BYD Dolphin Surf vs Hyundai Ioniq 3
· Real-world figures, not WLTP
Our verdict
The BYD Dolphin Surf and Hyundai Ioniq 3 are both electric hatchbacks in the small car class. The BYD Dolphin Surf starts at £18,650 in the UK and the Hyundai Ioniq 3 at £18,495, comparing the cheapest version of each.
The Dolphin Surf has the longer warranty (6 years against 5).
The Ioniq 3 goes further, with about 165 miles of real-world range against 118 for the Dolphin Surf. On top of that, it charges faster on a rapid charger (60 kW against 45 kW on average, 10–80%), has the bigger boot (441 litres against 308) and is quicker, doing 0–62 mph in 8.8 s against 11.1 s.
There's little between them on price and efficiency.
Choose the BYD Dolphin Surf if you want a longer warranty and the Hyundai Ioniq 3 if you want the longest range and quicker charging stops.
Written from the figures below, comparing the cheapest UK version of each. Other versions can differ: open them in Compare to swap versions.
Price
- Price new
- £18,650on sale now
- £18,495 (best)on sale now
- Used from (estimated)
- £10,6002025 car
- –too new
- Price per mile of range
- £158
- £112 (best)
Range and efficiency
- Real-world range
- 118 mi190 km, estimate
- 165 mi (best)265 km, estimate
- Range today, used (estimated)
- about 116 mi2025 car, est.
- –
- Efficiency
- 3.9 mi/kWh158 Wh/km, estimate
- 4.0 mi/kWh (best)155 Wh/km, estimate
- Range with one 15-min stop
- 124 mi199 km
- 184 mi (best)296 km
Charging
- Rapid charging
- 45 kW10–80% average
- 60 kW (best)10–80% average
- Home (AC) charging
- 11 kW
- 22 kW (best)
- Charging plug
- Type 2 CCS
- Type 2 CCS
- Vehicle-to-load (V2L)
- Yes
- Yes
- Vehicle-to-home (V2H)
- No
- Yes (best)
- Vehicle-to-grid (V2G)
- No
- Yes (best)
Battery
- Usable battery
- 30 kWh
- 41 kWh (best)estimate
- Battery chemistry
- LFP (lithium iron phosphate)
- LFP (lithium iron phosphate)
- Heat pump
- Yes
- Yes
Body and performance
- Body style
- Hatchback
- Hatchback
- Size class
- B · Small car
- B · Small car
- Seats
- 4
- 5 (best)
- Drive
- Front-wheel drive
- Front-wheel drive
- 0–62 mph
- 11.1 s0–100 km/h
- 8.8 s (best)0–100 km/h
- Weight
- 1,369 kg
- 1,550 kg
Size
- Length
- 3.99 m13 ft 1 in
- 4.16 m13 ft 8 in
- Width (without mirrors)
- 1.72 m5 ft 8 in
- 1.80 m5 ft 11 in
- Width with mirrors
- 1.97 m6 ft 6 in
- 2.10 m6 ft 11 in
- Height
- 1.59 m5 ft 3 in
- 1.51 m4 ft 11 in
- Wheelbase
- 2.50 m8 ft 2 in
- 2.68 m8 ft 10 in
Practicality and safety
- Boot space
- 308 litres
- 441 litres (best)
- Towbar available
- Yes
- Yes
- Towing (braked)
- Not approved
- 750 kg (best)
- Max payload
- 344 kgpeople and luggage
- 615 kg (best)people and luggage
- Euro NCAP rating
- 5 stars
- –not tested yet
Warranty (UK)
- Car warranty
- 6 years (best)93,750 miles
- 5 yearsunlimited miles
- Battery warranty
- 8 years (best)125,000 miles
- 8 years100,000 miles, 70% capacity
- Passes to next owner
- Yes, with conditions
- Yes
Availability
- Status
- On sale new
- On sale new
- Model years
- 2025 on
- 2026 on
Green marks the better figure in each row. Range is a real-world estimate, not WLTP. Used prices are estimates. Warranty terms are UK terms from each maker’s website.
Every version
BYD Dolphin Surf
- DOLPHIN SURF 30 kWh Active£18,650 · 118 mi
- DOLPHIN SURF 43.2 kWh Boost£21,950 · 168 mi
- DOLPHIN SURF 43.2 kWh Comfort£23,950 · 165 mi
Hyundai Ioniq 3
- IONIQ 3 42.2 kWh (MY27)£18,495 · 165 mi
- IONIQ 3 61 kWh (MY27)£21,995 · 233 mi