BYD DOLPHIN SURF vs Suzuki S-Presso

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

BYD DOLPHIN SURF in South Africa

BYD DOLPHIN SURF

Dynamic EV Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 395,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 55 kW 🔧 135 Nm
VS
Suzuki S-Presso in South Africa

Suzuki S-Presso

1.0 GL+ AMT S-Edition Petrol 5-Speed AMT Current
ZAR 219,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 49 kW 🔧 89 Nm ⛽ 22.7 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance DOLPHIN SURF
Fuel Economy DOLPHIN SURF
🛡 Safety DOLPHIN SURF
📦 Practicality S-Presso
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
S-Presso starts ZAR 163,000 cheaper DOLPHIN SURF from ZAR 341,900 · S-Presso from ZAR 178,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec DOLPHIN SURF S-Presso
Maximum Power 55 kW 49 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 135 Nm 89 Nm @ 3500 rpm
Engine Size Not Applicable 998 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Not Applicable 22.7 km/l
Ground Clearance 155 mm 181 mm
Boot / Load Bay 230 l 239 l
Airbags 6 2 front SRS airbags
Kerb Weight 1280 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 3 years/100000 km complete vehicle; 8 years/200000 km power battery; 5 years/100000 km drive unit 5 years / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

DOLPHIN SURF has a modest catalogue-index lead, while S-Presso remains close.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance DOLPHIN SURF +4 pts
Efficiency DOLPHIN SURF +7 pts
Safety DOLPHIN SURF +35 pts
Practicality S-Presso +2 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

DOLPHIN SURF

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

S-Presso

Strengths
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

DOLPHIN SURF

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

S-Presso

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec DOLPHIN SURF S-Presso
Model Introduced Year 2025 2021
Generation First South African DOLPHIN SURF generation First generation S-Presso on HEARTECT lightweight platform, shared across Suzuki's entry-level range globally; developed specifically for emerging market buyers prioritising fuel economy and low running costs
Facelift History No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026 Launched in SA in 2021 as a new nameplate; S-Edition trim added in 2023 with two-tone colour options and additional colour variants; no significant mechanical updates since launch
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback Hatchback
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment City Hatchback Hatchback
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Hatchback
Color Note - Sizzling Red, Speedy Blue, Solid White, Metallic Silky Silver, Pearl Midnight Black, Turquoise Blue Pearl (S-Edition), Sizzling Red with Pearl Midnight Black roof (S-Edition two-tone), Speedy Blue with Pearl Midnight Black roof (S-Edition two-tone)
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 750-770 kg
Spec DOLPHIN SURF S-Presso
Length 3925 mm 3565 mm
Width 1720 mm 1520 mm
Height 1590 mm 1565 mm
Wheelbase 2500 mm 2380 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 181 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 120 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 27 l
Boot/Cargo Space 230 l 239 l
Kerb Weight 1280 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1690 kg 1105 kg
Payload Capacity 410 kg 350 kg
Towing Capacity 0 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 4.95 m 4.5 m
Front Headroom 980 mm 985 mm
Rear Headroom 920 mm 975 mm
Front Legroom 1060 mm 1000 mm
Rear Legroom 690 mm 875 mm

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

DOLPHIN SURF leads by 10 points

DOLPHIN SURF has a modest catalogue-index lead, while S-Presso remains close.

Index leader 61 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 60% source coverage
61
#1 Index leader

DOLPHIN SURF

60% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 90 Check Performance 25
Performance 25
Efficiency 90
Safety 87
Practicality 51
Leads by 10 points
51
#2

S-Presso

89% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 83 Check Performance 21
Performance 21
Efficiency 83
Safety 52
Practicality 53
Ownership 60
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance DOLPHIN SURF +4 Efficiency DOLPHIN SURF +7 Safety DOLPHIN SURF +35 Practicality S-Presso +2

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

DOLPHIN SURF

Performance 25/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 51/100

S-Presso

Performance 21/100
Efficiency 83/100
Safety 52/100
Practicality 53/100
Ownership 60/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 BYD DOLPHIN SURF leads the catalogue index with 61 pts vs 51 pts for S-Presso

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, DOLPHIN SURF leads. However, S-Presso may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This DOLPHIN SURF and S-Presso comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: DOLPHIN SURF 25 vs S-Presso 21.

Efficiency index: DOLPHIN SURF 90 vs S-Presso 83.

Safety-equipment index: DOLPHIN SURF 87 vs S-Presso 52.

Practicality index: DOLPHIN SURF 51 vs S-Presso 53.

Ownership-cover index: DOLPHIN SURF not separately scored vs S-Presso 60.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.