BYD Sealion 5 DM-i

Upon entering the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i, you are greeted by plenty of soft-touch materials and premium finishes. Both its first and second rows have enough headroom and legroom to comfortably seat five passengers. And, on top of this, it comes with a generous 520L minimum cargo capacity. Its leather seats are very supportive and provide great ergonomics even on long-distance trips. Aside from these, the Sealion 5 DM-i also comes with four USB charging ports, a 12V power socket, and eight bottle/cup holders.

Drivers have access to a luxurious-looking cockpit, which includes an 8.8-inch LCD instrument cluster, a multicontrol steering wheel wrapped in leather, and a classy-looking gear lever. All passengers can enjoy a 10.1-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment display at the center of the dashboard. 

One downside of its cabin, however, is the lack of physical buttons or knobs. Majority of the car’s interior features are touch-controlled via the infotainment display, which might be a bit of an inconvenience for older-generation drivers and passengers. But, on the plus side, it offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB, Bluetooth, a voice assistant, 4G connectivity, and BYD’s Cloud Service for its price. Its infotainment is linked to a 6-speaker sound system. 

The BYD Sealion 5 DM-i has a subtle yet very appealing appearance, which shows you that you don’t need an abundance of design cues and elements to look classy and premium on the road. For its price, its design slightly resembles some European luxury models of today, which is impressive to say the least. At the front, it features a stylish grille with a chrome pattern and a sporty-looking split-type bumper. It has an assertive glare courtesy of its LED headlamps along with sleek DRLs. 

On the sides, it has a clean two-toned silhouette enhanced by blacked-out window trims, wheel arches, and side skirts. This SUV gets a sporty-looking set of 18-inch wheels. Meanwhile, its back end shows off a nice balance of elegance and sportiness. At night, its full-width LED tail lamp is pleasant to look at. It also comes with fog lamps and a high-mount brake lamp for increased visibility. And, for a premium touch, you get sequential turn signals at the rear. 

In terms of dimensions, the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i measures 4,738 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width, and 1,710 mm in height. It has a 2,712 mm wheelbase and a 156 mm laden ground clearance. With this in mind, its size is really impressive for its price point. 

In terms of suspension, the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i utilizes a MacPherson Strut at the front and a Multi-Link at the rear. This setup delivers a very comfortable ride for all passengers. It allows this SUV to effectively take on bumpy and uneven concrete pavements. It is also very maneuverable even through tight traffic and sharp turns. However, since its suspension setup is tuned more for comfort, its steering gets a bit too light (or, to some extent, unresponsive) when driving spiritedly. But, to be fair, the Sealion 5 DM-i is advertised as a comfortable family vehicle not a high-performance vehicle. 

The BYD Sealion 5 DM-i runs on the brand’s Super DM-i technology that combines a single permanent magnet synchronous motor, which generates 197 PS of power and 300 Nm of torque, with a 1.5L high efficiency generator, which acts as a range extender. Its motor is powered by a 12.96 kWh BYD Blade battery pack, which delivers an NEDC driving range of 71 km. Combined, its Super DM-i technology delivers an impressive 1,001-km extended range. This SUV utilizes a front-wheel drivetrain and is equipped with three drive modes: Economy, Normal, and Sport.

On paper, its performance metrics might not look that exciting, but you’d be surprised to know that this SUV is impressively peppy off the line. Its Super DM-i technology delivers instantaneous power, allowing you to effortlessly overtake slower vehicles on the highway. Meanwhile, in the city, it delivers outstanding efficiency even when driving in mixed conditions. Its NVH suppression system is still pretty decent for its price. All in all, this SUV is an enjoyment to drive both within the Metro and outside town. 

The BYD Sealion 5 DM-i lacks the comprehensive DiPilot (ADAS) suite that its more premium cousins have. But, for its price, it still gets a rear camera system, a radar system consisting of four rear parking sensors, and cruise control. Additionally, its braking setup is supported by an anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability control, traction control system, vehicle dynamic control system, anti-rollover control system, as well as hill hold and descent controls. This SUV comes with ventilated discs for front braking, while solid discs for the rear.

In my opinion, the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i offers a great middle ground for local consumers who want more space than the Seal 5 DM-i but find the Sealion 6 DM-i a bit on the pricier side of things. This vehicle effectively blends a crossover’s light and agile maneuverability with an SUV’s space and capability. And, on top of this, it offers an impressive hybrid technology for its price.