BYD is overhauling its cheapest EV, and it’s bigger than expected

The Seagull, which starts at about $10,000 in China, is getting an overhaul. And the upgrades are even bigger than expected.

BYD Seagull EV is due for an overhaul

Sold as the Dolphin Surf in places like Europe and the UK, and as the Dolphin Mini in other global markets, the Seagull is BYD’s lowest-priced electric car.

BYD is known for its low-cost vehicles, but the Seagull is much cheaper than anything you can get your hands on in the US.

In China, it starts at just 69,900 yuan, or about $10,000. The most affordable in the US, on the other hand, is the 2026 Hyundai Venue, which you can buy for just over $20,000. Even in Europe, the Dolphin Surf starts at just €22,900.

The electric hatch is not only one of BYD’s most popular vehicles, but it’s also among the top-selling EVs in the world.

In the first half of 2026, the Seagull, along with the Dolphin Surf and Mini, ranked as the world’s sixth-best-selling EV. BYD sold over 152,000 units through June, according to data from Cleantechnica.

BYD is overhauling the electric hatch for its second generation to compete with the new wave of entry-level EVs hitting the market.

Zhang Zhuo, general manager of BYD’s Ocean series, revealed the first official images of the new Seagull last week in a series of design sketches previewing the new interior and exterior.

Translated into English, one of the interior captions read: “Brand new layout” and “Space size expands together.”

BYD has yet to announce any official details, but Zhuo revealed at the Chengdu Auto Show last month that the second-gen model will be named the “Great Seagull” and will go on sale by the end of 2026.

We knew the second-gen Seagull would be a bigger variant, hence the “Great,” after the new variant appeared in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) regulatory filing in August.

According to the filing, the new Seagull measures 4,205 mm long, 1,810 mm wide, and 1,570 mm high, with a 2,650 mm wheelbase.

Compared to the current model, the second-gen Seagull is 425 mm longer with a 150 mm longer wheelbase. The current Seagull is only 3,780 mm long.

The filing also revealed it will use a more powerful 95 kW (127 hp) electric motor, up from the 55 kW (75 hp) the current Seagull offers.

We’ve also seen spy images of the upgraded model testing in public with roof-mounted LiDAR, suggesting the second-gen Seagull will offer more advanced smart driving assistance capabilities, such as BYD’s God’s Eye B system.

A report from China’s Autohome on Monday revealed new images of the second-generation Seagull EV.

The report also said the new Seagull will switch to a rear-mounted electric motor, replacing the front motor the current model uses. The change will open up space in the front trunk, or frunk.

BYD has yet to confirm details, but local reports suggest higher-priced variants may feature its latest Blade LFP Batteries 2.0 and 5-minute Flash Charging technology.

Inside, the second-gen Seagull adopts BYD’s new interior design. The setup includes a larger center infotainment screen, a two-spoke steering wheel, and a redesigned center console to create more space.

While the infotainment screen appears slightly larger, the spy images or sketches released by Zhuo show no instrument cluster. It does include an added row of physical buttons below the infotainment.

It has yet to be confirmed, but following its launch in China, BYD is expected to introduce the larger second-gen electric hatch overseas, likely as the new Dolphin Surf or Mini.

If and when the new Dolphin Surf launches, it will likely start at about €30,000 ($35,000) in Europe, given that the current model starts at €22,900 ($26,500).

Source: Autohome