BYD DOLPHIN SURF vs Changan UNI-S

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

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
Changan UNI-S in South Africa

Changan UNI-S

1.5T AT CE Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 469,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 138 kW 🔧 300 Nm ⛽ 14.49 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BYD DOLPHIN SURF vs Changan UNI-S: the short answer

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

DOLPHIN SURF starts ZAR 48,000 cheaper DOLPHIN SURF from ZAR 341,900 · UNI-S from ZAR 389,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification DOLPHIN SURF UNI-S
Maximum Power DOLPHIN SURF55 kW UNI-S138 kW
Maximum Torque DOLPHIN SURF135 Nm UNI-S300 Nm
Engine Size DOLPHIN SURFNot Applicable UNI-S1500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy DOLPHIN SURFNot Applicable UNI-S14.49 km/l
Ground Clearance DOLPHIN SURF155 mm UNI-SNot Officially Disclosed

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

BYD DOLPHIN SURF

Dynamic EV

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Changan UNI-S

1.5T AT CE

Hagalu editorial rating
4.3/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

DOLPHIN SURF

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

UNI-S

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

Which One's Right for You?

DOLPHIN SURF

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

UNI-S

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec DOLPHIN SURF UNI-S
Model Introduced Year 2025 2026
Generation First South African DOLPHIN SURF generation First current South African UNI-S retail generation, offered in CS, CL and CE grades.
Facelift History No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026 No South African facelift has been announced since the UNI-S entered local retail sale in 2026.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Not Applicable
Facelift Version Ending Current Not Applicable
Body Style Hatchback SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment City Hatchback Compact SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Passenger car
Spec DOLPHIN SURF UNI-S
Length 3925 mm 4539 mm
Width 1720 mm 1865 mm
Height 1590 mm 1680 mm
Wheelbase 2500 mm 2656 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 120 mm 167 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 51 l
Boot/Cargo Space 230 l 475 l
Kerb Weight 1280 kg 1505 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1690 kg 1825 kg
Payload Capacity 410 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Towing Capacity 0 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 4.95 m 5.66 m
Front Headroom 980 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom 920 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom 1060 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom 690 mm Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

This DOLPHIN SURF and UNI-S comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. 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 UNI-S 59.

Efficiency index: DOLPHIN SURF 90 vs UNI-S 55.

Safety-equipment index: DOLPHIN SURF 87 vs UNI-S 92.

Practicality index: DOLPHIN SURF 51 vs UNI-S 68.

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

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.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

UNI-S leads by 8 points

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

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 67% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

UNI-S

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 55
Performance 59
Efficiency 55
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Leads by 8 points
61
#2

DOLPHIN SURF

60% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 90 Check Performance 25
Performance 25
Efficiency 90
Safety 87
Practicality 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance UNI-S +34 Efficiency DOLPHIN SURF +35 Safety UNI-S +5 Practicality UNI-S +17

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

UNI-S

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100

DOLPHIN SURF

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Changan UNI-S leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 61 pts for DOLPHIN SURF

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

DOLPHIN SURF vs UNI-S questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa 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.