BYD Dolphin G in Portugal: Estimated Price, Specs and 1,000 km Range
Published: 31/05/2026
Over 1,000 km on a full tank and a charged battery
On 26 May 2026, BYD revealed the Dolphin G DM-i, a B-segment plug-in hybrid built from the ground up for Europe. The headline figure is the combined range: over 1,000 km (621 miles) on the WLTP cycle, adding a full petrol tank to a charged battery. Anyone hunting for a BYD Dolphin G price in Portugal will have to wait for the summer — the European price list only arrives in June 2026 — but the spec sheet already tells us where this car will land.
What sets it apart from other BYDs we already know matters here. This isn't a China-market car hastily adapted for export. It's the first model BYD has designed specifically for markets outside China, with Europe as the main target.
BYD Dolphin G plug-in hybrid: how it differs from the electric Dolphin
The name needs clearing up first, because it causes confusion. The Dolphin we know in Portugal is fully electric and costs around €35,990. This Dolphin G is a plug-in hybrid — it uses BYD's DM-i Super Hybrid system, with a petrol engine and an electric motor working together. The "G" and the "DM-i" suffix are how BYD keeps the two families apart.
They're different sizes, too. The Dolphin G measures 4,160 mm long and 1,825 mm wide — 130 mm shorter and 55 mm wider than the European electric Dolphin. In practice, it takes up the same garage space as a VW Polo or a Toyota Yaris.
BYD Dolphin G specs: engine, battery and electric range
The mechanicals aren't fully confirmed yet, but BYD indicated it shares its base with the Atto 2 DM-i. That points to a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine of around 72 kW (97 hp), working mainly as a generator, plus a front electric motor of 145 kW (194 hp). Combined output sits near 156 kW (209 hp), with a 212 hp variant also mentioned.
The LFP Blade battery — the technology BYD uses across almost its entire range — comes in two capacities:
| Battery | Electric-only range (WLTP) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 7.8 kWh | around 40 km | short urban trips |
| 18 kWh | around 90 km | a full week of city driving, no petrol |
The 18 kWh version is the one that makes sense if you want to use the plug-in side properly. With 90 km of electric range, most drivers cover the week's commute without burning a drop of fuel, saving the petrol for the long run down to Faro or up to Porto. That's where the 1,000 km combined figure comes from: it's not magic, it's the battery plus a full tank.
BYD Dolphin G vs VW Polo: betting on the toughest segment
BYD picked Europe's most competitive ground. The B-segment is home to the VW Polo, Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris — cars that sell in their thousands and that, unlike the Dolphin G, are conventional hybrids or petrol, not plug-ins. Executive vice president Stella Li called it "one of the most important" segments and said the goal is to make "sustainable mobility smarter, more practical and available to many more people across Europe".
The difference is in the proposition. A Polo still leans on petrol for everything; the Dolphin G lets you run on electricity day to day and only call on the combustion engine when you actually need it. For the city driver still hesitant to go fully electric because of range anxiety, that's a concrete middle ground.
When the BYD Dolphin G arrives in Portugal, and for how much
BYD reveals the full price list in June 2026, with first deliveries expected in autumn 2026 (end of summer, per the brand). Production is set to come out of BYD's plant in Szeged, Hungary, which helps sidestep some of the tariffs that penalise EVs imported from China.
On price, there's no official figure for Portugal or Europe yet. UK estimates point to around £20,000 (roughly $27,000), which would make the Dolphin G the smallest and cheapest PHEV on sale in the UK. CAR Magazine sums up the expectation as "pricing very competitive with existing European superminis, starting in the teens before fully-specced ones reach into the twenties" (in thousands of pounds).
Translating that to Portugal needs caution. Plug-in hybrids get reduced ISV (Portugal's vehicle purchase tax) compared with equivalent petrol cars, but not the full exemption that pure EVs enjoy. Even so, starting from the UK estimate and adding Portuguese VAT and taxes, a starting point below €30,000 is reasonable to expect — which would place it among the cheapest plug-in hybrids on the Portuguese market in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no official price yet: BYD only reveals the European price list in June 2026. UK estimates point to around £20,000 (roughly $27,000), so once Portuguese VAT and taxes are added, a starting point below €30,000 is reasonable. That would place the Dolphin G among the cheapest plug-in hybrids on sale in Portugal in 2026.
BYD unveiled the Dolphin G DM-i on 26 May 2026 and reveals full pricing in June 2026. First customer deliveries are expected in autumn 2026 (end of summer). Production will likely come from BYD's plant in Szeged, Hungary, which helps avoid part of the tariffs that penalise EVs imported from China.
It depends on the chosen battery. The 7.8 kWh version offers around 40 km of pure electric range (WLTP) and the 18 kWh version reaches about 90 km. With 90 km of EV range, most home-to-work commutes can be done without burning any petrol; adding a full tank, the combined range exceeds 1,000 km.
It is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) using BYD's DM-i Super Hybrid system — not to be confused with the fully electric Dolphin already sold in Portugal for around €35,990. It pairs a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine (around 72 kW/97 hp) that works mainly as a generator with a 145 kW (194 hp) front electric motor, for a combined output of about 156 kW (209 hp).
They are in the same B-segment: the Dolphin G is 4,160 mm long and 1,825 mm wide, taking up the same footprint as a Polo or a Toyota Yaris. The key difference is the drivetrain — the Polo always relies on petrol, while the Dolphin G lets you drive on electric daily and only use the combustion engine for long trips, making it the smallest PHEV on the European market.
Worth the wait?
For someone who mostly drives in the city and wants a foot in the electric door without committing to a pure BEV, the 18 kWh Dolphin G looks like an answer: 90 electric km cover the week, and the 1,000 km combined figure handles the long trips. The price is the missing piece — and we'll have it in June. Worth keeping an eye on that reveal before deciding.