The BYD Dolphin G is a compact five-door plug-in hybrid hatchback with five seats, a 425-litre boot and a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired to an electric motor. This page explains what it's like to live with and how to choose between the Active, Boost, Comfort and Sport trims.
The BYD Dolphin G is a compact five-door hatchback that does something almost nothing else its size does: it plugs in. Every version pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, so you can charge it at home and still fill up at a petrol station on a long run.
It sits at the smaller end of BYD's line-up, below the brand's SUVs, and it's aimed squarely at drivers who want low-cost electric commuting without committing to a full EV. At 4.16 metres long with a 425-litre boot, it's compact outside and unusually roomy behind the rear seats.
The choice is simple: one hatchback body, one plug-in hybrid powertrain offered in two states of tune, and four trims - Active, Boost, Comfort and Sport.
BYD Dolphin G key facts
| Body style | Hatchback |
|---|---|
| Powertrains | Plug-in hybrid (173–209 bhp) |
| Seats | 5 |
| Boot | 425 litres, 1,225 litres seats folded |
| Braked towing | 750 kg |
Manufacturer data for the versions we currently offer. Last updated 19 September 2026.
The Dolphin G is BYD's small plug-in hybrid hatchback: five seats, five doors, front-wheel drive and a single-speed automatic gearbox. It was developed with European drivers in mind, and reviewers consistently call it out as a rarity - a plug-in hybrid in a class that normally offers petrol or conventional hybrids only.
Road testers praise the practicality most. The 425-litre boot with the rear seats up is larger than several family hatchbacks from the class above, and it grows to 1,225 litres with the rear seats folded. The 2.61-metre wheelbase helps rear legroom, though testers note that three adults across the back is a squeeze and the low boot floor leaves a noticeable loading lip.
The driving experience gets a more measured reception: smooth and quiet when the motor is doing the work, competent rather than entertaining through corners, with a firm low-speed ride on the higher trims' 18-inch wheels.
Because the standard kit list is long and the running costs can be genuinely low if you charge it. Every Dolphin G, including the Active, gets built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, LED headlights and air conditioning.
The driver assistance list is equally full across the range: autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, active lane-change assist, traffic sign recognition, automatic high beam, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. Rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights and an electric parking brake are standard too.
On the practical side, it seats five, tows up to 750 kg braked, has a 10.3-metre turning circle for tight car parks and comes with a tyre repair kit rather than a spare wheel. Servicing falls due every 12 months or 10,000 miles.
There's one powertrain across the range - a plug-in hybrid - offered with two battery sizes and two power outputs, so the real decision is how much electric driving you want to do.
A 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine works with an electric motor and a battery of 7.4 to 18.3 kWh depending on version, giving 173 to 209 bhp, 210 Nm and 0-62 mph in 8.3 seconds. It's automatic, front-wheel drive and a single-speed set-up, so there's no gearchange to notice.
You don't have to plug it in - the petrol engine will keep things moving - but the whole point is lost if you never do. The versions with the larger battery take 15-100% in 2.9 hours at 6.6 kW at home, and 10-80% in 26 minutes at 39 kW on a DC charger. If you can't charge where you park, a conventional hybrid will suit you better; our electric and hybrid leasing guides go through the practicalities.
| Plug-in hybrid | |
|---|---|
| Boot | 425 litres |
| Power | 173–209 bhp |
| Seats | 5 |
| Battery | 7.4–18.3 kWh |
| 0–62 mph | 8.3 s |
| Braked towing | 750 kg |
Active is the entry version with 173 bhp, while Boost, Comfort and Sport start at 209 bhp and layer on comfort kit.
The Active covers the basics properly: 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, cloth upholstery, the navigation system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a rear camera - plus all the safety kit listed above. It's the 173 bhp version, so it's the one for shorter electric hops.
The Active is currently available from £314.40 a month.
Boost keeps the 16-inch alloys and cloth seats but adds the things you touch daily: a heated vegan leather multifunction steering wheel, heated front seats, a 15W wireless phone charger with cooling, privacy glass for the rear windows and windscreen, multi-colour ambient lighting, power-folding mirrors and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
The Boost is currently available from £337.79 a month. Against the Active, that is currently £23.39/mo more expensive.
Comfort is the one testers tend to point to. Over Boost it brings 18-inch alloy wheels, an opening panoramic roof with an electric sunshade, cloth and vegan leather upholstery, a 360-degree camera, a head-up display and an electrically adjustable driver's seat.
The Comfort is currently available from £345.96 a month. Against the Boost, that is currently £8.17/mo more expensive.
Sport is about appearance rather than extra equipment: 18-inch black alloy wheels and vegan suede upholstery in place of Comfort's cloth and vegan leather. Mechanically it's the same 209 bhp car, so choose it if you prefer the darker look.
The Sport is currently available from £354.06 a month. Against the Comfort, that is currently £8.10/mo more expensive.
Specifications from BYD's UK vehicle data; equipment, battery size and charging speeds vary by version, so check the individual deal before you order.
Page updated 19 September 2026 by First Vehicle Leasing. Prices and availability shown on this page are live and change as deals are refreshed.
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