BYD is preparing to enter the UK’s supermini class with what is tipped to be the country’s smallest, and likely cheapest, plug-in hybrid when it arrives in 2026, according to Autocar UK.
The British magazine described the Dolphin G as a B-segment hatchback that effectively acts as a plug-in alternative to the Dolphin Surf EV. It is expected to measure about four metres long and roughly 1.5 metres tall.
That would make it unusual in this size bracket. Other electrified options such as the Toyota Yaris, Renault Clio and MG 3 typically rely on full-hybrid systems, which are often cheaper and easier to package.
Technical details remain limited, but Autocar UK expects the Dolphin G’s powertrain to be closely related to the Atto 2 DM-i. That system pairs a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a front electric motor and can run as either a series or parallel hybrid.
In the Atto 2 DM-i, it delivers 259bhp, a claimed 1.5 l/100km and up to 90km of electric-only range, although the smaller hatchback may need a smaller battery.
BYD vice-president Stella Li said demand in China for plug-in hybrid hatchbacks is weak, which is why the Dolphin G is being developed mainly for Europe.
