BYD Dolphin G DM-i UK price: plug-in hybrid from £23,990
BYD's Dolphin G DM-i is a plug-in hybrid supermini, not a pure EV, priced from £23,990 with up to 65 miles of electric range and first deliveries that were due in September.
Quick answers
- The BYD Dolphin G DM-i is a plug-in hybrid with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, so it is not a pure EV.
- UK prices run from £23,990 for the Active to £29,940 for the Sport, with four trims.
- The Active has a 7.4kWh battery and about 25 miles of electric range; Boost, Comfort and Sport have an 18.3kWh battery and up to 65 miles.
- BYD claims up to 646 miles of combined range and up to 201.7mpg weighted, with a 425-litre boot.
- It undercuts the £26,995 Atto 2 DM-i, and BYD says it is the only plug-in hybrid supermini on sale.
The BYD Dolphin G DM-i is a plug-in hybrid supermini, not a pure EV, and it starts at £23,990 in the UK (AM Online). It pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with electric motors and offers up to 65 miles of electric-only range on the larger battery. First customer deliveries were due in September, so if you are wary of going fully electric, it is now an option on UK forecourts.
What does the Dolphin G DM-i cost?
| Trim | UK price | Battery | Electric range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | £23,990 | 7.4kWh | About 25 miles |
| Boost | £26,990 | 18.3kWh | Up to 65 miles |
| Comfort | £28,490 | 18.3kWh | Up to 65 miles |
| Sport | £29,940 | 18.3kWh | Up to 65 miles |
Prices and battery sizes from BYD UK Media and The EV Report. One report listed the Sport at £29,490; we use £29,940, which BYD’s figures and most outlets give. These are list prices. The Electric Car Grant does not apply, because it covers only zero-emission cars priced up to £37,000 and plug-in hybrids are excluded; see our Electric Car Grant guide.
Why it is a plug-in hybrid, and what that means
The car uses BYD’s Super Hybrid DM-i system: a 1.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors, one driving the front wheels and one generating energy for the motor and battery (autoevolution). You can plug it in, but it burns petrol once the battery is spent.
BYD quotes up to 646 miles combined and up to 201.7mpg weighted, with a 425-litre boot, and DC charging is standard from the Boost. The mpg figure is a lab-test weighting that assumes regular charging. If you rarely plug in, expect far less. Our electric versus hybrid cost comparison explains the difference.
Dolphin G DM-i versus Atto 2 DM-i
BYD says the Dolphin G is the only plug-in hybrid supermini on the market (EV Powered). It undercuts BYD’s own Atto 2 DM-i, which starts at £26,995 with a 7.8kWh battery for 24 miles of WLTP electric range on the Active, and an 18kWh battery on the Boost, priced from £29,995, for 55 miles WLTP combined (The EV Report).
| Dolphin G DM-i Boost | Atto 2 DM-i Boost | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £26,990 | £29,995 |
| Body | Supermini hatchback | Small SUV |
| Battery | 18.3kWh | 18kWh |
| Electric range | Up to 65 miles | 55 miles WLTP combined |
The Dolphin G is cheaper and claims the longer range, though the two quote figures on different bases, so compare them on a test drive.
Who should buy it?
The 25-mile Active suits little more than short hops; the larger battery from the £26,990 Boost is the one that makes a plug-in hybrid worthwhile. A 65-mile claim could cover many daily commutes on electricity alone, with the petrol engine for longer trips. If you cannot charge at home, the case weakens, as our home charging options guide shows.
Company-car drivers should check the tax picture: plug-in hybrid benefit in kind is set to rise, as we explain in plug-in hybrid BiK to hit 18% in 2028/29. Our BYD UK range guide lists the rest of the line-up.
What this means for you
Choose the Dolphin G DM-i if you want a small car for mostly short, rechargeable journeys without range worries, and you accept it is still a petrol car. If you can charge at home and your trips are short, a pure EV may cost less to run; if long journeys dominate, the DM-i avoids waiting at chargers. Start at the Boost: it costs £3,000 more than the Active and gives you well over double the electric range.
How we test and where our numbers come from
Range figures are official WLTP combined values taken from manufacturer UK specification pages, with real-world estimates drawn from independent comparative testing. Prices are UK list prices at the time of the latest update. Tax, grant and charging-scheme figures come from GOV.UK and HMRC publications. We re-check every guide when pricing, specification or policy changes. Last checked 6 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BYD Dolphin G an electric car?
No. The Dolphin G DM-i is a plug-in hybrid. It has a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, and can be plugged in to charge its battery. The Dolphin Surf is BYD's separate pure EV.
How much does the BYD Dolphin G DM-i cost in the UK?
Prices start at £23,990 for the Active, then £26,990 for the Boost, £28,490 for the Comfort and £29,940 for the Sport. We found one report quoting the Sport at £29,490, but BYD and most outlets list £29,940.
How far can the Dolphin G DM-i go on electricity?
The Active manages about 25 miles from its 7.4kWh battery. The Boost, Comfort and Sport use an 18.3kWh battery for up to 65 miles of electric-only range. Combined range is up to 646 miles.
When are Dolphin G DM-i deliveries?
BYD said first customer deliveries were due in September 2026.
Does the Electric Car Grant apply to the Dolphin G DM-i?
No. The grant is for zero-emission cars priced up to £37,000, and a plug-in hybrid has a petrol engine, so it is excluded.
Sources and further reading
- bydukmedia.comBYD UK MediaPrimary source referenced in this article.
- am-online.comBYD confirms Dolphin G DM-i UK prices and September launchPrices and launch timing.
- theevreport.comBYD Dolphin G DM-i UK Prices From £23,990Trim prices and specifications.
- theevreport.comBYD ATTO 2 DM-i UK Pricing Starts at £26,995Atto 2 DM-i price and electric range for comparison.
- evpowered.co.ukBYD Dolphin G DM-i supermini is the cheapest plug-in hybrid on sale in the UKPositioning against other plug-in hybrids.
EV Compared
The EV Compared editorial team tracks the UK electric vehicle market full time: new model launches, list prices, WLTP and real-world range, public charging tariffs and the tax rules that decide what an EV actually costs to run. Every guide is checked against manufacturer specifications and official GOV.UK figures, and updated whenever the numbers move.
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