BYD Dolphin G PHEV Chimes in at under £24,000

The ground-breaking new BYD Dolphin G Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) small family car will go on sale in the UK priced under £24,000, it has been confirmed.

Set to become the first model of its kind to offer the flexibility of both a plug-in battery and a petrol-fuelled engine, the Dolphin G will offer class-leading frugality in a segment that includes the likes of the Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio and Volkswagen Polo.

BYD isn’t a stranger to popularising PHEV technology having applied the powertrain format to models as the BYD Seal U DM-i, one of the UK’s best-selling cars.

Better yet, you can WIN a plug-in hybrid BYD Seal U DM-i right now as part of the latest Vertu Car Giveaway. It is free to enter and could see you driving away in a spacious family SUV with a combined range of almost 700-miles.

BYD Dolphin G: Prices and Trim Levels

Four trim levels will be offered with the Dolphin G, all priced under £30,000 to make it comfortably the cheapest PHEV on the market right now*.

The range begins with the £23,990 Active grade, rising to £26,990 and £28,490 for the mid-range Boost and Comfort trims. The flagship Sport comes in at £29,490.

Under the skin, the BYD Dolphin G combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors, one of which drives the front wheels as the other generates energy for the motor and the battery.

Entry-level Active trim features a 7.42kWh battery which is good for up to 25-miles of electric range, which in turn helps to significantly improve overall fuel economy.

Boost, Comfort and Sport trims make use of a larger 18.3kWh battery that will take the Dolphin G up to 65-miles on electric power alone. BYD claims the model will be capable of a combined range (electric and petrol) of 646-miles in total.

A full recharge should take a little under three hours using a typical 7kW home wallbox, though the larger battery can take a rapid charger for a 10-80% top-up in 26-mins.

As well as the advanced technology beneath the skin, BYD has worked hard to maximise the Dolphin G’s dimensions for impressive practicality.

As such, it offers ‘best-in-class-packaging’, according to BYD, with space for up to five people and a 425-litre boot.

BYD Dolphin G: Specifications and Equipment

Standard kit is also impressive with the Dolphin G getting a 10.1-inch touchscreen display alongside an 8.8-inch digital instrument panel, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, air-conditioning and cruise control, even on the base Active trim.

Upgrade to Boost and BYD adds tinted windows, vegan leather-trimmed steering wheel, heated front seats, an eight-speaker sound system, ambient lighting, wireless smartphone charging and a larger 12.8-inch touchscreen.

Go for Comfort and you’ll get 18-inch alloy wheels, a mix of fabric and vegan leather upholstery and Google built into the infotainment system.

The top-of-the-range Sport trims adds unique branding, darker 18-inch rims, suede panels on the inside and unique paint options.

Why the BYD Dolphin G is Such an Important Model

The Dolphin G represents a new tact by BYD to break into the competitive European market.

As well as being the first small hatchback to offer PHEV as standard, which in turn makes it the cheapest Plug-In Hybrid on the UK market, it’s the first model from BYD designed especially for Europe.

This means the Dolphin G has been developed with Europe specifically in mind and will go on sale here before it is offered in BYD native China.

*Prices correct at the time of publishing#