BYD is giving its $10,000 electric vehicle a major makeover. New images of the second-generation Seagull reveal a larger, more upscale design with some surprising luxury features.
BYD Seagull EV needs 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 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 has a starting price of just €22,900.
The electric hatch is not only one of BYD’s most popular vehicles, but it is also among the best-selling electric vehicles in the world.
In the first half of 2026, the Seagull, along with the Dolphin Surf and the Mini, ranked as the sixth best-selling electric vehicle in the world. BYD sold more than 152,000 units through June, according to data from technical cleaning.
BYD is overhauling the electric hatch for its second generation to compete with the new wave of entry-level electric vehicles hitting the market.
In a social media post on Wednesday, BYD offered a sneak peek of the interior, revealing a few surprises.
According to BYD, “growing” means living up to expectations. The second-generation Seagull will feature an immersive cabin with ambient lighting and electrically adjustable front seats with massage functions. Although it did not reveal details, BYD said the rear seats are extra spacious with more legroom for passengers.
Inside, the second-generation Seagull adopts BYD’s new interior design. The setup includes a larger central infotainment screen, a two-spoke steering wheel and a redesigned center console to create more space.
The new Seagull does not have an instrument display. Instead, the larger central infotainment screen will display the information. BYD also added physical buttons below the center screen.
BYD revealed that the new Seagull will also feature a “rare” 94-litre front boot for its class, up to 1,380 liters of boot space and smart storage spaces.
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 showing the new interior and exterior.
Translated into English, one of the subtitles inside read: “New design” and “The size of the space expands together.”
BYD has yet to announce any official details, but Zhuo revealed at the Chengdu Motor Show last month that the second-generation model will be called “Big Seagull” and go on sale in late 2026.
We knew the second-generation Seagull would be a larger variant, hence the “Large,” after the new variant appeared in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) regulatory filing in August.
According to the document, the new Seagull measures 4,205 mm long, 1,810 mm wide and 1,570 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,650 mm.
Compared to the current model, the second-generation Seagull is 425 mm longer and has a 150 mm longer wheelbase. The current Gaviota measures only 3,780 mm long.
The presentation also revealed that it will use a more powerful 95 kW (127 hp) electric motor, compared to the 55 kW (75 hp) offered by the current Seagull.
We’ve also seen spy images of the updated model testing in public with roof-mounted LiDAR, suggesting that the second-generation Seagull will offer more advanced smart driving assistance capabilities, such as BYD’s God’s Eye B system.
A report from China Autohome On Monday it revealed new exterior images of the second-generation Seagull EV.
The report also says that the new Seagull will switch to a rear-mounted electric motor, replacing the front motor used by the current model. The change will open up space in the front trunk, or frunk.
BYD is yet to confirm details, but local reports suggest that higher-priced variants may include its latest Blade LFP 2.0 batteries and 5-minute flash charging technology.
It’s yet to be confirmed, but following its launch in China, BYD is expected to introduce the larger second-generation electric hatch overseas, likely as the new Dolphin Surf or Mini.
When the new Dolphin Surf launches, it will likely start at around 30,000 euros ($35,000) in Europe, given that the current model starts at 22,900 euros ($26,500).
Source: Autohome, WORLD
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