BYD Seagull Flying

The BYD Seagull Flying is a trim of BYD’s cheapest car, a front-wheel-drive electric hatchback in the Ocean range. Overseas, the Seagull is sold as the Dolphin Mini or Dolphin Surf. The second-generation car launched in China on 20 October 2026 with five variants, and Flying is one of three that get the larger battery. The body is 425 mm longer than before and seating goes from four to five. Adding that to the first-generation length of 3,780 mm gives roughly 4,205 mm, though BYD hasn’t confirmed the figure.

BYD Seagull Flying has a 39.2 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery from BYD’s FinDreams unit, rated at 420 km on the CLTC cycle. The sources don’t say whether 39.2 kWh is gross or usable capacity. CLTC is China’s domestic test and tends to read higher than WLTP. No WLTP or EPA figure has been published for this generation, so any European range estimate would be a guess.

The motor is rated at 95 kW, up from 55 kW in the old car. The headline change is flash charging, which takes the battery from 10% to 70% in five minutes at dedicated BYD stations. BYD had 12,165 of those stations at launch and aims for 20,000 by the end of the year. Buyers who use the car non-commercially get 12 months of free charging at them. The AC onboard charging rate, the DC peak power and a conventional 10–80% time have not been published. The outgoing Chinese-market car managed 6.6 kW AC and 40 kW DC, and it needed about 30 minutes for 30–80%. Those are older numbers and shouldn’t be read as specs for the new car.

In China, Flying costs 82,900 yuan, about $12,400, in a lineup that runs from 65,900 to 99,900 yuan. A limited trade-in offer takes 3,000 yuan off every variant, which brings Flying to about 79,900 yuan. There is no European or UK price for the second-generation car yet. For reference, the current Dolphin Surf starts at €22,990 in Europe and £18,675 in the UK, but that price is for the first-generation hardware. It shouldn’t be applied to Flying.

The car suits city commuters and small households that want a second vehicle. Fast top-ups help most if you can’t charge at home, but only if a BYD flash station is nearby. Five seats add some flexibility, yet a 420 km CLTC rating makes this a city and suburban car, not a motorway tourer. Within BYD’s range, the Seagull sits below the Dolphin and the Atto 2 (called the Yuan Up in China). It can overlap with both on price once the larger battery is fitted.

Outside BYD, the closest rivals in China are the Geely Xingyuan, also called the Geely EX2, and the Wuling Bingo. All three go after buyers who want a small, cheap electric hatchback from a familiar brand. The Xingyuan is the most direct match for a head-to-head comparison, since it covers the same size, price band and commuter use.

BYD Seagull Flying Images

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