BYD Dolphin G plug-in hybrid review – first UK drive

Make and model: BYD Dolphin G DM-i
Description: Plug-in hybrid supermini
Price range: From £23,990

Summary: The BYD Dolphin G combines a useful electric driving range with potentially low running costs, plenty of space and competitive pricing, making it an appealing introduction to plug-in hybrid motoring.

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For a broader ownership picture, see our BYD Dolphin G Expert Rating, which combines media reviews, safety data, reliability, running costs and warranty cover.

BYD is one of the most recognisable of the new wave of Chinese brands in the UK, alongside Omoda and Jaecoo. More than 50,000 buyers chose a BYD last year from a mushrooming range that now covers 14 different model lines. Seven of them are hybrids, with the latest being this car, the Dolphin G.

It’s not just another hybrid, however. The company claims several firsts for this car, including being the first BYD designed and engineered specifically for Europe. More importantly for buyers, it’s the first plug-in hybrid supermini from any car company.

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Despite the rise of the SUV, small hatchbacks still account for a significant slice of new car sales, particularly among first-time buyers. With a useful electric-only range, plenty of interior space and what its makers claim is the biggest boot in the segment, the Dolphin G could be a significant new arrival for customers who want an electric car but are not confident enough to completely abandon the comfort blanket of a petrol engine.

Price and equipment

The Dolphin G comes in four trim levels, but only the most cash-strapped buyer is likely to choose the £24K entry-level ‘Active’ model. It has less power and, crucially, a smaller battery that delivers a much shorter electric driving range of just 25 miles.

Equipment levels are reasonable, including niceties such as a reversing camera, but it’s worth finding another £3K for the ‘Boost’ trim. This brings more power and a bigger battery, which increases the electric range by more than 40 miles. The central touchscreen grows from ten inches to 13 inches, while extra equipment includes heated front seats and steering wheel, wireless smartphone charging and vehicle-to-load capability, allowing external electrical equipment to be powered from the car’s battery. These aren’t typical small car features.

‘Comfort’ specification adds another £1,500 to the bill, bringing bigger alloy wheels (18 inches rather than 16), artificial leather upholstery details, electric driver’s seat adjustment, a 360-degree camera and Google features on the touchscreen. Also nice are the panoramic sunroof and head-up display.

Finally, there’s ‘Sport’ at £29.4K. This is an alternative to Comfort rather than a range-topping model, with black alloy wheels and artificial suede upholstery featuring orange or blue highlights, depending on the exterior colour.

As of October 2026, the Dolphin G hasn’t been crash-tested by Euro NCAP. BYD’s similarly named but fully electric Dolphin has earned a five-star rating, although that result doesn’t apply to the Dolphin G.

Inside the car

This is a big supermini, at close to 4.2 metres long, which means plenty of interior space and, in particular, a very big boot. At 425 litres, it’s larger than the boot in a Volkswagen Golf from the next class up.

Interior fit and finish are up to the good standards established by BYD. The launch event provided cars in Boost and Comfort specifications, and the grey interior of the latter, trimmed in a combination of fabric and artificial leather, looks rather more upmarket than the plain black fabric of the Boost.

The controls follow the current Chinese-led trend of having very few physical buttons, with most functions contained in touchscreen menus. At least there’s a row of digital shortcuts along the bottom of the central screen for easy adjustment of the climate control. It’s also good to see mirror adjustment handled by physical controls inside the door.

The driver gets a separate digital display offering rather a lot of information across a choice of screens. Making essentials such as the speed a little larger would be an improvement.

Driving range and charging

Further claims made by BYD for the Dolphin G include the most power, highest efficiency and longest electric range of any comparable plug-in hybrid. The company’s hybrid technology has been updated for this car, although it follows the same basic approach of using the 1.5-litre petrol engine primarily to generate electricity for the battery. As a result, the Dolphin G drives much more like an electric car than a typical hybrid.

The entry-level Active uses a 7kWh battery, giving it an official electric driving range of 25 miles. The larger 18kWh battery fitted to the other versions increases that to 65 miles, which is a much more useful figure for anyone planning to make regular journeys on electricity alone. BYD personnel also say the Dolphin G will return more than 60mpg even if you never plug it in, although that’s a claim we’d want to assess over a longer test.

The Active has a slower 3kW home charging speed, taking just under two hours for a 15-100% recharge. The other models can charge at up to 7kW from a home wallbox, so they take around the same time to charge despite their larger batteries.

The higher-specification versions also accept public charging at up to 39kW, with a 10-80% recharge taking 26 minutes.   

On the road

BYD quotes a 0-62mph time of just over eight seconds for the higher-spec Dolphin G models, although it doesn’t feel quite as perky as a dedicated electric car. Assuming you’re starting with a full battery, the Dolphin G spends much of its day-to-day driving time being powered by the electric motor, to the point where you’re surprised when the petrol engine cuts in. While the engine sounds a little coarse, the whole process feels much smoother than in a more conventional hybrid.

Generally, the Dolphin G rides well, although it seems at its best at higher speeds. It’s not particularly nimble, but then it isn’t meant to be a hot hatch. Corners are taken in a composed fashion, and some effort appears to have been made to address the common EV trait of overly light steering. There’s definite resistance as you turn away from the straight-ahead position, which this reviewer preferred.

BYD has a reputation for acting quickly on criticism, and the Dolphin G’s driver alerts are less intrusive than on some other recent arrivals. Even better, there’s a control that turns them all off in one go, although you first have to find it in a touchscreen menu.

Ownership

The Dolphin G’s greatest ownership advantage is the potential to complete most everyday journeys on electricity while retaining a petrol engine for longer trips.

With up to 65 miles of official electric driving range in the larger-battery versions, drivers who can charge at home may be able to complete most of their regular driving without using petrol. That could make the Dolphin G particularly economical to run, although the savings depend on electricity prices, charging habits and the journeys being made.

The cheaper Active’s 25-mile electric range is much less compelling, which reinforces the case for spending more on a larger-battery version.

The Dolphin G hasn’t yet received an independent Euro NCAP safety rating, and it’s too new for meaningful long-term reliability conclusions. Our Expert Rating will provide a broader picture as safety, running-cost and reliability information becomes available.

Verdict

Ignore the base model and there are plenty of pluses to the BYD Dolphin G. As the first plug-in hybrid small hatchback, it arrives at a price comparable with basic (non-plugged) hybrid rivals, yet offers a much longer electric driving range than those cars can manage.

It’s roomy, has plenty of equipment, especially in terms of safety features, and is generally well put together. Its on-road performance is more than adequate and, while there are a few niggles, none is a deal-breaker.

For buyers who can charge regularly, the larger-battery versions offer a useful combination of everyday electric driving and petrol backup for longer journeys. That could make the Dolphin G a particularly appealing first step into plug-in hybrid ownership.

It’s well worthy of consideration, whether as a first car or simply as an economical small family hatchback.

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Key specifications