The arrival of BYD to our market a little over three years ago was clearly focused on the electric vehicle. A strategy that, at that time, made sense. In a few months, its offer was expanded to offer no less than seven models of all kinds. However, sales data did not reflect the full potential that the brand could offer. For this reason and because of the tariffs imposed by the EU on electric vehicles from China, its strategy turned towards another technology, plug-in hybrids.
It was not a sudden or ill-considered change, since in its native country, BYD already had enough knowledge and experience to make its DM-i technology complicate life for the more traditional European manufacturers. And the commercial results were not long in coming. The Seal U DM-i was not only the first serious announcement, but the average SUV has become, in just over a year, the true benchmark of this category.
Strategic move
A success that it now shares with the Atto 2 DM-i, the only model that manages to maintain the commercial pace and that has made BYD the rival to beat within plug-in hybrids. A commitment to a technology that has not only been limited to these two SUVs, as the firm also launched the Seal 6 DM-i, both in saloon and estate bodywork, which is now joined by the protagonist of these lines: the Dolphin G DM-i.
A model that has a proposal that is as direct as it is easy to understand: converting the plug-in hybrid into an accessible alternative for those looking for a car of contained size, daily electric use and real ability to travel. And the B segment in which it is located (that of utility vehicles) is not only the only one that can withstand the commercial pull of SUVs (it is the third category with the highest sales volume in our country), but it has historically been dominated by cars with gasoline engines, which have recently been joined by conventional hybrids. But until now there was little or almost no trace of the PHEV acronym, and that is where BYD wants to open a new door.
Compact, but with a lot of visual packaging
The Dolphin G DM-i measures 4.16 meters long, 1.82 meters wide and 1.57 meters high. Due to size, it is located, as we said, in the heart of segment B, where it will have to compete with illustrious names such as Ibiza, 208, Clio, Polo or Yaris, among others. It is not a particularly groundbreaking car when it comes to design and perhaps that is part of its logic.
BYD has opted for a modern, clean and recognizable design, without falling into excess and in line with the electric Dolphin from which it inherits its name and certain aesthetic elements. The front maintains the brand's usual oceanic inspiration, with soft lines and stylized optics. In profile, an ascending line stands out that begins at the front wing and runs along the side to the rear. The floating roof effect also helps, which attempts to provide dynamism to a body clearly designed to maximize interior space.
Depending on the finish, the wheels are 16 or 18 inches, while the rear is marked by an LED strip that runs the entire width of the car and integrates the LED lights. It is a common resource in the brand's models, achieving a visual appearance with greater packaging. Now, where this car puts the icing on the cake is in the color palette, among which this pearlescent Orange Sunset stands out, which will attract the eyes of the youngest audience. Less extravagant users will also be able to choose the Dolphin G DM-i in Skiing White, Time Grey, Obsidian Black, Ocean Blue and Oxford White shades.
A practical interior…
Inside, the Dolphin G DM-i relies on the same simple, functional and logical distribution as many of its products. It does not try to impress with extravagant solutions, but rather to create a feeling of spaciousness and ease of use. The dashboard uses horizontal lines to gain visual width and the 8.8-inch digital instrumentation is well integrated in front of the driver, although it does keep the on-board computer with the last 50 km.
Depending on the finish, the central screen can be 10.1 or 12.8 inches and maintains that floating position so characteristic of BYD but no longer offers the rotating function that attracted so much attention but was not really practical. In the most equipped versions, the multimedia system integrates the Google ecosystem (starting with the Comfort finish, of course), with Google Maps and Google Assistant, a solution that clearly improves the user experience.
When it comes to practicality, there are details that continue to be appreciated. The first, the prevailing width, especially in the central area thanks to the fact that the gear selector is located on the steering column. There is also wireless charging for mobile phones in most versions, front and rear USB ports, automatic climate control and a physical button panel at the base of the dashboard for some essential functions such as defogging or driving modes.
…and spacious
Now, one of the most striking points of the Dolphin G DM-i is in the use of space. Something it achieves thanks to the 2.61 meters of wheelbase, a figure that places it well above its main rivals (an Ibiza has, for example, 2.56 meters and a Clio, 2.59 m), which translates into a very usable cabin for five occupants.
The rear seats offer more than enough habitability for adults of average height, especially in legroom, with a space typical of a C segment rather than a B. The head height is also good and although the width is limited for three, something common in this segment, if the journey is not very long, they can even be accommodated, especially when the center one lacks a central tunnel. In addition, we have air vents and two USB-C ports.
The trunk is directly one of its best arguments. It claims 425 liters of capacity, a figure even higher than that of many compacts (a Golf has 380 l and its PHEV decline remains at 245 l) and even that of some small SUVs. In addition, it includes a 45-liter lower compartment and can be expanded up to 1,225 liters by folding the rear seatbacks in a 40:60 ratio. Thanks to this information, the Dolphin G DM-i becomes more than just a city car, as it can be considered the first family car to take on long trips or make large purchases.
A hidden electrician
Be that as it may, the main protagonist of this car is its plug-in hybrid system. Not only because it is in charge, as we have said, of opening this chapter in the category, but because for day-to-day driving it will be closer to that of an electric vehicle than to that of a combustion engine.
It achieves this by putting on the table what is the evolution of its DM-i technology, which in this car reaches version 5.0, being the first model to incorporate it. Its main characteristic is that it prioritizes, even more, electric operation whenever possible, that is, the zero-emission engine is the protagonist in most situations, while the gasoline block acts as a support, generator or direct driver when the system considers it more efficient.
It combines a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine that declares 95 HP and 120 HP, with two other electric ones, one that acts as a generator and another impeller, which produces 163 HP and 210 Nm, enough to move the car with great ease. Overall and depending on the version, the combined power will be 176 HP or 212 HP, both with 210 Nm, achieving a 0 to 100 km/h time of 8.3 seconds and reaching a maximum speed of 180 km/h.
Low cost of use
We talk about versions because the range is divided into two battery configurations. The Active finish has a 7.42 kWh Blade Battery, with 40 kilometers of WLTP electric range and 1,020 kilometers of total range. For their part, the Boost, Comfort and Sport versions incorporate an 18.3 kWh battery, which increases the electric range up to 105 kilometers and the combined range up to 1,040 kilometers.
This last piece of information radically changes the approach of the car since thanks to its zero-emission range, many users will not only be able to make their daily trips without using gasoline, but the cost of use depending on the electricity rates they have at home may be less than 2 euros per 100 km, compared to almost 6 or 7 euros for a gasoline or plug-in hybrid model. And when it's time to travel, the 42-liter tank and hybrid management will allow you to forget about anxiety about range.
Now, the choice between one or another battery also brings differences in the charging process. Because while the Active limits the AC power to 3.3 kW, the rest of the versions go up to 6.6 kW, also adding direct current fast charging with up to 39 kW, enough to go from 10 to 80% in 26 minutes. Likewise, they add the bidirectional function to provide up to 3.3 kW to other devices.
Smooth, quiet and agile
On the move, the Dolphin G DM-i stands out more for its smoothness than for its sportiness. Its technical approach clearly points to a very electric driving experience, with an immediate response, absence of noise and vibrations in the city or automatic transitions between the different operating modes.
Because the driver can choose between EV and HEV modes, although in reality the system works intelligently to decide which energy source it uses at all times, achieving maximum efficiency. In the metropolitan environment and short journeys, the normal thing will be to almost always drive electric, while on the road, the car can combine the thermal and electric motor or even directly couple the gasoline engine to the wheels if that is the most efficient option.
The key here is not that the driver understands all the operating modes, but that the car does so transparently, without unpleasant jerks, overrevving the engine or reducing acoustic comfort. That is precisely one of the great strengths of DM-i technology: it offers driving similar to that of an electric car, but with the autonomy of a hybrid.
Because although the weighted consumption is official at 1.4 l/100 km in the versions with a large battery, the brand also takes care of itself and tells us that with the battery discharged, the average consumption is 4.5 l/100 km. A fact that we ourselves have been able to corroborate in the contact made both in the center of Berlin and in the surrounding areas, where the figure of 5.2 l/100 km has once again highlighted the work done by the Chinese firm in efficiency.
PHEV at combustion price
The BYD Dolphin G DM-i arrives at a very opportune time for the brand. BYD has found in plug-in hybrids the commercial boost it needed in Spain and is now trying to transfer that successful formula to one of the most price-sensitive segments. Its great virtue is that it does not present electrification as a renunciation. It offers ZERO label, more than 100 electric kilometers in the most interesting versions, a huge trunk for its size, good technological equipment and total autonomy that allows traveling without special planning.
