BYD has fired its latest shot at Europe’s volume car makers with the Dolphin G DM-i, a compact hatchback that becomes the only supermini on sale with plug-in hybrid power, and the first car the Chinese brand has developed specifically for Europe.
The headline numbers are striking. Fitted with the larger of two Blade Battery options, the Dolphin G DM-i will cover up to 65 miles on electricity alone – enough to render the petrol engine redundant for most daily driving – while a full charge and a full tank stretch its total range to 646 miles. BYD quotes weighted fuel consumption of 201.7mpg with the battery fully charged, and CO2 emissions as low as 32g/km.
That combination is unique in the B-segment, and it arrives as plug-in hybrids continue to be the fastest-growing corner of the UK new car market, according to SMMT registration data.
EV first, petrol second
The Dolphin G uses the same DM-i Super Hybrid architecture that impressed us in the BYD Seal U, scaled down for supermini duty. Unlike a conventional plug-in hybrid, the system is EV-led: a 163PS (120kW) electric motor drives the front wheels in most situations, with the 1.5-litre Xiaoyun petrol engine acting chiefly as a generator to keep the Blade Battery topped up. The engine only drives the wheels directly when the car’s control systems decide it’s the most efficient option, such as under hard acceleration or steady motorway cruising.
The result, BYD claims, is the quiet, instant response of an electric car with none of the range anxiety. The 0-62mph sprint takes 8.3 seconds, brisk by supermini standards.
Two battery sizes are offered. Entry-level Active cars get a 7.42kWh unit good for around 25 miles of WLTP electric range and a 633-mile combined total, with a 3.3kW on-board charger that refills the pack from 15% in just under three hours. Boost, Comfort and Sport versions move up to an 18.3kWh battery for the full 65-mile electric range, adding 6.6kW AC charging and 39kW DC rapid charging that takes the battery from 10% to 80% in 26 minutes.
Bigger boot than a family hatch
At 4,160mm long, the Dolphin G sits squarely in supermini territory, 170mm shorter than the Atto 2 DM-i Super Hybrid SUV, yet its 2,610mm wheelbase is longer than any conventionally powered rival’s. BYD says that translates into space for five adults and a 425-litre boot, including a hidden 45-litre underfloor compartment. That’s more luggage space than many family hatchbacks from the class above, and folding the 40:60-split rear seats opens up 1,225 litres.
The cabin majors on simplicity, with a column-mounted gear selector freeing up a dual-level storage console between the front seats, an 8.8-inch digital instrument panel and a freestanding touchscreen measuring either 10.1 or 12.8 inches depending on trim.
Four trims, big-car kit
The range opens with Active, which includes LED lights all round, parking sensors front and rear, a rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Boost adds the bigger battery, heated front seats and steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, an eight-speaker stereo and vehicle-to-load capability – allowing the car to power anything from a laptop to a portable grill.
Comfort brings genuinely upmarket touches rarely seen in this class: a head-up display, panoramic roof, 360-degree camera, vegan leather upholstery, 18-inch alloys and built-in Google, complete with Google Maps, Google Assistant and downloadable apps. The range-topping Sport adds gloss-black wheels and a two-tone cabin with suede-effect seat panels.
Safety kit is comprehensive across the board, with adaptive cruise, emergency lane keeping, blind spot detection, cross traffic alert with braking, a driver monitoring system and door opening warning all standard.
“With Dolphin G DM-i, we want to redefine what customers can expect from a compact car in the electric era,” said BYD executive vice president Stella Li. “We are making sustainable mobility smarter, more practical and available to many more people across Europe.”
The Dolphin G DM-i will be offered in six colours, with orders opening across Europe this summer and first deliveries expected in early autumn. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but if the all-electric Dolphin is any guide, expect it to undercut established European rivals.