2023 BYD T3 Van Electric from Norway
Summary:
Poor quality, not built to last
Faults:
Nothing major, just an endless series of smaller problems and irritation.
12V battery replaced, still not fixed. Original battery is of extremely poor quality.
Multimedia system lives its own life, has really never properly worked.
Random error messages, still no "real" problem.
Central locking does not like sub zero temperatures.
Poor fit and finish in interior, general poor quality and looks worn after few years.
Poor paint quality and has started to rust.
General Comments:
Cheap to buy and decent warranty, if the dealer can be bothered to honor it.
But build quality is a joke. Probably the poorest van out there quality wise. Out of warranty next year, will sell before that. Never seen a car rust after less than 2 years, not counting my grandfather's Austin Maxi 1973 model.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 19th March, 2026
31st Mar 2026, 09:30
Here in Norway we have this net zero madness that makes running diesel vans very expensive. This electric van was bought for short distance deliveries since range is a complete joke, basically 150 km in the winter. But it was by far the cheapest option overall. We have various diesel vans, trucks and pickups that we'll simply keep. Usually we would do a trade in maybe after 3 to 5 years depending. Now we plan to run these 10+ years/400 to 500K kms. New diesel vehicles are now very expensive and electric vehicles are basically toys not suitable for heavy duty work. How do you tow a 3 ton digger plus 500 to 700 kg of additional equipment and extra fuel? There is no solution to this utter madness. I'm even using some Chevrolet G30 vans from the 80ies as everyday drivers now due to this situation.
Norway will be the new Cuba. More people are running old diesel vans, and it will only get worse.
2nd Apr 2026, 17:24
Completely agree. It's not just Norway; it's almost all of Europe with its ridiculous emissions regulations.
Unlike Japan, where they restricted diesel use in cars during the 80s and 90s, while in Europe during those years more than 60% of vehicles were diesel.
Today it's the opposite: in Japan, diesel is increasingly accepted, while in Europe they're doing everything possible to phase it out. This is completely irrational, since today's diesel engines (in cars, vans, and trucks) actually pollute very little. Politicians, who understand nothing about mechanics or the environment, want to restrict diesel, which is more environmentally friendly than ever. In short, it's madness. I'm glad that consumers are choosing to own older cars and vans; it makes those who impose these ridiculous restrictions think twice.
22nd Mar 2026, 23:25
Thanks for the honest review. Electric vehicles have a bad rep, and every review I read (here and elsewhere online) is rarely positive, usually range and other issues being the main complaints. I am very surprised however at rust on a vehicle that is only a few years old!