BYD takes aim at Yaris and Clio with a supermini that does 1040 km

BYD details the powertrain of its first PHEV designed for Europe: 1.5-litre Xiaoyun engine, 209 hp combined, two Blade batteries and prices from €28,990 in Germany.

BYD has detailed the powertrain of the Dolphin G DM-i — a compact B-segment hatchback heading to Europe as a plug-in hybrid. The headline figure here isn’t power, it’s range: up to 1040 km combined and up to 104 km on electricity alone.

At the heart of the car is the DM 5.0 system. It combines a 1.5-litre Xiaoyun petrol engine rated at 94 hp, two electric motors and a Blade battery. The engine runs a 16:1 compression ratio, direct injection, split cooling and a reworked lubrication setup. In higher trims, combined output reaches 209 hp, with 0–100 km/h in 8.3 seconds. For an urban hatchback, this is no longer an “economy option” — it’s a level you can comfortably take onto the motorway.

There are two battery options. The base Active gets a 7.42 kWh pack and a 3.3 kW onboard charger: a top-up from 15% takes under three hours. Boost, Comfort and Sport versions step up to an 18.3 kWh battery, a 6.6 kW onboard charger and DC fast charging from 10 to 80% in 26 minutes. Fuel consumption is quoted at 1.1–1.4 l/100 km, but that’s a typical PHEV figure — it’s only realistic if you plug in regularly.

In Europe, the Dolphin G DM-i takes on not only the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, Renault Clio E-Tech and MG3 Hybrid+, but also the whole approach to small cars. The MG3 Hybrid+ starts at £19,495 in the UK, the Toyota Yaris Hybrid at £23,995. BYD prices in Germany run from €28,990 to €34,490 — meaning the Dolphin G is dearer than a regular hybrid, but offers something none of them can: a serious electric range and full mains charging.

There is a weak spot, too. The more complex the hybrid, the bigger the questions around residual values, servicing and trust in a new model for Europe. On the other hand, BYD throws in plenty of standard kit: a 12.8-inch infotainment screen, Google services, a 360-degree camera system, heated seats and steering wheel, and 18-inch wheels.