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May 14, 2025

BYD Philippines Is Set To Obliterate Other Chinese Brands With Sealion 5 DM-i


BYD is set to obliterate the Chinese competition in the next few months, if these LTO homologation papers are to be believed. Apparently, the New Energy Vehicle manufacturer just got approval to sell the newest member of its Sealion family—the Sealion 5 DM-i locally.

Based on the homologation papers, the Sealion 5 DM-i and Sealion 6 DM-i have the same general footprint. The Sealion 5 DM-i measures in at 4,738 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width, and 1,710 mm height. By comparison, the Sealion 6 DM-i tapes in at 4,775 mm in length, 1,890 mm in width, and 1,670 mm in height. In terms of wheelbase, the Sealion 5 DM-i is at 2,712 mm to the Sealion 6 DM-i’s 2,765 mm.

The similarities between the Sealion 5 DM-i and Sealion 6 DM-i shouldn’t come as a surprise as they’re essentially “sister” models in China. Both are powered by a normally-aspirated 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, both have the same E-CVT transmission, and both run on the same platform. In fact, the biggest difference is the all-electric range.

Based on the LTO documents, the Sealion 5 DM-i will sport a smaller 12.9-kWh LFP battery (the Sealion 6 DM-i uses an 18.3-kWh) giving an all-electric range of about 75 kilometers using CLTC standards (64 kilometers using WLTC or 71 kilometers based on the filed LTO documents). Charging can be done either via AC (11 hours) or DC (45 minutes) charging.


Combined outputs are said to be at 197 horsepower, with the Atkinson cycle engine providing 99 horsepower and 126 Nm, while the electric motor providing 161 horsepower and 210 Nm. Driving the front wheels together, 0 to 100 km/h can be done in 8.3 seconds. Top speed is at 170 km/h.

Style-wise, the Sealion 5 DM-i gains the same styling as the Seal 5 DM-i compact sedan. Inside, it continues to offer the same sort of BYD tech features such as free-standing and rotating central screen, an all-digital gauge cluster, and a large 1.2-square meter panoramic sunroof.

Now, how is this all confusing? Well, in China, BYD opted to spin off its “Sealion” as a separate model line. Although it’s still part of the Ocean series of vehicles, it has since spawned the Sealion 05 DM-i, Sealion 05 EV, Sealion 6, Sealion 06, Sealion 7, and the Sealion 07.


The zero prefix is important as the “0” connotes the newer generation of vehicles. The Philippine Sealion 6, for example, which is basically a refreshed Song Plus DM-i, is part of that older generation of models. The Sealion 06, meanwhile, which comes in both EV and PHEV variants, has grown larger and is now marketed as a mid-sized SUV. All this comes as a surprise that BYD Philippines opted to drop the “0” prefix, opting to call its upcoming PHEV the Sealion 5 DM-i instead (maybe they did this for simplicity).

Either way, two variants have been confirmed for the Philippine market, the Sealion 5 DM-i Dynamic and Premium. Taking a gander at BYD Philippines’ naming convention, Dynamic represents the entry-level model, while Premium will be the top of the line.

As for pricing, it will likely slot between the Seal 5 DM-i Premium (P 1,198,000) and Sealion 6 DM-i Advanced (P 1,548,000). With a P 350,000 spread, it’s very likely that the Sealion 5 DM-i will be priced at around P 1,328,000 to P 1,398,000.

When will it launch? Since it’s already received the said LTO homologation papers, expect it to arrive in BYD showrooms in the next few months, perhaps as early as June this year.

20 comments:

  1. The base variant of the PHEV version of Changan CS55 Plus is much more affordable
    It'll eat the sales of the vanilla Sealion 6 PHEV

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think customers will get more value out of CS55 Plus even if its cheaper than Sealion 6

      Delete
    2. I think you’re referring to the Nevo Q05? It’s definitely better equipped than the Sealion 6. BYD was even forced to offer discounts on the SL6 after the Q05 launched, something they never had to do before since the SL6 was selling like hotcakes.

      Delete
  2. Traffic ConstableMay 14, 2025 at 2:26 PM

    There's Sealion 7 EV, Sealion 6 DM-I. Sealion 5 DM-I/Sealion 06 DM-I. A little further unrelated there is Seal 5 DM-I and Seagull. Agree much that BYD naming convention is so confusing as if there are limited letters & number combination and sea creature or China Dynasties. Confusion will come in as we start inquiring for parts for replacement.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This. Imagine: Sealion 6 is different from Sealion 06.

      I was hoping BYD PH would adopt a different naming structure here in the Philippines. I guess, they can't.

      Delete
  3. Vs good looking changan NEVO Q05

    ReplyDelete
  4. the Sealion 5 also kinda looks better....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Why not bring the atto 2 in Ph instead?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Atto 2 is a EV and it'll likely be more expensive than the normal Sealion 5 PHEV SUV

      Delete
  6. 7 seater dmi instead of this

    ReplyDelete
  7. BYD Philippines won't be selling the Sealion 05 and Sealion 06 EVs in the Philippine market as they're expensive and not that good looking
    BYD Philippines will next focus on selling Atto 2 EV (replacement to the aging Dolphin) and Sealion 7 PHEV in the Philippine market sometime this year

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sealion 6 at 1.5M price is because they declared it as full EV. Now that it is clearly declared as hybrid, it's price will increase. So, since the SL5 is also a PHEV, i doubt the price range you presented here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So byd ph declared the sealion 6 as full ev? When it’s clearly phev in their own website ?

      Delete
  9. Actually Chinese brands naming is so confusing. Even sub brands of brands and constant product releases makes the current model feel old even if only out for a couple of months.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Bakit obliterate other Chinese Brands lang Wala ba direct competitor ito sa Japanese Brand?

    Sa NHK, headline nila
    Japanese carmakers threatened by Tariff and BYD.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Siyempre unang papatayin ng BYD would be the other Chinese brands. After that, they can go after the Japanese and Koreans too.

      Delete
    2. They have to solve their burning car problems first

      Delete
    3. What were the combusting vehicles on the news lately? All of them were your typical “trusted” Japanese-branded ICE vehicles, no?

      Delete
  11. that is BYD Song Pro DM-i in china

    ReplyDelete

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