BYD | On the road

BYD SEALION 5 DM-i

By Bill McCarthy

With the turn of the year comes a fresh challenge from Chinese giant BYD, which has overtaken Tesla as the world’s largest EV manufacturer and says it is raising the stakes yet again. Originally a tech company BYD (Build Your Dreams) was founded in 1995 as a battery manufacturer and has expanded its ‘blade’ battery technology into automotive, electronics, renewable energy, and rail transit.

Its latest vehicle, the SEALION 5 DM-i has been launched with a price tag of under £30,000 on the road, and has thrown down the gauntlet in the mid-size SUV market.

Design and styling

At just under five metres long, both versions – Comfort and Design – feature a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system as standard, pairing a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined maximum output of 215bhp.

Like its siblings, this model has a striking profile with the signature so-called “Dragon Face” design, featuring full-LED headlights and slim daytime-running lights. At the rear, a full-width LED light bar and sharply angled tail-lights, combined with an integrated spoiler, enhance the sporty look. The car is equipped with striking 18-inch bi-colour alloy wheels.

Interior and technology

The interior has an upmarket feel with vegan leather upholstery, and powered and heated front seats. Head and legroom are good, and the cabin is spacious enough to easily accommodate a family of five in comfort. Central is the stylish centre console that houses the gearshift and other controls, and offers generous storage space underneath.

This is supplemented by a 12.8-inch rotating multi-touch touchscreen and complemented by a clear 8.8-inch full-LCD instrument cluster offering the driver real-time information.

The rotating touchscreen controls infotainment, navigation and connectivity via built-in 4G and BYD cloud services. Intelligent voice control, activated by saying “Hi, BYD,” offers extra safety while driving. An added bonus is its Vehicle-to-Load function, which lets you use the car as a giant power bank for everything from camping to powering a coffee maker.

Practicality

A large boot provides a substantial 463-litre capacity, easily accommodating luggage. The 40:60-split folding rear seats can expand this space to a generous 1,410 litres, featuring a flat load floor for easy loading of bulky items.

Spec levels and value

The entry-level Comfort model starts at £29,995, undercutting most rivals while featuring plenty of standard kit. This includes smartphone integration, a rear-view camera, automatic LED lights, and power-folding heated mirrors. It feels like a top-spec car.

However, the £32,995 Design trim adds puddle lights, a powered tailgate, a 360-degree camera, front parking sensors, and wireless charging. It hits the sweet spot for those who love their bells and whistles.

This SUV offers the growing necessity of electric power and the readiness of a petrol car, all in one powertrain. It not only undercuts rival petrol SUVs on price but also comes better equipped and should lower running costs.

Powertrain and performance

Power is drawn from a choice of two battery packs. The Comfort model has a 12.96 kWh unit for up to 38 miles of electric-only driving. The Design trim features a larger 18.3 kWh battery, extending the electric range to over 53 miles and contributing to a WLTP-rated fuel economy of 134.5 mpg and combined CO2 emissions of 48g/km. It is heavier, and as a result, acceleration to 60 mph is over eight seconds.

BYD says that with a full charge and tank, both versions offer a total range of up to 631 miles.

The driving experience is smooth, with the power unit delivering plenty of pace. It becomes notably more raucous when flooring the accelerator, but never uncomfortably so. It handles well, as an extended drive from the M54 in Shropshire into the rolling hills and twisting roads of mid-Wales demonstrated.

Its stability and agility handled both sweeping and tight curves with aplomb, always feeling well-planted. The steering also offered plenty of feedback, allowing you to push it while understanding the limits.

Safety

Comprehensive measures include adaptive and intelligent cruise control, lane-keeping and departure functions, blind spot and collision warnings, speed limit control, traffic sign recognition, and automatic emergency braking. For occupant safety, it comes with seven airbags

Verdict

The SEALION 5 delivers a balance of comfort, efficiency, and everyday usability. Its firm yet comfortable ride makes it easy to live with, and it is ideal for families who want one sensible, practical vehicle – without committing fully to an EV.

SEAL 6 DM-i Saloon and Touring

By Bill McCarthy

Stepping on the accelerator – or perhaps charging up the battery – in the UK, Chinese car maker BYD’s models are arriving thick and fast. The brand is rapidly expanding its line-up and has now introduced the SEAL 6 DM-i, a plug-in hybrid designed to offer the best of both worlds.

It provides electric driving for daily commutes and leisure with a claimed range of around 65 miles, backed by a 1.5-litre petrol engine for longer journeys.

Plug-in hybrids and full hybrids are ideal for those attracted to the idea of an EV but not ready to fully commit, often due to range anxiety.

The advantage of this plug-in is its 65-mile electric-only range, which allows drivers to avoid congestion and clean air charges, with low emissions making it cheaper to run. The petrol engine can then kick in to recharge the battery while on the move.

The car is available in two body styles: a sleek saloon and a still stylish, but more practical Touring model, which marks BYD’s first estate car in Europe. Trim levels include Boost and Comfort.

Both models offer an upmarket, stylish design that belies their price, starting at £33,990 for the Saloon and £34,990 for the Touring. Considering the standard equipment, this seems to represent a good buy for the money.

Interior and comfort

The cabin is a comfortable, tech-filled space with a minimalist setup common to modern EVs. Key features include:

A large, rotating tablet-style infotainment screen that controls major functions like connectivity, infotainment, and satellite navigation. Both accessible via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
Leather seats and plenty of USB ports.
A genuinely roomy interior, particularly in the rear, ensuring comfort even for larger adults on longer journeys.

Boot capacity

The estate offers excellent, if not class-leading, boot space. It provides 560 litres with the rear seats up, expanding to a maximum of 1,460 litres with them folded. The saloon remains practical for its segment, with a useful 450 litres of cargo space.

Safety and driver assistance

Standard features include multiple airbags, electronic stability control, and a robust body structure.

It also incorporates advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), typically featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring to enhance driver confidence.

Powertrain and performance

BYD’s “Super Hybrid” system operates primarily on battery power. On longer journeys, the petrol engine acts mainly as a generator to recharge the battery, promising a claimed total range of over 900 miles.

When more power is needed, the system can combine the power from both the engine and the electric motor for maximum performance.

Like other hybrids, it also uses regenerative braking to capture energy and recharge the battery while slowing down.

However, it is wise to be sceptical of this maximum range figure, which is likely achieved under ideal conditions.

Real-world factors like driving style, cold weather, high speeds, and hilly terrain will reduce that number. While 900 miles seems fanciful in practice, other BYD models have proven highly economical, and the Seal appears set to follow suit.

On the road

The test drive involved urban driving through busy towns as well as longer stretches on country roads and fast dual carriageways. Both cars felt refined and comfortable, with the leather seats providing good support. It’s not the quickest EV off the mark, but achieving 60mph in around 8.5 seconds provides enough pace for most needs.

Handling proved decent, though the ride felt a little firm. There was some wind noise around the door mirrors and road noise from the tyres on poorer road surfaces, though this largely disappeared on better roads. En route, the models’ design and branding attracted considerable attention, a sign that BYD has quickly established a growing recognition in the country.

Every model comes with a six-year or 93,750 mile warranty. The vehicle supports AC charging from 15-100% in three or 2.7 hours (depending on the model), and a DC fast charge from 30-80% takes just 23 minutes. A 3.3kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function is also standard.

Verdict

A technologically advanced PHEV, the SEAL 6 appears to offer a substantial electric range for a practical transition from combustion engines, in either saloon or estate form. Its real-world efficiency and long-term reliability in the UK are yet to be proven. But it looks good, feels premium and is keenly priced.

On the road

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Is this BYD an SUV market game changer?