BYD Dolphin PHEV Version Officially Launched with This Price

BYD Dolphin G DM-i. (Photo: BYD)

BYD officially opened pre-orders for its latest plug-in hybrid (PHEV) hatchback, the Dolphin G DM-i, in Germany ahead of its full launch scheduled for autumn 2026. The model, developed specifically for the European market, is offered from 28,990 euros, or equivalent to Rp596 million.

Launching from Autocar, Tuesday, June 16, the Dolphin G DM-i is BYD's first vehicle specifically designed for European consumers. Production will be carried out at the company's manufacturing facility located in Szeged, Hungary.

In terms of design, this car carries a modern look with thin-profile headlights, semi-hidden door handles, and short overhangs that strengthen its compact character. Dimensionally, the Dolphin G DM-i has a length of 4,160 mm, a width of 1,825 mm, a height of 1,575 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,610 mm.

The size makes it 130 mm shorter, but 55 mm wider than the BYD Dolphin version of the pure electric battery (BEV) marketed in Europe. Entering the cabin, BYD equips this car with an 8.8-inch LCD digital instrument panel and a floating 10.1-inch or 12.8-inch touchscreen, depending on the variant selected.

The center console is also equipped with a wireless charger for mobile phones, a cup holder, and a row of physical buttons to facilitate the operation of various vehicle features. For storage needs, the Dolphin G DM-i offers a 425-liter trunk capacity in normal conditions. The figure can increase to 1,225 liters when the rear seats are folded flat.

In terms of performance, all variants of the Dolphin G DM-i use a plug-in hybrid system that combines a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine with a 70 kW (94 hp) power output with an electric motor with a power output of 120 kW (161 hp). In the Active variant as the entry-level model, the combined power output reaches 129 kW (173 hp).

This variant uses a 7.42 kWh battery that allows the car to travel up to 40 km in electric mode based on the WLTP standard. Meanwhile, the Boost, Comfort, and Sport variants are equipped with larger batteries, namely 18.3 kWh.

With the battery pack, the pure electric range increases to 105 km based on WLTP testing. The combined output of the system also rises to 156 kW (209 hp), allowing acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds.

Fuel consumption is claimed to be at 4.5 liters per 100 km. In the German market, BYD markets the Dolphin G DM-i Active at an initial price of 28,990 euros before incentives.

But after being combined with subsidies for electric vehicles and bonuses from manufacturers, the effective price could fall to 18,990 euros or around 21,985 US dollars. For comparison, the plug-in hybrid hatchback Cupra Leon E-Hybrid under the Volkswagen Group umbrella was priced at 49,620 euros in Germany.