo Pro and Chery QQ3 EV entered the fray, pushing segment rivalry to a fever pitch.

To counter this pressure, BYD executed a two-pronged counter-offensive: first, rolling out aggressive price cuts on the 2025 Honor Edition to pull entry-level transaction prices down to around RM55,000; second, fast-tracking the launch of the 2026 model, armed with optional LiDAR, upgraded DiLink 150 software, a standard 12.8-inch display, 6 airbags, and auto climate control across the range to reclaim its benchmark status as the go-to premium city runabout. On the consumer front, owners consistently praise the safety record of the Blade Battery, the proven reliability of BYD's integrated EV powertrain, the snappiness of the smart cockpit, and the peace of mind offered by the lifetime battery warranty (unlimited mileage and duration) for first non-commercial owners. On the flip side, common owner feedback highlights mediocre bump absorption from the rear torsion beam, floaty high-speed composure, spartan equipment on base variants, and somewhat limited rear legroom for taller adults due to its 2,500 mm wheelbase.

Beyond its strong domestic footprint, the Seagull has made substantial inroads internationally: it achieved 21,968 vehicle registrations in Brazil to become the best-selling EV in the country, and in May 2025, staged simultaneous market debuts across 15 European nations (including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Poland, and Switzerland), officially kicking off its global expansion drive. As the world's first A00-segment vehicle to offer optional LiDAR hardware, the 2026 Seagull brings cutting-edge semi-autonomous urban navigation down to the entry-level city car segment, redefining what drivers can expect from a daily runabout while setting a new benchmark for accessible smart mobility.