The BYD Sealion 5 DM-i is a normal-feeling market monster

When the age of electrified vehicles arrived with the introduction of the EVIDA law, we all thought we’d start seeing a whole lot more EVs on the road. But as we found out, infrastructure is one of the biggest hurdles for mass EV adoption, hence why hybrids and plug-in hybrids are being introduced by a lot of manufacturers.

When BYD brought out the Sealion 6, it only took a few months before we started seeing them line the streets (and chargers). It was an extremely value-packed model for its class, and it was selling extremely well despite the market’s hesitation (and also slight sinophobic tendencies). 

And when it was the turn for the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i to be introduced, we knew it was game over for the other competitors on the market once the vehicle’s SRP of Php 1,248,000 was announced—heck, even its introductory price of Php 1,198,000 showed that BYD Cars Philippines was out for blood.

Thanks to a two-day media drive and considerable time spent inside the car, I was able to understand how much of a monster BYD Cars Philippines has on its hands.

THE SIZE AND THE STYLING

To get things out of the way, BYD classifies it as a subcompact crossover, despite it physically being closer to a compact crossover, measuring 4,738mm long, 1,860mm wide, and 1,710mm tall with a 2,712mm long wheelbase.

It’s more in line with the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross, Honda HR-V, and the MG ZS Hybrid, three of the other cars that people are most likely to cross-shop it with.

If you’re a Chinese car nerd, you know that this is an older model (the Song Pro), hence the older design language of having a large front grille, an upper “grille” that looks similar to the Dynasty series vehicles (like the Han and Tang), and sharp angles all around with a conservative light bar at the back.

In fact, a newer model called the Sealion 05 DM-i exists in its home country, and it has a smoother, more minimalist look that does look a little more generic than what’s currently on our model.

But if you don’t care about all of that, know that the aggressive looks of the Sealion 5 make it stand out from other BYDs, and it’s a relatively handsome crossover.

THE INSIDE

One thing that stands out immediately is how roomy the cabin is, especially with the rear seats that also sport an adjustable backrest which is rare nowadays.

There’s lots of leg and elbow room to go around, and headroom is generous, especially if you’re on the taller side of the population. While we were only four, another full-sized adult could fit in the middle just fine, especially thanks to the absence of a transmission tunnel in the floor that usually eats up valuable legroom.

The cream-colored upholstery on the seats and the soft-touch materials on the dashboard are also nice to look at, but as we found out, they don’t seem to be holding up well in terms of stain resistance. And as for the large swath of piano-black plastic that spans across the dashboard, it’s already slightly scratched up and just loves to attract dust and fingerprints a lot.

The cargo bay was able to swallow up four people’s worth of luggage and cargo easily, and is capable of expanding from 520L up to 1,339L with all the seats down, but we didn’t find the need to do so.

Also, there are no power adjustments for the seats and tailgate, but these are things that most people can live without, especially when you factor in the vehicle’s price point.

THE TECH

You’ll be surprised to find out that this BYD is one of the least-equipped out there (they had to find a way to reach that price point, after all), with no ADAS features, a rear backup camera with sensors, an eight-inch digital driver’s display, and a smaller 10.1-inch rotating touchscreen mated to six speakers.

While I think screens larger than 10 inches shouldn’t be part of a car’s cabin, here, it feels like a slightly larger screen would even out the negative space on the dashboard that’s just begging for something bigger.

But at least the software isn’t neutered, meaning you get the same UI as all BYD cars, apps, built-in navigation, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. Even the fairly basic six-speaker system sounds great after a few audio tweaks.

But do note that your charging options will be fairly limited if you’ve gone all USB-C, as the Sealion 5 seems to be set a few years behind the rest of the competition. There’s no wireless charger; it has three USB-A ports, a single USB-C port (located at the back), alongside your 12V power outlet underneath the floating-style center console.

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO DRIVE AROUND?

Despite the vehicle’s larger-than-usual size for a subcompact crossover, it’s surprisingly easy to drive around and maneuver in the city, and has excellent visibility from the driver’s seat thanks to thin A-pillars, a high seating position, and large windows all around.

It’s great for getting in and going without faffing about, and the generous ground clearance of 195mm (unladen) means light floods and tall curbs shouldn’t bother you too much. In fact, BYD says the lowest it can go when laden is still a generous 165mm.

The steering is light to the point of being a little overassisted and numb. Not exactly meant for the enthusiast, but it is meant to make driving as effortless as possible for the Average Joe buying this. Sport Mode does tighten and firm it up slightly, but it’s still too light for enthusiasts.

This feeling of normality also extends to the Super DM-i powertrain, which is known to be a little too powerful in other cars like the Seal 5 and Sealion 6, where accidental tire-squealing launches from a dead stop are more common than you’d want to be.

The extra weight of the car (which will probably see full families) is enough to tame the 197 horsepower and 300Nm of torque, making all but Sport mode launches a very linear experience. It gains speed at a constant rate while not feeling too bogged down or too fast. Again, a normal-feeling affair.

Even the car’s regenerative braking feels like what your usual 1.6 or 1.8-liter sedan’s deceleration feels like (in Standard mode), allowing you to cruise and coast to a stop like a standard car. Of course, you can also set the regenerative braking to High, and have an EV-like experience once you lift your foot off the accelerator.

Handling is on the wallowy side. It’s capable enough to take twisties and backroads to some degree, especially thanks to the independent multi-link rear suspension. Still, you have to remember: this is a crossover that most normal people will drive, hence the comfort-oriented handling.

It does tend to have that odd bounciness from time to time at the rear, but it absorbs bumps and undulations with ease, meaning the pothole you don’t dodge won’t wake your sleeping passengers at the back.

Plus, it has fairly good insulation, meaning NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) performance is good for its class, with only the tire roar leaking in depending on the road surface, as this car will run on electric power most of the time.

THE EFFICIENCY

This is currently BYD’s most affordable electrified crossover with the Super DM-i system. BYD claims that the vehicle can drive up to 1,001km on a single charge, with up to 71km on full electric power alone.

This full car with four passengers and a boot full of cargo started out with an 85% state of charge and an approximate 930km of estimated range, after making a short trip to Manila Bay and back to BYD Aseana.

The first day ended with an average fuel economy of just about 21km/L, and the trip computer showed that 7.9L of fuel was consumed over the 198.3km leg from Pasay City to Kamana Sanctuary in Subic. The car reported at least a 29% state of charge with 835km of estimated combined range left.

And as for the trip back, we weren’t able to get an accurate starting point (since the car was borrowed for other media outlets to shoot in the morning), but we ended up with a 58% state of charge and an approximate 525km of estimated range left after travelling 438.6km, so BYD’s claims of breaking 1,000km on a single full tank and full battery are believable.

The 12.9kWh LFP battery can be charged by regenerative braking and the engine, but for faster top-ups, you can plug it into a Type 2 charger (for speeds of up to 3.3kW). But from my experience, I didn’t feel the need to plug in at all. In fact, starting from Subic, we were able to get our battery from 26% back up to 70% by the time we hit Skyway Stage 3, and I was able to drive it on EV mode entirely back to our rendezvous point back at Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

THE VERDICT

The BYD Sealion 5 DM-i is not a car that’s meant to light your heart on fire– instead, it feels like an appliance, and it drives like one, but in a very good way.

A good majority of people buying cars won’t care about figures or how luxurious the experience can be. These are the kind of people who want a reliable daily driver that can haul their loved ones, and be extremely fuel efficient, especially with today’s skyrocketing fuel prices.

Granted, reliability is still a question mark with how new these vehicles are (and only long-term owners can answer this), but with a company like ACMobility backing the distribution of BYD cars in the Philippines, customers should at least know they’re in good hands.

The Sealion 5 is a car that blends into the background of your point A to point B commute, with how easy it is to drive. It’s super frugal, has a generous amount of space, and most importantly, is at a very accessible price point that’s out to devastate the competition.

^{Photos by Sam Surla}