BYD Dolphin G DM-i: UK's First Plug-In Hybrid Supermini

BYD has just done something no other manufacturer has managed: it has put a plug-in hybrid powertrain into a supermini. The Dolphin G DM-i is now on sale in Britain from £23,990, with the first customer deliveries arriving in September 2026 — and it has no direct rival anywhere in the segment. Superminis with electrified power are nothing new, of course. The Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris sell by the thousand with self-charging hybrid systems, and the fully electric Renault 5 has been one of the success stories of 2026. But a proper plug-in hybrid — the kind you charge from a wallbox or a public charger and can run for dozens of miles on electricity alone — has never been offered in a car this small. Until now. Why this car, and why now Plug-in hybrid sales in the UK soared by around 35 per cent last year, as drivers looked for a stepping stone between petrol power and a full EV. For urban and suburban drivers who cannot always charge at home or who regularly drive beyond electric range, a PHEV promises the best of both worlds: zero-emission commuting during the week and petrol backup for the long run south on Friday evening. BYD's DM-i system — "Dual Mode-intelligent" — is designed to behave primarily as an electric car. A 95hp 1.5-litre petrol engine works largely as a generator, teaming up with a front-mounted electric motor to drive the wheels. The entry-level Active version produces 176hp, while Boost, Comfort and Sport models make 212hp. Performance is sprightly rather than sporty: 0-62mph takes 8.3 seconds and the top speed is 112mph. Prices and trims There are four trim levels, each stepping up in battery size, equipment or both: Active — £23,990. This is the headline price, and it makes the Dolphin G DM-i the cheapest plug-in hybrid car on sale in Britain. You get a 7.4kWh Blade Battery with 24.8 miles of electric-only range and 633 miles of combined range, with weighted fuel consumption of 108.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 60g/km. Boost — £26,990. The bigger 18.3kWh battery lifts electric-only range to 65 miles and combined range to 646 miles. Weighted consumption is a remarkable 201.7mpg with CO2 of just 32g/km. Boost and above also gain faster charging: 6.6kW AC plus DC fast charging at up to 39kW, against 3.3kW AC on the entry car. Comfort — £28,490. Same powertrain as Boost, with 18-inch alloy wheels, fabric and vegan leather upholstery, an electrically adjustable driver's seat, integrated Google services and a 360-degree camera. Sport — £29,940. The range-topper keeps the 18.3kWh battery and 65-mile electric range at the same 201.7mpg figure. All four versions come generously equipped. Standard kit includes LED headlights, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic air conditioning, a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot detection and front and rear parking sensors. Practical and familiar The Dolphin G shares its underpinnings with the fully electric Dolphin Surf already on sale in the UK, so the formula will be familiar to anyone who has seen BYD's recent output. At 4,160mm long it is a true supermini, yet the boot is a genuinely useful 425 litres — larger than many rivals — expanding to 1,225 litres with the rear seats folded. What does it mean for rivals? The key rivals BYD has in its sights are cars well known to DrivePedia readers: the Renault Clio, the Vauxhall Corsa and the Toyota Yaris. None offers a plug-in option, which leaves the Dolphin G DM-i in a class of one. For company car drivers, the low CO2 figures — 60g/km for Active, 32g/km for Boost and above — mean attractive benefit-in-kind tax rates, while private buyers get what is effectively an electric car for the school run and a petrol car for the holiday run, from under £24,000. There are caveats, as early reviews note. The styling is neat and approachable rather than exciting, and it lacks the retro charm of a Renault 5 or the premium feel of a Volkswagen Golf. The entry Active's 24.8-mile electric range is modest next to the 65 miles of the Boost, so buyers who want the full plug-in experience will need to spend at least £26,990. But as the first — and cheapest — plug-in hybrid supermini in Britain, the Dolphin G DM-i is a landmark car, and the start of customer deliveries this month makes September 2026 the month the segment changed. Frequently asked questions What is the BYD Dolphin G DM-i? It is a plug-in hybrid version of BYD's Dolphin G supermini and the first plug-in hybrid supermini ever sold in Britain. It pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and a Blade Battery. How much does the BYD Dolphin G DM-i cost in the UK? Prices start at £23,990 for the Active, rising to £26,990 for Boost, £28,490 for Comfort and £29,940 for Sport. It is currently the cheapest new plug-in hybrid car on sale in Britain. What is the electric range of the Dolphin G DM-i? The Active has 24.8 miles of electric-only range from a 7.4kWh battery. Boost, Comfort and Sport models use an 18.3kWh battery with 65 miles of electric range. Combined petrol-electric range is 633 miles (Active) or 646 miles (Boost and above). What does DM-i mean? DM-i stands for "Dual Mode-intelligent", BYD's plug-in hybrid system in which the car operates primarily as an electric vehicle, with the petrol engine acting largely as a generator. When did the Dolphin G DM-i go on sale in the UK? Orders opened in summer 2026, with the first UK customer deliveries scheduled for September 2026. Which cars rival the Dolphin G DM-i? There is no direct plug-in hybrid rival in the supermini class. The closest alternatives are self-charging hybrids such as the Renault Clio (https://drivepedia.site/car/renault-clio-2024), the Vauxhall Corsa (https://drivepedia.site/car/vauxhall-corsa-2024) and the Ford Fiesta (https://drivepedia.site/car/ford-fiesta-2023), plus fully electric superminis. Sources - TV2Club: "It's Britain's first plug-in hybrid supermini but is the BYD Dolphin G DM-i worth its £24,000 price tag?" (26 Sep 2026) — https://tv2club.com/news/its-britains-first-plug-in-hybrid-supermini-but-is-the-byd-dolphin-g-dm-i-worth-its-24000-price-tag/ - The EV Report: "BYD Dolphin G DM-i UK Prices From £23,990" — https://theevreport.com/byd-dolphin-g-dm-i-uk-pricing - Fleet News (10 Jul 2026): "2027 BYD Dolphin G: prices and specs" — https://Www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/byd-dolphin-g - Global Auto Insight: "BYD DOLPHIN G DM-i Launches in UK with Up to 646-Mile Combined Range" — https://www.globalautoinsight.com/news/byd-dolphin-g-dm-i-uk-launch-646-mile-combined-range - EVSHIFT: "New BYD Dolphin G supermini brings plug-in hybrid power for under £24k" — https://www.evshift.com/487321/new-byd-dolphin-g-supermini-brings-plug-in-hybrid-power-for-under-24k/ - Select Car Leasing: BYD Dolphin G DM-i (2026) Review — https://www.selectcarleasing.co.uk/car-leasing/reviews/byd/dolphin-g-dm-i