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BYD Dolphin Surf vs Leapmotor B05
Selected trimActiveChange trim137 mi · 30 kWh · £18,650
Selected trimStandard236 mi · 52 kWh · Not available
At a glance
In this comparison, BYD Dolphin Surf leads on value for money, family practicality and charging speed, while the Leapmotor B05 leads on motorway range and running costs.
Which should you choose?
Choose the BYD Dolphin Surf if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
Choose the Leapmotor B05 if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.9p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The BYD Dolphin Surf leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueBYD
BYD
6.3
Leapmotor
0
Motorway RangeLeapmotor
BYD
1.8
Leapmotor
5.4
FamilyBYD
BYD
6.6
Leapmotor
0
ChargingBYD
BYD
3.8
Leapmotor
0
Cost Per MileLeapmotor
BYD
2.8
Leapmotor
7.9
City Driving
BYD
8.3
Leapmotor
8
Too close to call
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BYD Dolphin SurfActive | Leapmotor B05Base |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £18,650 | Not available |
| Official range | 137 miles | 236 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 308 L | Not available |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 30 min | Not available |
| 0-62 mph | 11.1 sec | Not available |
Size Comparison
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BYD Dolphin Surf
Leapmotor B05
Length
BYD Dolphin Surf3,990mm-205mm
Leapmotor B054,195mm
Width
BYD Dolphin Surf1,720mm-90mm
Leapmotor B051,810mm
Height
BYD Dolphin Surf1,590mm
Leapmotor B051,575mm-15mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BYD Dolphin SurfActive | Leapmotor B05Base |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,990 mm | 4,195 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,720 mm (better) | 1,810 mm |
| Height | 1,590 mm | 1,575 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.4 m | 10.3 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 680 mm spare (better) | 590 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BYD Dolphin SurfActive | Leapmotor B05Base |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 4 | Not available |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 3 | Not available |
| Boot space (seats up) | 308 L | Not available |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1037 L | Not available |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 0 kg | Not available |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BYD Dolphin Surf
- One of 33 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
- 1,720 mm wide, below our 1,750 mm narrow-car threshold.
Leapmotor B05
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BYD Dolphin Surf Active |  Leapmotor B05 Base |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3.99m | 4.20m+205mm |
| Width | 1.72m | 1.81m+90mm |
| Height | 1.59m | 1.57m-15mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.50m | 2.62m+120mm |
| Ground Clearance | 151mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 308L | Not available |
| Boot (seats down) | 1037L | Not available |
| Seats | 4 | Not available |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.4m | 10.34m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 1,294kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 30kWh | 52kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 137 mi | 236 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 65kW | Not available |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £18,650 | Not available |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Available | 2025+ | 2026+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BYD Dolphin SurfActive | Leapmotor B05Base |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 137 miles | 236 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 87 miles | 197 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min | Not available |
| Max rapid charge rate | 65 kW | Not available |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | Not available |
| Energy consumption | 170 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 30 kWh | 52 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | LFP |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BYD Dolphin SurfActive | Leapmotor B05Base |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 11.1 sec | Not available |
| Power | 65 kW | 150 kW (better) |
| Torque | 175 Nm | Not available |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
BYD Dolphin Surf
Active
Leapmotor B05
Base
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
BYD Dolphin Surf
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BYD Dolphin Surf Active
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant82%
Child Occupant86%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist77%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Buying options
Get a quote
BYD Dolphin Surf
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Leapmotor B05
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
What are the BYD Dolphin Surf and Leapmotor B05 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 87 miles for the BYD Dolphin Surf and 197 miles for the Leapmotor B05 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Leapmotor B05 goes roughly 110 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BYD Dolphin Surf or the Leapmotor B05?
The BYD Dolphin Surf is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 90 mm narrower than the Leapmotor B05. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 680 mm of total clearance for the BYD Dolphin Surf and about 590 mm of total clearance for the Leapmotor B05.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BYD Dolphin Surf or the Leapmotor B05?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the BYD Dolphin Surf and 90% for the Leapmotor B05. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use LFP-type cells, which are happy charged to 100% every day.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More BYD Dolphin Surf comparisons
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See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the BYD Dolphin Surf and Leapmotor B05 rank among the best small electric carsWhere the BYD Dolphin Surf and Leapmotor B05 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BYD Dolphin Surf and Leapmotor B05 rank among the best city EVsWhere the BYD Dolphin Surf and Leapmotor B05 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BYD Dolphin Surf and Leapmotor B05 rank among EVs with the biggest bootsWhere the BYD Dolphin Surf and Leapmotor B05 rank among Best Used Electric Cars Under £10,000 (UK)
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .