Sedans still reign supreme in the Philippines as of 2023. It was more obvious last year as the Mitsubishi Mirage G4 suddenly jumped to number 3 in the best-selling list when it wasn’t even in the top 10 in 2022, while the Toyota Vios still held the top position. Sure, there are already more affordable crossovers in the country but sedans aren’t fizzling out of the market just yet. This is probably why BYD Cars Philippines decided to join the fray.
The BYD Seal 5 DM-i continues the brand’s recent trend of being a market disruptor. It is priced like a Vios, but is bigger than an Altis, and is a range-extender hybrid giving you twice the mileage for a full tank of gas. There are only 2 variants to choose from (Dynamic and Premium) and the difference is minimal that you’ll spend more time thinking about what color you’ll take.
Sleek but classy, the overall look of the BYD Seal 5 DM-i definitely has an executive appeal. The front face has a lot of silver linings to simulate ripples on the water that also complements all the natural lines in front. You’re getting 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels depending on the variant but both look equally great. There’s also a 360-camera system and sunroof for the Premium trim.
There’s a slim touch of chrome on the windows while the rear goes all out with modernity. It has a lightbar running across the trunk and has a slim LED pattern on the full width of the taillight. There’s slim faux vents on both sides of the rear bumper and another slim strip of chrome just to accentuate the faux diffuser bumper design.
Where BYD really outshines its would-be rivals is in the cabin as the Seal 5 takes it several notches up in terms of design, amenities, and comfort. As I said before, this is larger than a compact sedan so expect lots of legroom and elbowroom. Even headroom is generous for the average Pinoy.
The cabin is clad in shades of white, gray, with navy blue piping and stitching in key areas. Leather upholstery is standard even in the base model. It also features bucket-style seats for the front occupants that’s available with powered adjustment for the driver. BYD’s signature rotating 12.8-inch touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Wireless Android Auto made its way into the Seal 5 DM-i, as well as the 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. There’s a high center console that hosts the shifter and wireless charger and underneath that is a cubby hole that also has USB ports and the 12-volt socket for a cleaner overall look.
In terms of amenities, there are few key things that are only available in the Premium trim. This includes the Power Folding Side Mirrors with Puddle Lamps, 6-way Power Driver’s Seat, 2 additional speakers for a total of 8, the sunroof, footwell lighting, 2 more cupholders, wireless charger, Dual-Zone Climate Control (Dynamic has Automatic Climate Control), Vehicle-to-Load capability, and a 7kW Wall-mounted Charger (Dynamic only has portable charger), and V2L adapter.
Under the hood is a 1.5L engine that acts as a generator and produces 106 PS and 135 Nm of torque. As for the electric motors, the two trims of the Seal 5 have different combinations in them. The Dynamic has 179 PS and 316 Nm of torque, with a 8.3 kWh battery while the Premium has 197 PS and 325 Nm with an 18.3 kWh battery. This brings their combined extended range at 1,175 to 1,240 respectively, far more than the averages of their rivals that run purely on combustion engines.
What’s more, the DM-i technology of the Seal 5 allows you to activate its intelligent EV mode where it never reverts back to hybrid mode no matter how hard you accelerate – though it depends on your car’s battery level. Pure EV driving range is at 50 km for the Dynamic trim and 115 km for the Premium.
Another highlight for the Seal 5 DM-i is its safety features. Both will have 6 airbags as standard along with Rear Sensors, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, High Beam Assist, Traction Control System, Hill Hold Control, and Comfort Braking. Going for the higher trim will give you additional front sensors, the 360-camera System with See-Through Mode, and Cruise Control.
In my brief time driving the Seal 5 DM-i, there are two things that stood out to me. First is the quietness of the cabin. It’s not as quiet as the bigger Sealion 6 crossover but it definitely muted more frequencies than its rivals in the segment.
Second is the body roll or lack thereof. Being a hybrid, the battery of the Seal 5 DM-i is relatively small and yet it was enough to make the sedan very planted during corners. It was close to the cornering stability of the high performance BYD Seal EV sedan to be honest.
The BYD Seal 5 DM-i starts at PHP 948,000 for the Dynamic trim while the Premium is at PHP 1,198,000. It’s available in Quartz Blue, Harbour Grey, Cosmos Black, and Arctic White and comes with 8-year or 160,000km warranty (whichever comes first) for the BYD Blade Battery, an 8-year or 150,000km warranty (whichever comes first) for the drive unit, and a 6-year or 150,000km (whichever comes first) vehicles warranty. It’s hard to believe what you’re getting for the price of the BYD Seal 5 DM-i but that’s what the brand is doing – redefining what you can expect at their respective price points.
