BYD’s Dolphin G hits the road in the UK priced from £23,990

BYD has confirmed that its new Dolphin G will start from £23,990.

Arriving as one of the Chinese brand’s most compact models, the Dolphin G gets a hybrid powertrain which uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine to effectively act as a generator for the electric motors.

Entry-level Active-grade cars – priced from £23,990 – have a 7.4kWh battery for an electric-only range of up to 25 miles, while Boost and Comfort cars – priced from £26,990 and £28,490 respectively – have a larger 18.3kWh battery for a claimed electric-only range of up to 65. BYD says that on big-battery cars, the combination of petrol and electric will bring a range of up to 646 miles.

As with all BYD cars, the Dolphin G gets a high level of standard equipment with highlights including 16-inch alloy wheels, a 10.1-inch infotainment and a rear-view camera.

Upgrade to Boost and buyers will add privacy glass, heated front seats and two 18-watt USB-C ports for the rear-seat passengers. A larger 12.8-inch screen comes at this grade, too, alongside multi-colour ambient lighting and a 15-watt smartphone charging pad.

Comfort then gets 18-inch alloy wheels, a Google-based infotainment system which brings features such as Google Maps and Google Assistant without the need for a smartphone to be connected.

A Sport model will top the range, adding black 18-inch alloy wheels, artificial suede seats and interior accents colour-matched to the exterior shade.

The new Dolphin G is available to order now with first deliveries expected in September.