BYD is preparing to put its new DOLPHIN G DM-i in front of UK buyers as the £23,990 supermini becomes the cheapest new plug-in hybrid currently offered in Britain.
The Chinese manufacturer confirmed on Wednesday, 26 August that the DOLPHIN G DM-i will be among a range of new vehicles displayed at CarFest 2026, which takes place at Silverstone Circuit from 28 to 30 August.
The DOLPHIN G DM-i has been designed specifically for the UK and European markets and combines a petrol engine with BYD’s plug-in Super Hybrid technology.
Prices start at £23,990 on the road for the entry-level Active version, making it a particularly interesting alternative for drivers who want electric capability without relying entirely on public charging.
Four trim levels are available in the UK. Active costs £23,990, followed by Boost at £26,990, Comfort at £28,490 and Sport at £29,940.
The entry-level Active uses a 7.4kWh Blade Battery and offers an official electric-only range of 24.8 miles. BYD quotes a combined petrol-and-electric range of up to 633 miles for this version.
Moving up to the £26,990 Boost brings a significantly larger 18.3kWh battery, increasing electric-only range to as much as 65 miles and total combined range to 646 miles.
The Boost also introduces DC rapid charging at up to 39kW, while system output increases from 176PS in the Active to 212PS.
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Despite its supermini positioning, BYD quotes 425 litres of boot capacity, giving the DOLPHIN G considerably more luggage space than might be expected from a compact hatchback.
Standard equipment across the range includes adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot detection and front and rear parking sensors.
The car is already available to order in the UK, with the first customer deliveries scheduled for September.
Its appearance at CarFest is therefore more than an early concept preview. UK customers will be able to see a production model that is effectively about to arrive on British roads.
The DOLPHIN G DM-i should not be confused with the smaller fully electric BYD Dolphin Surf, or with earlier reports surrounding the Chinese-market Seagull/Dolphin Mini. The DOLPHIN G is a separate plug-in hybrid model developed specifically with European customers in mind.
For higher-mileage drivers, the 65-mile electric range available on the larger-battery versions could be particularly interesting. Regular local journeys could potentially be completed largely on electricity while the petrol engine remains available for longer motorway work without requiring charging stops.
Actual fuel consumption and electric range will vary according to charging habits, driving conditions, temperature and journey type, so BYD’s quoted figures should not be interpreted as guaranteed real-world results.
BYD will also use CarFest to display several other forthcoming models, including its Ti 7 seven-seater, SHARK plug-in hybrid pick-up and the 1,604PS all-electric DENZA Z supercar.
For everyday UK buyers, however, the £23,990 DOLPHIN G could prove the most significant of the group because it brings plug-in hybrid technology into a price bracket normally occupied by conventional petrol hybrids and smaller electric cars.
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