BYD DOLPHIN G HATCHBACK

Name: BYD DOLPHIN G 1.5 DM-i Active 5dr Auto
Brand: BYD DOLPHIN G
SKU: 110857
Availability: InStock

1.5 DM-i Active 5dr Auto

Images are for illustrative purposes only.

Fuel Type Hybrid

Co2 29.00g/km

Transmission Automatic

Top Speed 112mph

Customise Deal

Lease Type

Personal Business

Contract Length

Initial Rental

Annual Mileage

Maintenance

An excess mileage charge will apply if you exceed the contracted mileage. The exact charge will be confirmed on the official quotation prior to your acceptance to proceed.

Important Information

Excess mileage charges will apply if you go over the stated contract mileage.
Vehicle damage charges may occur if the vehicle is returned outside BVRLA's Fair Wear and Tear guidelines.
All rentals are subject to the necessary finance acceptance criteria.
Prices shown are indicative and subject to change.
No ownership option is available on this lease.
Manufacturer’s maintenance schedule must be observed and additional charges may apply for failure to maintain servicing and any non fair wear and tear damage to the vehicle.
Quoted leadtimes are estimates based on information from the manufacturer and are subject to change. We will keep you up to date during the course of your order.
If you are ordering a Used Vehicle you acknowledge that some minor wear and tear or cosmetic damage may be present on the vehicle, such as small chips, scuffs, or scratches.

Fetching your price

Fuel Type Hybrid

Co2 29.00g/km

Transmission Automatic

Top Speed 112mph

BYD DOLPHIN G Review

- Independent review from Car and Driving

Performance
7
Handling
6
Comfort
7
Space
6
Styling
7
Build
6
Value
8
Equipment
8
Economy
8
Depreciation
7
Insurance
6

BYD's Dolphin G DM-i is the supermini you probably haven't considered that you probably actually need, thinks Jonathan Crouch.

Ten Second Review

Here's something very rare indeed. A Plug-in Hybrid supermini - and an affordable one at that. The BYD Dolphin G DM-i is out to persuade potential customers of small hatchbacks that they don't really need an EV after all. And it might just succeed.

Background

Genius. Is that we have here? It's apparently what the 'G' in this car's name stands for. It's Chinese maker BYD's very first model developed specifically for Europe, the Dolphin G DM-i. Which is also the supermini B-segment's very first Plug-in Hybrid. Lots of firsts. We've already had two breeds of BYD Dolphin, both full-EVs. First, the slightly larger Dolphin family hatch; and second the Dolphin Surf citycar. The Dolphin G sits in between and uses the 'Super Hybrid' PHEV technology we've already seen the company similarly sized Atto 2 DM-i small SUV. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

The 'Genius'-designating tag letter used here might sound like marketing hyperbole or exaggeration. But it's easy to underestimate what a feat it is to produce a Plug-in Hybrid drivetrain that's sophisticated enough to work like an EV; but so affordable to produce that it doesn't drive the price of a supermini beyond reasonable bounds. None of BYD's mainstream rivals have ever managed this, but the Chinese maker has pulled off that challenge here with some style. Of course, the DM-I 'Super Hybrid' engine in question isn't only used on this Dolphin G. We've also seen it in this size of car with the Atto 2 small SUV - though in the case of the Dolphin G it's an evolved 5.0 version of that design, which is claimed to be more efficient. 'DM-i' stands for 'Dual Mode intelligent' and, as with the Atto 2, there are a couple of variants of this 1.5-litre petrol drivetrain which on its own offers 95PS before you start adding in electric motor power. The entry level 176PS Active variant uses a 7.2kWh battery offering a modest EV range of 25 miles. Ideally, you'd stretch to the 212PS Comfort version, which has a much larger 18.3kWh battery pack and a properly usable 65 mile EV range that would allow most owners to use their Dolphin G much like an electric car. With this PHEV powertrain, the four cylinder engine is rarely the thing that's driving the front wheels through the car's continuously variable e-CVT auto transmission. Instead, most of the time it acts as a generator for the 'Blade'-style lithium-ion battery pack, enabling the main 163PS electric motor to undertake most of the propulsion duties. The driver can choose to drive in EV or Hybrid modes. 0-62mph takes 8.3s, en route to 112mph. And things are quiet in EV mode; you can hear the engine when it chimes in, but it's not obtrusive. The 1.555kg kerb weight is on the high side for a car of this size, but the rudimentary torsion beam suspension set-up handles the bulk well enough. And for urban use, there's quite a tight 5.5-metre turning circle. Out of town, expect body roll to be well-controlled thanks to the way the Blade battery is incorporated into the structure of the car. As usual with a BYD, there are some annoying ADAS drive assist functions you'll want to switch off.

Design and Build

This is a third quite different kind of BYD Dolphin, apparently 'made for Europe' (it's not on sale in the marque's core Chinese or South American markets). It will be some time though, before the G is actually made in Europe at the company's Hungarian plant. Size-wise, think Corsa supermini, reflected by the 4,160mm length, which is 170mm longer than the Dolphin Surf citycar and 130mm shorter than the Dolphin EV family hatch. The front end features the latest evolution in BYD's 'ocean-influenced' design, with soft curves and neat integration of the Super Hybrid powertrain's air intakes in the lower bumper, along with sharper near-vertical creases towards the edges, strengthening the look and making the car appear wider. Along the sides there's a single shoulder line that rises from the front wing towards the tail, and clean lower-door surfacing that helps to 'pinch' the car's visible waistline. There's also an interesting 'kick' motif after the rear-door shut line, playing with the C-pillar to create a sense of upwards movement and draw attention to the 'floating' roof design. The alloy wheels - 16-inch on Active and Boost, 18-inch dual-tone on Comfort and 18-inch gloss-black on Sport - all aim to give the Dolphin G a more dynamic look. At the rear, there's a full-width bar housing the BYD badging and LED tail-lights, as well as a sculpted lower bumper and a subtle roof spoiler that also houses the third brake light. Inside, the focus is on space, simplicity and ease of use. The dashboard has clean horizontal lines designed to increase the visual width, with vents for the automatic air conditioning integrated at either corner. The 8.8-inch digital instrument panel is incorporated into the sweeping cross-dashboard lines, while the infotainment screen (either 10.1-inches or 12.8-inches in size) sits proud of the fascia for easy access. The gear selector is mounted on the steering column, freeing up space between the front seats for a dual-level storage area, complete with a cubbyhole divider and a cup holder and, on most versions, a wireless smartphone-charging pad. A simple line of buttons at the base of the dashboard controls key functions like the windscreen demister and the vehicle driving modes. Clever packaging and a wheelbase measuring 2,610mm - longer than any of the DOLPHIN G DM-i's conventionally powered rivals - delivers what BYD claims is best-in-class packaging, with space for five adults and a boot capacity approaching what you'd get from most full-sized family hatchbacks from the class above, at 425-litres, including a 45-litre compartment beneath the floor. This total can be expanded to 1225-litres by folding down the 40:60-split rear seats, and the boot sides feature fixed hooks for keeping shopping bags secure.

Market and Model

BYD wants to price this Plug-in Hybrid Dolphin G DM-i model at around the same level as conventionally-powered supermini models, hence the £24,000-£29,500 price range being aimed at here. There's a choice of three core trim levels and an extra Sport edition that adds a distinctive look to the range-topping version. The line-up starts with Active, which features the smaller 7.42kWh Blade Battery. It sits on 16-inch alloy wheels and features front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera and LED headlights, tail-lights and daytime-running lights. Plus the brand's usual long list of ADAS drive assist features. Inside, features include a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with intelligent voice control and smartphone integration (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), an 8.8-inch digital instrument panel, auto air conditioning, fabric upholstery, six- and four-way adjustability on the driver's and front passenger's seats respectively, and a pair of front USB ports. Moving up to Boost level switches the Blade Battery to a larger 18.3kWh capacity. This version gets a larger 12.8-inch infotainment screen and brings heating on the front seats and steering wheel, auto dimming on the rear-view mirror, electrically folding side mirrors, multi-coloured ambient cabin lighting, a 15W wireless smartphone-charging pad, rear air vents, rear USB charging ports and a more powerful eight-speaker audio system. Boost also introduces Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), another clever feature for the supermini class that allows external devices - everything from a coffee machine or a laptop to fairy lights or even a portable grill - to be powered away from home. The plush Dolphin G DM-i Comfort introduces more high-end features. These include a widescreen head-up display, a panoramic roof with electrically adjustable sunshade, exterior-mirror 'puddle lights', a mix of fabric and vegan leather upholstery, electric adjustment and electrically adjustable lumbar support on the driver's seat, and a 360-degree-view camera, along with larger 18-inch alloy wheels. The infotainment system is also upgraded with Google integration, bringing Google maps and Google assistant, plus the ability to install additional applications like games and media streaming services. Finally, the Dolphin G DM-i Sport builds on Comfort specification with discreet badging, a darker style of 18-inch alloy wheels and a unique two-tone cabin treatment, complete with a motorsport-style suede finish on the seat panels.

Cost of Ownership

Obviously the efficiency figures you get dependent massively on which of the PHEV drivetrains you choose, how you drive and how often you're likely to plug the car in. Let's focus on the best possible scenario. You've stretched to the larger-battery 18.3kWh version; you almost never top 65 miles a day (in which case you'll never need petrol); and on your rare long trips, you'll enjoy a driving range (including a full charge) of up to 646 miles. The official combined cycle fuel figure and CO2 stat for the larger-battery model is rated at 201.7mpg and 32g/km (it's 108.6mpg and 60g/km for the smaller-battery version), but what you'll actually probably get is likely to be comparable to a really frugal small diesel. Or perhaps a similarly-sized Toyota Yaris - though that pricier Toyota isn't a PHEV, so can't replicate this BYD's ability to run purely on EV power for significant distances. Overall, it should all mean that for regular suburban trips, you ought to be able to treat this car pretty much like a full-EV. Yet have the convenience of an integrated combustion engine for longer trips that won't be blighted by 'range anxiety'. The 7.42kWh version AC-charges at 3.3kW; the 18.3kWh variant AC-charges at 6.6kW - and is the only version that can DC-charge, at up to 39kW. AC charging time from 15-100% using a 6.6kW single-phase home wallbox is just under 3 hours for the 18.3kWh model - which needs 26 minutes for a 10-80% DC charge. Like the Atto 2 DM-i, the Dolphin G has V2L technology, so small devices can be plugged into the car's drive battery. As usual with BYD, there's a warranty that lasts for six years or 150,000km (that's 93,206 miles).

Summary

If you're about to sign for a supermini EV, we'd counsel you to hold off and check out this Dolphin G DM-i before you do. Right here, right now, it might be a cleverer choice. How often will the suburban trips you're likely to undertake in a small car of this kind take you more than 65 miles a day? If the answer is not very often at all, as we suspect, then this BYD makes a lot of sense, ready and waiting as it is with a combustion engine for the occasional longer journeys that would potentially be a hassle with an EV. So the best of both worlds? Potentially yes. It's not particularly exciting package but is a supremely rational one. That 'Genius' tag might even be appropriate after all.

Read Full Review

Vehicle information and specification is supplied by an industry leading third party provider and is to be used for guidance only. We encourage you to check all equipment on the manufacturer's website before you place an order.

Standard Equipment

Technical Data

Options

Charging info

Driver Convenience

10.1" Touchscreen
4 x driving modes - Nomal/Eco/Sport/Snow
8.8" TFT full LCD instrument panel
Adaptive Cruise Control and Intelligent Cruise Control
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Blind spot detection
Driver monitoring system
Emergency call
Emergency Lane Keeping Assist (ELKA)
Forward collision warning
Front and rear parking radars
Front cross traffic alert and front cross traffic brake
Intelligent speed limit control (ISLC)
Intelligent voice control - "Hi BYD"
Lane departure assist (LDA)
Navigation system
Over the air software updates (OTA)
Power assisted steering
Rear camera
Rear collision warning
Rear cross traffic alert and rear cross traffic brake
Traffic sign recognition

Entertainment

4 speaker audio system
DAB Digital radio
Front USB ports - 1x 60W Type C, 1x 18W Type C

Exterior Features

4 x One-touch lift window with anti-pinch function
Automatic headlights
Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors
Follow me home lighting
Intelligent high beam assist
LED 3rd brake light
LED daytime running lights
LED Headlights
LED taillights
Manual dimming rear view mirror
Manual folding door mirrors
Rain sensing wipers
Rear fog lights
Rear side wing doors
Rear wiper

Interior Features

12V power sockets
3 rear head restraints
3 seat bench in 2nd row
4 way manual adjustable front passenger seat
6 way manual adjustable driver seat
Automatic air conditioning
Boot light
Boot parcel shelf
Cloth upholstery
Driver and passenger sun visor with mirror
Front head restraints
Front LED reading lights
ISOFIX and i-Size for front passenger and outer rear seats
Multifunction steering wheel
PM2.5 air filter
Single front passenger seat

Passive Safety

3x3 point rear seat belts
ABS
Automatic emergency braking system
Child presence detection
Deactivation switch for front passenger's airbag
Door opening warning
Driver's airbag
Electronic brake distribution
Electronic parking brake
Front and rear seat belts with pretensioner and force limiter
Front passenger airbag
Front side airbags
Front ventilated disc brakes and rear disc brakes
Intelligent power brake system
Mechanical child safety lock
Side curtain airbags
Traction control
Tyre pressure monitoring system

Security

2 x Smart keys
Digital key
Keyless entry and start

Wheels

16" alloy wheels
Tyre repair kit

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Capacity in kWh

7.4
Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins)

168
Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change

15-100
Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW

3.3
Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins)

Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change

Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW

Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins)

Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change

Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW

Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins)

Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change

Not Available
Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW

Not Available
Battery Leased

No
Battery Type

Lithium-ion
Charging Port Location

Right Side Rear
Coupler/Connector Type

Type 2
Maximum Charging Rate - kW

3.3
WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - City

11.5
WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - City

5.4
WLTP - EC AC Weighted (kWh/100km) - Comb

15.8
WLTP - EC AC Weighted (miles/kWh) - Comb

3.93
WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - City

60
WLTP - Equivalent AER (km) - Comb

40
WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - City

37.3
WLTP - Equivalent AER (miles) - Comb

24.9

Emissions - ICE

HC+NOx

Not Available
Particles

Not Available
Standard Emissions

EURO 6

Emissions - PHEV

WLTP - CO2 Weighted (g/km) - Comb

29

Engine and Drive Train

Camshaft

DOHC
Catalytic Convertor

Yes
CC

1498
Cylinder Layout

IN-LINE
Cylinders

4
Engine Layout

FRONT TRANSVERSE
Fuel Delivery

MULTI POINT FUEL INJECTION
Gears

1 SPEED
Number of Valves

16
Transmission

AUTO

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies

No

Fuel Consumption - PHEV

WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Comb

4.3
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - High

3.5
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Low

3.8
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (l/100km) - Medium

3.7
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Comb

65.7
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - High

80.7
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Low

74.3
WLTP - FC Ch Sus (mpg) - Medium

76.3
WLTP - FC Weighted (l/100km) - Comb

2.6
WLTP - FC Weighted (mpg) - Comb

108.6

General

Alternative Fuel Qualifying

Yes
Badge Engine CC

1.5
Badge Power

175
Based On ID

Not Available
Coin Description

DM-i
Coin Series

Active
Generation Mark

1
Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?

No
Service Interval Frequency - Months

12
Service Interval Mileage

10000
Special Edition

No
Special Order

No
Vehicle Homologation Class

M1

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs)

8.3
Engine Power - BHP

175
Engine Power - KW

129
Engine Power - RPM

6000
Engine Torque - LBS.FT

155
Engine Torque - MKG

21.4
Engine Torque - NM

210
Engine Torque - RPM

4500
Top Speed

112

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle

WLTP
RDE Certification Level

RDE 2

Tyres

Alloys?

Yes
Space Saver?

No
Tyre Size Front

225/60 R16
Tyre Size Rear

225/60 R16
Tyre Size Spare

TYRE REPAIR KIT
Wheel Style

Not Available
Wheel Type

16" ALLOY

Vehicle Dimensions

Height

1575
Length

4160
Wheelbase

2610
Width

1825
Width (including mirrors)

2105

Weight and Capacities

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres)

42
Gross Vehicle Weight

1940
Luggage Capacity (Seats Down)

1225
Luggage Capacity (Seats Up)

425
Max. Loading Weight

500
Max. Roof Load

75
Max. Towing Weight - Braked

750
Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked

750
Minimum Kerbweight

1440
No. of Seats

5
Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb

10.3

Exterior Features

Metallic paint
Pearlescent paint

Paintwork

Metallic - Obsidian black
Metallic - Ocean blue
Metallic - Skiing white
Metallic - Time grey
Pearl - Sunset orange

Trim

Cloth - Black

Charging Speeds

1h 0min

Home

7kW Charger

0h 8min

Fast

50kW Charger

0h 4min

Rapid

100kW Charger

0h 2min

Ultra-Rapid

150kW Charger

Company car tax calculator

Tax Year	BIK	BIK Value	Tax Payable at 20%	Tax Payable at 40%
2026/27	16%	£0.00	£0.00	£0.00
2027/28	17%	£0.00	£0.00	£0.00
2028/29	18%	£0.00	£0.00	£0.00
2029/30	19%	£0.00	£0.00	£0.00

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