The 2026 BYD Seagull (officially “Hai Ou” / 海鸥, sold globally as Dolphin Mini in Latin America and Dolphin Surf in Europe) just received its mid-cycle refresh on May 11, 2026 — and the headline news is genuinely segment-changing: the optional God’s Eye B ADAS package adds a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor, making the Seagull the first production passenger EV under $15,000 globally to offer LiDAR-equipped Level 2+ autonomous driving. Pricing spans four trims from ¥69,900 ($10,300) for the 305 Vitality entry to ¥97,900 ($14,400) for the 405 Flying with God’s Eye B package. All trims use BYD’s Blade LFP battery (30.08 kWh or 38.88 kWh), a single 55 kW front motor, and the upgraded 12.8-inch floating rotating central touchscreen. With BYD’s nameplate having now crossed 529,537 cumulative deliveries through May 2026 — making it China’s best-selling EV nameplate ever — this 2026 refresh consolidates the platform’s mass-market dominance.
Performance & Specs
The Seagull’s drivetrain is intentionally simple and proven: a single 55 kW (74 hp) permanent-magnet synchronous motor mounted on the front axle, producing 135 Nm of torque, paired to BYD’s Blade LFP battery. The motor specification is shared across all four 2026 trims — there is no “performance” variant. Two battery sizes split the lineup: a 30.08 kWh pack for the 305 km CLTC range entry trims (Vitality and Freedom) and a 38.88 kWh pack for the 405 km CLTC range higher trims (Zizai and Flying). 0-100 km/h takes approximately 13.0 seconds, with 0-50 km/h documented at 4.9 seconds for urban traffic merging. Top speed is electronically limited to 130 km/h. The Blade LFP chemistry delivers BYD’s typical thermal safety story plus excellent cycle life, allowing the company to offer a 6-year / 150,000-km battery warranty on the standard configuration.
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | BEV single-motor FWD |
|---|---|
| HORSEPOWER | 74 hp (55 kW) |
| TORQUE | 135 Nm |
| 0-100 KM/H | ~13.0 s |
| 0-50 KM/H | ~4.9 s |
| TOP SPEED | 130 km/h |
| BATTERY OPTIONS | 30.08 kWh (305 km) or 38.88 kWh (405 km) Blade LFP |
| EV RANGE (CLTC) | 305 km or 405 km |
| ENERGY CONSUMPTION | ~9.5 kWh/100 km (CLTC) |
| DRIVETRAIN | FWD |
| SEATS | 5 |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 3,780 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,715 mm |
| Height | 1,540 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,500 mm |
| Ground clearance | ~140 mm |
The Seagull is intentionally compact: 3,780 mm long, 1,715 mm wide, and 1,540 mm tall on a 2,500 mm wheelbase. This is genuinely city-car footprint — smaller than a Honda Fit or Kia Picanto — designed for tight Chinese first-tier-city parking and lane-splitting through dense traffic. Curb weight ranges 1,160 kg (305 km entry) to 1,390 kg (405 km LiDAR-equipped Flying trim). Cargo measures 300 liters with the rear bench up and expands to 900 liters with the 60/40 split bench folded — impressive for the exterior dimensions and meaningfully more practical than most European city EVs at the same price point. The reviewer’s walkaround confirms 16-inch “Starlight” alloys with 175/55 R16 Chaoyang tires across all trims. Seating is officially rated for 5 occupants, though the rear bench is realistically a 2-adult configuration for trips over 30 minutes.
| LENGTH | 3,780 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,715 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,540 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 2,500 mm |
| CARGO VOLUME | 300 L (900 L seats folded) |
| FRUNK | None |
| SEATING | 5 (realistic: 4) |
| WHEELS / TIRES | 16″ / 175/55 R16 Chaoyang |
| CURB WEIGHT | 1,160-1,390 kg |
Charging & Battery
The Seagull’s Blade LFP packs support modest DC fast-charging speeds appropriate to the price point: peak DC at 30-40 kW completes a 30-80% top-up in approximately 30 minutes. AC charging on the 7 kW onboard charger replenishes the larger 38.88 kWh pack from empty in approximately 6 hours overnight. The Blade LFP chemistry brings BYD’s typical safety advantages — cell-to-body integration, no thermal-runaway events observed in the model’s 530,000+ unit fleet, and excellent cycle longevity (rated >3,000 cycles to 80% capacity). BYD’s standard battery warranty is 6 years or 150,000 km on the LFP pack.
| BATTERY (305 km trims) | 30.08 kWh Blade LFP |
|---|---|
| BATTERY (405 km trims) | 38.88 kWh Blade LFP |
| AC CHARGING | 7 kW |
| DC FAST CHARGING | 30-40 kW peak |
| DC 30-80% TIME | ~30 min |
| AC FULL CHARGE (38.88 kWh) | ~6 hours |
Design & Interior
The 2026 Seagull’s exterior is a subtle facelift of the original 2023 design language: same shark-fin DRL signature, same compact hatchback proportions, with refreshed bumper sculpting and a new rear light bar treatment. The reviewer’s walkaround unit is finished in gloss black with the BYD “BYD” rear text-badge (the brand transitioned away from the older “Build Your Dreams” rear-badge text on the 2026 facelift). 16-inch wheel hubcaps replace traditional alloys on entry trims to keep cost down. Inside, the cabin uses synthetic leather on the seats with contrast-color stitching, a soft-touch upper dashboard, and a central touchscreen that rotates between portrait and landscape orientations on user demand. The reviewer notes traditional physical climate controls remain on the dash — a deliberate cost decision but also welcomed by buyers who prefer hardware buttons over touchscreen-only HVAC. There is no panoramic glass roof on the 2026 model (deleted vs the prior generation to reduce cost); the higher-trim Flying configuration adds a fixed glass panel without electric sunshade.
Technology & Features
The 2026 facelift upgrades the central touchscreen from 10.1 inches to 12.8 inches, with the same rotating mount used on more expensive BYD models. The cockpit OS is DiLink 150 with full English-language UI support; chip identification has not been publicly disclosed by BYD but is likely the proprietary D100 SoC (same as Tang DM-i) given the price point. Standard features include 4G/5G connectivity, OTA software updates, Bluetooth audio streaming, voice assistant with multi-zone command parsing, and a 6-speaker audio system. Wireless phone charging is optional on Freedom and Flying trims. The God’s Eye B ADAS package upgrade adds the roof-mounted LiDAR + the Nvidia Orin compute platform inherited from BYD’s higher-priced models.
Safety & ADAS
The 2026 refresh introduces the segment-defining feature: optional God’s Eye B ADAS with roof-mounted LiDAR, available on the Freedom trim (¥90,900 / $13,400) and Flying trim (¥97,900 / $14,400). When equipped, the Seagull becomes the first production passenger EV under $15,000 globally with LiDAR-equipped Level 2+ autonomous driving capability. Standard equipment across all trims includes AEB (autonomous emergency braking), DMS (driver monitoring system with attention-tracking camera), and basic lane-keep assist. Adding the God’s Eye B package unlocks Highway NOA, Urban NOA with traffic-light recognition, automatic parking with route memory, and 360-degree surround camera with low-speed obstacle avoidance. The reviewer notes BYD has not yet officially disclosed which Nvidia Orin compute level the LiDAR-equipped trim uses — expect Orin-N (84 TOPS) class given the price point.
| ADAS LEVEL (BASE) | L2 (AEB + DMS standard) |
|---|---|
| ADAS LEVEL (LIDAR) | L2+ (God’s Eye B / DiPilot 300) |
| LIDAR | Optional on Freedom and Flying trims |
| RADARS | 1 mmWave |
| CAMERAS | 5 HD (8 with God’s Eye B) |
| ULTRASONIC | 4 (12 with God’s Eye B) |
| ADAS FEATURES (LIDAR) | Highway NOA, Urban NOA, Auto Parking, AEB, DMS |
Available Versions
| VERSION | BATTERY | RANGE (CLTC) | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 305 Vitality (Huoli) | 30.08 kWh | 305 km | $10,300 | Entry trim, hubcaps, base interior, no LiDAR option |
| 305 Freedom (Ziyou) | 30.08 kWh | 305 km | $11,600 | Better interior, optional God’s Eye B at $13,400 |
| 405 Zizai | 38.88 kWh | 405 km | $11,600 | Long-range battery in mid-trim configuration |
| 405 Flying (Feixiang) | 38.88 kWh | 405 km | $12,600 ($14,400 with LiDAR) | Top trim, optional God’s Eye B + LiDAR |
Pricing & Availability
The 2026 BYD Seagull facelift launched May 11, 2026 with deliveries beginning immediately at BYD dealers across mainland China. Pricing tiers are ¥69,900-¥97,900 ($10,300-$14,400) depending on battery + ADAS configuration. Export sales are active under the names Dolphin Mini (Latin America, MENA) and Dolphin Surf (Europe, Australia), with the LiDAR option not yet confirmed for export markets — expect the LiDAR variant to roll out internationally in late 2026 / early 2027. The model has crossed 529,537 cumulative deliveries through May 2026, making it China’s best-selling EV nameplate ever.
How It Compares
The Seagull is positioned at the premium end of the Chinese mini-EV segment — meaningfully larger than the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, faster-charging, and now uniquely offering LiDAR-equipped ADAS. The trade-off is the price gap: $10,300 for Seagull entry vs $5,000-$8,000 for direct city-EV competitors. For buyers in dense Chinese first-tier cities who need real-world 405 km CLTC range, a 12.8-inch touchscreen, Blade LFP safety, and the option to upgrade to LiDAR-equipped Urban NOA, the Seagull justifies the premium. For absolute price-sensitive buyers focused on second-vehicle or grocery-getter usage, the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV remains the dominant cost-leader.
- First sub-$15k EV globally with optional roof-mounted LiDAR
- 405 km CLTC range from 38.88 kWh Blade LFP — best-in-class at this price band
- 12.8″ rotating touchscreen + 5G connectivity + OTA updates
- 529,537+ cumulative deliveries — mature manufacturing + serviceability
- BYD Blade LFP safety record (zero thermal-runaway events on 530k unit fleet)
- 300/900 L cargo — competitive with European A-segment hatchbacks
- Top trim with LiDAR approaches $14,400 — close to Aion N60 entry territory ($16k)
- 13.0 s 0-100 limits highway merging performance
- 130 km/h electronic governor restricts long-distance highway use
- No panoramic glass roof on 2026 facelift (deleted from prior generation)
- Hubcaps (not alloys) on entry trim
- Rear bench realistically 2-adult max for trips >30 min
The 2026 BYD Seagull facelift is the most significant Chinese mass-market EV refresh of Q2 2026. The optional God’s Eye B LiDAR package isn’t just a marketing checkbox — it’s the first time any production passenger EV under $15,000 globally has shipped with the hardware required for Urban NOA. For BYD this signals a clear strategy: take the affordability-leader nameplate and use it to demonstrate that LiDAR ADAS will be a sub-$15k standard feature within 3-5 years, not just a $40k luxury proposition. The compromises — 13s 0-100, 130 km/h governor, no panoramic roof, hubcaps on entry trim — are exactly the cost-down decisions that allow the $10,300 entry to exist. For Chinese first-tier-city buyers shopping the Wuling Mini EV / Geely Panda Mini / Chery iCAR 03 Mini segment but specifically wanting LFP safety, 5G connectivity, 405 km range, and the option of LiDAR Urban NOA, the Seagull is now the clear top-tier mini-EV pick.
