The BYD Seagull and the BYD Dolphin are two different cars, one size class apart. The Seagull is a 3780 mm, four-seat city car with a 55 kW motor, a 130 km/h top speed and 305 km or 405 km of CLTC range. The Dolphin is a 4125 mm, five-seat hatchback with a 70 kW or 150 kW motor and up to 520 km of range. In Latin America the Seagull is sold as the “Dolphin Mini”, which makes it sound like a smaller Dolphin. It isn’t: it is a separate model on a shorter platform.
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First, the names
These two cars carry more names than almost any other Chinese EV, and the names overlap.
| China-market name | Names used abroad | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| BYD Seagull (海鸥) | Seagull, Dolphin Mini, Dolphin Surf, Atto 1, depending on market | Four-seat city car, 3780 mm |
| BYD Dolphin (海豚) | Dolphin | Five-seat hatchback, 4125–4150 mm |
In Ethiopia, cars are imported mostly from the Chinese domestic market, and local classified listings use the Chinese-market names: “BYD Seagull” and “BYD Dolphin”. That is the simplest case. If your customer has seen “Dolphin Mini” or “Dolphin Surf” online, they are looking at Seagull-family cars built for other markets. The European Dolphin Surf, for example, is physically different from the China-market Seagull, not just renamed. Our BYD Seagull export guide and Chinese model names vs export names cover this in detail.
The practical rule: order by VIN, battery capacity and seat count, never by model name alone. A supplier who quotes a “Dolphin Mini” may send you a Seagull, and that is technically correct, but it is not a Dolphin.
The specification table
Seagull figures are from BYD’s 2025 model-year configuration sheet. Dolphin figures are from the most recent Dolphin sheet in our reference data, the 2024 model year. The Dolphin has several powertrain versions; we show the main two.
| Spec | Seagull 305 km | Seagull 405 km | Dolphin 420 km | Dolphin 520 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Length | 3780 mm | 3780 mm | 4125 mm | 4150 mm |
| Width × height | 1715 × 1540 mm | 1715 × 1540 mm | 1770 × 1570 mm | 1770 × 1570 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2500 mm | 2500 mm | 2700 mm | 2700 mm |
| CLTC range | 305 km | 405 km | 420 km | 520 km |
| Battery (LFP Blade) | 30.08 kWh | 38.88 kWh | 44.93 kWh | 60.48 kWh |
| Motor | 55 kW | 55 kW | 70 kW | 150 kW |
| Torque | 135 N·m | 135 N·m | 180 N·m | 310 N·m |
| Top speed | 130 km/h | 130 km/h | 150 km/h | 160 km/h |
| DC fast-charge peak | 30 kW | 40 kW | 60 kW | 80 kW |
| DC 30–80% | about 30 min | about 30 min | about 30 min | about 30 min |
| AC charging | 7 kW | 7 kW | 7 kW | 7 kW |
| Rated consumption | 9.9 kWh/100 km | 10.1 kWh/100 km | n/a on sheet | n/a on sheet |
| Curb weight | 1160 kg | 1240 kg | 1460 kg | 1510 kg |
| Rear suspension | Torsion beam | Torsion beam | Multi-link (most trims) | Multi-link |
| Turning radius | 4.95 m | 4.95 m | 5.25 m | 5.25 m |
“n/a on sheet” means BYD’s published sheet leaves the field blank for that version.
Size: the difference your customer will notice first
The Dolphin is 345 mm longer, 55 mm wider and rides on a wheelbase 200 mm longer. That 200 mm goes almost entirely into rear legroom. In a Seagull, two adults fit in the back for city trips. In a Dolphin, three can sit across the rear bench, and the car is legally a five-seater.
Seat count can decide the sale on its own. The Seagull is homologated for four. If your customer plans ride-hailing or taxi work, check whether local licensing requires a five-seat vehicle before you sell them a Seagull.
The Seagull’s small size has its own advantages: a 4.95 m turning radius, easy parking in crowded city centres, and the lowest weight of the four versions, which is why it has the lowest consumption on the table.
Performance: city car versus all-rounder
The Seagull’s 55 kW motor and 130 km/h top speed are honest numbers for a city car. It is lively in traffic and adequate on an urban expressway. It is not designed for sustained high-speed highway driving with four people and luggage.
The Dolphin 420 km version, with 70 kW, is a modest step up: 150 km/h top speed, more torque. The Dolphin 520 km version, with 150 kW and 310 N·m, is a properly quick car, the same motor output as the larger Atto 3. The 2024 sheet also lists a 401 km Dolphin with a 130 kW motor. As with the Atto 2, the range figure doesn’t tell you which motor a Dolphin has, so check motor output on the unit you’re buying. See BYD Atto 2 versions compared for the same trap in an SUV.
Addis Ababa sits at around 2,355 metres. Electric motors don’t lose power with altitude, so a 55 kW Seagull in the highlands delivers the same 55 kW it does at sea level. Small petrol cars can’t say the same, which helps when your customer is comparing a Seagull with the small petrol hatchback they drove before Ethiopia’s 2024 import ban.
Range and charging
The Seagull 405 km version and the Dolphin 420 km version have nearly the same rated range. The Seagull gets there with a 38.88 kWh battery, the Dolphin with 44.93 kWh, because the Seagull is about 220 kg lighter.
Charging speed favours the Dolphin. The Seagull peaks at 30–40 kW on DC, the Dolphin at 60–80 kW. Both are rated at about 30 minutes from 30% to 80%, because the Seagull’s smaller battery needs less energy. In kilometres added per minute of fast charging, the Dolphin is clearly ahead, which matters to drivers who rely on public chargers.
For home charging, the two are equal: both accept 7 kW AC, and both fill overnight on a home wallbox.
In Ethiopia, public charging is concentrated in Addis Ababa, with roughly 100 stations against an estimated 2,300 or more needed nationwide. A city-only owner who charges at home is the ideal Seagull customer. See our Ethiopia EV import guide for the charging picture.
Safety and equipment: check the trim
Both cars come with driver and passenger airbags and curtain airbags across the trims on BYD’s sheets. Driver-assistance features vary by trim:
- Seagull 2025: full-speed adaptive cruise, lane keeping and automatic emergency braking appear on the upper 405 km trim and one 305 km trim. The other trims have standard cruise control and no lane keeping or AEB. The sheet also lists front side airbags as absent on the 305 km trims.
- Dolphin 2024: the 520 km version has adaptive cruise, lane keeping and AEB. The 420 km trims have standard cruise control without them.
Before quoting a Seagull or Dolphin, confirm the trim on the actual VIN. Our inspection and condition report lists what we document on each unit.
Which one for which customer
Seagull fits:
- First-time EV owners who drive mostly in the city and charge at home.
- Buyers for whom purchase price is the deciding factor. The Seagull is BYD’s entry-level model.
- Small-business owners who need a city runabout, not a family car.
- Dealers who want an entry-level EV to bring new customers in.
Dolphin fits:
- Families who need five seats.
- Ride-hailing drivers, subject to local licensing rules.
- Buyers who drive between cities and need a higher top speed and faster DC charging.
- Customers who want more space but not an SUV. For an SUV at a similar size, see Yuan UP vs Yuan Plus (Atto 2 vs Atto 3).
If your customer is choosing between the Seagull and another budget city EV, our BYD Seagull vs Wuling Bingo comparison covers that decision.
Shipping either car
For Ethiopia, every car moves through the Port of Djibouti, then inland by rail or road. Under current rules, fully assembled EVs pay 15% customs duty, with VAT, excise and surtax waived. Confirm the current rate with your clearing agent before you quote a landed cost.
Small cars ship efficiently. A Seagull’s 3780 mm length lets more units fit in a container than any other car on this page. See how many cars fit in a container and shipping routes to African ports.
Warranty is territorial. BYD’s Chinese warranty doesn’t automatically follow a car exported by an independent exporter. Agree after-sales arrangements with your customer before the sale. Our checklist of import traps covers this and other common mistakes, and how to choose a Chinese car exporter covers supplier checks.
Related comparisons
FAQ
Is the BYD Seagull the same as the Dolphin?
No. The Seagull is a four-seat city car, 3780 mm long, with a 55 kW motor. The Dolphin is a five-seat hatchback, 4125–4150 mm long, with a 70 kW, 130 kW or 150 kW motor. They are separate models.
Is the Dolphin Mini a Seagull or a Dolphin?
A Seagull. “Dolphin Mini” is the name used for the Seagull in Latin American markets. It is not a smaller version of the Dolphin.
What is the BYD Seagull called in Ethiopia?
Local listings use “BYD Seagull”, the China-market name, because most cars in Ethiopia are imported from the Chinese domestic market. The Dolphin is sold as “BYD Dolphin”.
How many seats does the BYD Seagull have?
Four. The Dolphin has five.
Which has more range, the Seagull or the Dolphin?
The Dolphin. The Seagull offers 305 km or 405 km CLTC; the Dolphin offers 420 km or 520 km in its main versions.
Can the BYD Seagull drive on the highway?
Yes, but it is designed as a city car. Its top speed is 130 km/h and its motor is 55 kW. For regular highway driving, the Dolphin is the better choice.