The era of the bare-bones budget EV is starting to fade, and BYD’s latest model shows just how quickly the segment is evolving. The second-generation BYD Seagull has officially launched in Zhengzhou, bringing a larger body, a more sophisticated rear-wheel-drive layout, five-seat practicality, and a surprisingly long equipment list while keeping its starting price firmly in budget-car territory. In China, the base model begins below the equivalent of $10,000, reinforcing BYD’s intent to defend its position at the very bottom of the electric-car market.
BYD’s urgency is easy to understand. Since the original Seagull arrived in April 2023, it became one of the company’s biggest volume sellers, with roughly 1.55 million units sold by the end of the first three quarters of 2026. Depending on the market, it has appeared as the Dolphin Mini, Dolphin Surf, or Atto 1. However, the model’s momentum weakened sharply this year. From January to September, global deliveries fell 33% to 265,901 units, while sales inside China dropped 66% to just 83,600 vehicles. Although monthly figures began to improve again in late summer, the message was clear: the original formula was no longer enough.
The main reason has a name: Geely EX2, sold in China as the Geome Xingyuan. During the same nine-month period, Geely delivered around 310,000 units, making it one of the country’s hottest sellers and pushing it ahead of even the Tesla Model Y. Buyers were drawn to its more practical five-seat cabin, rear-wheel-drive layout, and family-friendly packaging. Compared with that newer rival, the old four-seat Seagull suddenly looked dated. Rather than giving the car a light refresh, BYD chose a much deeper reset.
The new Seagull measures 165.6 inches long, 71.3 inches wide, and 61.8 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 104.3 inches. That represents a major increase over the outgoing model, which measured 148.8 inches in length, 67.5 inches in width, and 60.6 inches in height, with a 98.4-inch wheelbase. In other words, the new car is 16.7 inches longer overall and gains 5.9 inches between the axles. Against the Geely EX2, the Seagull is now slightly longer, slightly wider, equal in height, and identical in wheelbase. It also moves uncomfortably close to the larger BYD Dolphin, which is 168.9 inches long, 69.7 inches wide, 61.8 inches tall, and rides on a 106.3-inch wheelbase.
Those extra dimensions are not just for show. The cabin has moved from four seats to five, making it far more useful for small families. BYD has also added a 3.32-cubic-foot front storage compartment, ideal for charging cables, small bags, or items owners would rather keep out of the main cargo area. With the rear seats folded, total storage capacity reaches 48.7 cubic feet, which actually exceeds the Dolphin’s maximum cargo volume of 46.3 cubic feet. Despite the larger footprint, BYD says the turning radius remains tight at 16.24 feet, helping the car stay easy to maneuver in city traffic.
The biggest mechanical shift is underneath the body. BYD has abandoned the old front-wheel-drive setup and torsion-beam rear suspension. The new Seagull uses a rear-mounted electric motor driving the rear wheels, along with a multi-link independent rear suspension. This change should improve traction, steering feel, and cornering stability, especially on uneven urban roads. The structure has also been reinforced with a body cage featuring ten horizontal and four vertical reinforcement beams. Six airbags and a tire blowout stabilization system are included, giving the car a more substantial safety foundation than buyers would normally expect from this price class.
Placing the motor at the rear frees the front wheels from torque duties, which should make the steering cleaner and reduce torque steer during harder acceleration. The independent rear suspension should also help the car stay more composed over rough pavement. Entry-level versions receive an 85 kW motor producing 114 horsepower, while higher trims get a 95 kW unit with 127 horsepower. That is a major step up from the old model’s 55 kW output. Torque is rated at 96 pound-feet across the range, slightly less than the 111 pound-feet offered by the 85 kW Geely EX2, but still enough for brisk city driving.
The battery technology has also been upgraded. BYD’s second-generation LFP Blade battery is standard across the lineup, with a claimed efficiency figure of 9.0 kWh per 62 miles. The lower two trims use a 30.1 kWh pack and are rated for 199 miles under China’s optimistic CLTC test cycle, which likely translates to about 161 miles under Europe’s stricter WLTP standard. The upper three trims receive a larger 39.2 kWh battery, extending the range to 261 miles CLTC, or roughly 211 miles WLTP. Those higher trims also support BYD’s Flash Charging system, which can reportedly take the battery from 10% to 70% in just five minutes. As with all ultra-fast charging claims, real-world results will depend on access to compatible high-power chargers. Still, BYD is sweetening the deal by offering one year of free charging at its flash-charging stations for non-commercial buyers of the top three trims.
Inside, the new Seagull feels far more modern than its price suggests. The dashboard is dominated by a 15.6-inch central touchscreen running the DiLink 150 system with DeepSeek AI integration. Other available features include a 50W wireless phone charger, an eight-speaker audio system, and 127-color ambient lighting. Depending on trim, the driver’s seat offers six-way power adjustment, the passenger seat offers four-way adjustment, and the front seats can be equipped with heating, ventilation, and even a massage function for the driver. Buyers can choose from six exterior colors: Lime Green, Berry Pink, Cream White, Mango Orange, Ice Coconut Blue, and Sesame Grey. Three interior themes are available: Shell White, Clear Sky Pink, and Polar Star Grey.
Pricing remains the car’s sharpest weapon. The lineup starts with the Vitality Edition at RMB 65,900, roughly £7,140, making it even cheaper than the version it replaces. The range continues with the Freedom Edition at RMB 72,900, the Comfort/Ease Edition at RMB 75,900, and the Flying/Flight Edition at RMB 82,900. The Comfort trim is particularly important because it is the cheapest route to the larger 39.2 kWh battery and Flash Charging capability. Eligible trade-in customers can receive an additional RMB 3,000 discount, lowering the base price to RMB 62,900 and bringing the top Smart Edition down from RMB 99,900 to RMB 96,900.
That range-topping Smart Edition is especially notable because it brings BYD’s DiPilot 300 “God’s Eye” LiDAR system to a car priced below the RMB 100,000 threshold. The roof-mounted LiDAR enables advanced driver-assistance features such as automated city and highway navigation, traffic light countdown recognition, and obstacle avoidance. Of course, the driver still needs to remain engaged at all times. Even if export costs, tariffs, and regulatory requirements eventually double the price in Western markets, the new Seagull sends a clear warning: affordable EVs are no longer meant to feel basic, and rivals will need to move quickly to keep up.
