BYD Dolphin G driven: Can this £24k PHEV rewrite the supermini rulebook?
Inside, the Dolphin G is a touch anodyne and makes use of plenty of cheap-feeling materials.
The Boost model looks and feels quite low-rent, so we would find the extra £1500 for the Comfort, which benefits from nicer, white upholstery and a panoramic sunroof.
The glass roof also adds a modicum of additional head room in the back; in the Boost our heads brushed the headlining.
Leg room is more generous, but three adults across the rear seats would be a squeeze.
You do feel quite perched in the driver’s seat, which is likely a consequence of the PHEV battery which sits in the Dolphin G’s floor.
Luggage capacity is impressive, thanks to a class-leading 425-litre boot, which outshines that of the bigger Volkswagen Golf (381 litres).
The 12.8in central touchscreen features BYD’s latest software, which includes Google Maps, and overall it’s well-organised and responsive. Some of the icons are a little small, though, requiring a longer look away from the road for an accurate prod.
BYD has clearly put some thought into interior usability, however, as there are some proper physical controls for drive-mode selectors and mirror adjustment.
While most functions are controlled via the touchscreen, it can be customised to better suit your needs, and the shortcuts that appear when you swipe down on the home screen are a handy addition.
The Dolphin G has 16 different ADAS, but core functions like the lane keeping assistance and speed limit warning are easy to disable via the shortcuts.
You will want to turn the driver monitoring off, because it can be quite distracting when it bings and bings at you for looking away from the road.
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