BYD Dolphin G DM-i offers 65 miles of EV-only range in a B-segment hatchback

BYD has revealed the Dolphin G DM-i, a plug-in hybrid hatchback that the Chinese automaker says is its first vehicle developed specifically for the European market and the first plug-in hybrid offered in the B-segment supermini class. The car launches with a choice of two batteries, up to 105 km (65 miles) of WLTP electric-only range, and a total combined range of up to 1,040 km (646 miles), and is positioned by BYD as a way to combine the daily-use efficiency of an electric vehicle with the long-distance flexibility of a traditional hybrid. Order books open across European BYD dealers ahead of the summer holidays, with first customer deliveries scheduled for the early fall. The vehicle will not be sold in the United States. BYD has not entered the US passenger-vehicle market and has been described in the US press as one of the Chinese EVs that American buyers cannot have under the current trade and tariff environment. For US readers, the more interesting story is the technical one. A B-segment plug-in hybrid with 65 miles of electric-only range and a total range of over 600 miles is unlike anything currently offered in the smallest size class anywhere in the world, and it signals where the Chinese electrified-vehicle industry has gone since most US automakers stopped paying close attention. What it is The Dolphin G DM-i is a five-door hatchback that measures 4,160 mm (163.8 inches) long, 1,825 mm (71.9 inches) wide, and 1,575 mm (62.0 inches) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,610 mm (102.8 inches). For US readers, those dimensions put it in roughly the same footprint as a Volkswagen Polo or a Toyota Yaris hatchback, both of which have not been sold in the US for several years. The boot capacity is 425 liters (15.0 cubic feet), expanding to 1,225 liters (43.3 cubic feet) with the rear seats folded. BYD says the car’s wheelbase is longer than any of its conventionally powered rivals in the European supermini class, which contributes to what the company describes as best-in-class cabin space and a flat floor. The exterior follows BYD’s ocean-influenced design language with a soft curving front end, a single rising shoulder line, and a full-width LED taillight bar at the rear. Wheel sizes range from 16-inch alloys on the base trim to 18-inch units on the upper trims, with a darker finish reserved for the range-topping Sport variant. The DM-i Super Hybrid system The Dolphin G DM-i uses what BYD calls its Super Hybrid system with DM (Dual Mode Intelligence) technology. The architecture is electric-led, which means the front-mounted permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor drives the wheels in most situations, with the 1.5-liter Xiaoyun four-cylinder petrol engine acting primarily as a generator and directly driving the wheels only when efficiency is best served by doing so. The electric motor produces 163 PS (161 horsepower), equivalent to 120 kW, and 210 Nm (155 lb-ft) of torque. The petrol engine produces 95 PS (94 horsepower) and 120 Nm (89 lb-ft). In its standard EV mode, the Dolphin G DM-i behaves like a battery electric vehicle. The petrol engine remains off until the battery state of charge falls below a usable threshold. In HEV mode, the system shifts between five operating configurations depending on the battery state of charge and power demand. The clutch between the petrol engine and the wheels engages and disengages as required, and the system can drive the wheels using any combination of battery power, the generator, the petrol engine, or both motors at once. BYD says the entire process is managed by the vehicle’s intelligent controllers and requires no driver input. System power for the Boost, Comfort, and Sport trims is rated at 212 PS (209 horsepower) and 210 Nm of torque, with 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) acceleration of 8.3 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph). Battery, range, and charging The base Active trim uses a 7.42 kWh BYD Blade Battery, providing 40 km (25 miles) of WLTP electric-only range and a combined fuel-and-electricity range of 1,020 km (634 miles). The Boost, Comfort, and Sport trims use a larger 18.3 kWh Blade Battery for 105 km (65 miles) of WLTP electric-only range and 1,040 km (646 miles) of combined range. CO2 emissions are rated at 60 grams per kilometer on the Active and 32 grams per kilometer on the larger-battery trims. In the US market, the 65-mile electric-only range puts the Dolphin G DM-i well ahead of typical North American plug-in hybrids. Toyota’s RAV4 Prime, one of the most capable PHEVs sold in the United States, is rated at 42 miles of electric range, and most other US plug-in hybrids cluster between 20 and 40 miles. The recent 2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-in Hybrid, which uses Mitsubishi PHEV technology and adds three-row seating to the Rogue lineup, is in that same range. The Dolphin G DM-i achieves a meaningfully longer EV-only range in a much smaller package, partly because BYD uses its own lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery design and partly because the system is engineered to spend as much time as possible in electric mode. Charging on the Active trim is limited to a 3.3 kW onboard charger, which fills the smaller battery in just under three hours. The larger-battery variants step up to 6.6 kW alternating current charging and 39 kW direct current fast charging, which takes the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 26 minutes. Vehicle-to-Load functionality is standard on Boost and above, allowing the car to power external 230-volt devices. Trims and features BYD is offering four core trims. The Active trim comes with the smaller battery, 16-inch alloys, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, an 8.8-inch digital instrument display, automatic air conditioning, fabric upholstery, and a comprehensive driver-assistance package that includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot detection, cross-traffic alerts, and a driver-monitoring system. The Boost trim adds a larger battery, a 12.8-inch touchscreen, heated front seats and steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and Vehicle-to-Load capability. The Comfort trim adds a head-up display, a panoramic glass roof, 360-degree camera coverage, 18-inch alloys, electric driver’s seat adjustment, and full integration of built-in Google services, including Google Maps and Google Assistant, along with the ability to install third-party applications. The range-topping Sport trim is fundamentally a Comfort with sportier visual treatments, including darker 18-inch alloys, distinct badging, and a motorsport-inspired suede finish on the seat panels. What it tells us about Europe The Dolphin G DM-i is part of BYD’s broader push into Europe. The Chinese automaker, which now outsells Tesla globally and operates in more than 100 countries, has expanded into Europe across multiple price points and brands over the past two years, including the BYD-backed Denza brand, which entered European markets with the Z9 GT flagship. The Dolphin G DM-i is the most accessible piece of that strategy and is specifically positioned to address an affordability problem in the European supermini class, where battery electric vehicles have struggled to land at compelling price points. European pricing has not been announced, and BYD has not detailed final regional allocations or service network plans. The first Dolphin G DM-i customer cars are scheduled for delivery in early fall 2026. Photo gallery