The BYD Seagull lands in PH for an affordable Php 898K introductory price

BYD Cars Philippines is showing no signs of slowing down. After the successful launch of the Sealion 6 DM-i compact crossover a few months ago, they’re introducing another new model–the Seagull small fully-electric hatchback.

The BYD Seagull was first unveiled for the Chinese market in April 2023 and is positioned below the Dolphin in the brand’s lineup. For the Philippine market, it’s available in one variant which has an introductory price of Php 898,000 (SRP of Php 998,000), making it the most affordable model from the Chinese automaker.

Being the smallest in the BYD lineup, it measures at just 3,780mm long, 1,715mm wide, and 1,580mm tall. Despite that, it still has a five-door configuration and a four-person capacity (including the driver). Ground clearance measures at 150mm and it has a cargo capacity of 230 liters.

In terms of design, the Seagull wears an aggressive front fascia made up of trapezoid-shaped headlights and sharp lines. Given its small dimensions, the windshield features a unique single wiper which is quite unusual these days. The rest of the exterior features a diamond theme with diamond patterns on the C-pillar and rear light bar. 

The interior on the other hand is similar to what you’ll see in other BYD models from the sleek overall aesthetic and its 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that rotates in typical BYD fashion. Also, even with the small exterior dimensions, it’s still able to offer more than enough interior room whether for occupants or for storage with lots of cubbies dotted around the cabin.

Color options are a Apriciti White or Delan Black exterior paint job matched with a white and dark blue two-tone interior color scheme, or a Sprout Green exterior matched with a white and light blue interior.

Standard equipment on the BYD Seagull include projector LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, manual-folding side mirrors, leather seats, 7-inch digital instrument cluster display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a four-speaker audio system, wireless phone charger, and automatic climate control, among others.

Powering this small hatchback is a permanent magnet synchronous (PMS) electric motor paired to a 30 kWh BYD Blade lithium iron phosphate battery. Maximum output is at 55 horsepower and 135 Nm of torque. Estimated driving range is 300 kilometers on a single charge.

And speaking of charge, the battery can be replenished from 30% to 80% through CCS2 DC fast charging in just 30 minutes. Type 2 AC Charging on the other hand will replenish the battery from 0% to a full charge in five hours.

Safety-wise, it is equipped with dual front airbags, side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, stability control, vehicle dynamic control, hill hold control, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The BYD Seagull also offers the ability to access and start the vehicle without a physical key fob and instead through an NFC Card. This allows users to simply tap the card on the side mirror to unlock, and place on top of the center armrest to start the vehicle.

Like other BYD models in the Philippines, buyers will be able to take advantage of a six-year or 150,000 kilometer vehicle warranty, a eight-year or 160,000 kilometer battery warranty, and an eight-year or 150,000 kilometer electric motor warranty, whichever comes first.

With BYD Cars Philippines’ continued success in other segments, we won’t be surprised if it’s the same case in the small hatchback segment. Do you think the BYD Seagull has what it takes to lure more buyers into going electric?

Watch our first look and impressions of the BYD Seagull here: