There’s no doubt about it: BYD nailed the compact SUV formula with the Sealion 6. Though BYD likes to call itself an “electric car brand,” there’s no question that it’s their plug-in hybrids—DM-i in official parlance—helped drive sales. Since the Chinese brand isn’t exactly transparent when it comes to their sales, anecdotally, the colony of Sealion 6s occupying EV chargers on a daily basis shows you exactly how they’ve managed to upend the industry.
It’s this success formula they’re trying to replicate in a growing number of segments. Although BYD still carries eight battery electric offerings, they’re still a rare sight on the road save for the Seagull. On the other hand, the five DM-i and the solitary DMO model, are getting to be a common on public roads to the point that it’s starting to scare the normally unshakable Toyota. BYD’s three-hit combo which started with the Sealion 6 and the Seal 5 has now been completed with the Sealion 5.
When you look at it, you can’t fathom why Toyota would be scared of this thing. This is the most generic looking crossover out there; it looks like the sort of thing that was spit out of a ChatGPT prompt. But as inoffensive as it is, at least the Sealion 5 looks clean. And original. No more copycat styling on this Chinese car. Plus, at P 1.268-million, it’s well-loaded. Compared to other BYD efforts, it doesn’t throw in the kitchen sink, but it does still manage to out-spec the competition—mainland or otherwise.
What makes the Sealion 5 scary, however, is what you find under the hood. It might be one of the more affordable plug-in hybrids out there, but BYD didn’t make any shortcuts. The setup is familiar: a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder generator and permanent magnet synchronous motor that’s formidable to say the least. Its electric-first tune means that motivation is primarily via the 197-horsepower motor. The engine is there to keep the battery topped up, or when absolutely necessary, drive the wheels when called upon (peak power of 212 horsepower). It’s a very smooth system and feels like an EV most of the time. In effect, it shames every purely combustion engine offering out there.
Better still, there’s none of the range anxiety involved with a battery electric vehicle. The Sealion 5 can run on pure EV mode until the battery goes down to about 23 percent—that’s when it switches automatically to HEV mode (drivers can set a lower state-of-charge switchover in the menu). With a real-world consumption of 6.3 km/kWh, it means being able to run 63 kilometers—more than the average daily commute—on electricity. If anything, the only issue here is charging speed. Maxing out at 3.3 kW, it takes close more than four hours for a full charge. In HEV mode, it does about 20 km/L matching self-charging hybrids from Toyota and Honda. Together with a 52-liter tank, 1,040 kilometers of combined range is possible in the real-world.
With a curb weight close to 1.7 tons, it’s clear that BYD has had to re-engineer the platform to compensate for the battery’s weight. As a result, the Sealion 5’s ride feels busy pretty much all the time. Even on highways that look smooth, there’s a near constant fidget that you feel through the seats. At times, you’ll find yourself being moved around your seat a lot, meaning long distance journeys can become uncomfortable. It’s surprising then that it does manage to soak up larger imperfections like potholes without any issue.
On the other hand, the firm suspension means it does a good job of keeping body lean controlled through corners. It still can momentarily chirp the tires when the accelerator’s floored, but it’s not as bad as the softly-sprung Seal 5. Still, it’s not begging to be pushed and that’s down to the uncommunicative steering. It feels nervously light even on Sport mode and doesn’t give you much idea of what the front wheels are up to.
When it comes to the interior, the Sealion 5 feels fit for purpose. In general, it doesn’t feel like BYD cut too many corners here as the materials, and fit and finish are all better than its price point rivals. With this particular unit already doing more than 20,000 kilometers, it’s surprisingly well how it’s managed to keep up with minimal wear-and-tear. Of course, compared to the Sealion 6, some things had to give and here, there are some unlovable materials and the 10.1-inch center screen looks terribly out of place. Regardless, it’s a fine and solid place to be in.
Surprisingly, the driving position is pretty solid with the steering wheel and pedals all placed nicely. If anything, it’s the seats themselves that can make the experience uncomfortable. Not only can you not set it low enough (for those who prefer a low seating position), but the material itself is quite hard making long drives uncomfortable for those with sensitive backs. On the other hand, the high seating position means a good view over the hood. The same goes for the visibility over the shoulder and through the back window. Rear parking sensors and a backup camera are standard, but the camera image itself is too distorted (fisheye) to accurately use.
The small-for-BYD center screen also means that it’s now much harder to hit certain icons on the move. Accessing functions like the climate control require a prayer or two. Thankfully, the system does recognize on-screen multi-touch gestures and voice commands. And at least there are some physical controls on the area surrounding the gear selector.
Space-wise, tall or overly broad passengers won’t have any issues onboard the Sealion 5. This is especially true for the backseats where three abreast is not only possible, but comfortable. The flat floor means everyone gets plenty of knee room, while the outboard passenger gets sizeable space underneath the front seats to slot in their feet. The rear seats also feature adjustable recline and headrests too.
There’s plenty of storage too including a deep cubby hole within the front armrest and a cutout underneath the center console. And at the back, 520-liter cargo hold can easily swallow a week’s worth of groceries with no issues. That said, save for the 60/40 split-fold mechanism, there are no other fancy gimmicks here. There’s an underfloor storage compartment, but’s already where the fix-a-flat sealant and tools are located; it can’t even accommodate the portable charger.
You might think that the Sealion 5’s low price point comes at the expense of standard equipment, but that’s not the case. The solitary variant already comes with 18-inch alloys, automatic LED headlights, dual zone climate control with rear vents and smart keyless entry and push-button start. It does, however, feel like it was also speced to meet its price point because of its small infotainment screen, lack of power seats, and the absence of ADAS.
The BYD Sealion 5 certainly won’t win you over with its looks or for the way it drives. Frankly, it doesn’t even have a real standout feature apart for its PHEV powertrain. However, for the typical crossover buyer, these aren’t really deal breakers. For as long as it’s frugal, is spacious, and has a solid list of amenities for its price, it’ll be looked at as a tempting choice—adjectives that the Sealion 5 has. By focusing on practicality and affordability, it becomes clear that it’s ahead of its price point competitors.
|
2026 BYD Sealion 5 DM-i |
|
| Bottom Line | |
| Pros | Decent all-electric range, frugal even in HEV mode, spacious, well-kitted for the price. |
| Cons | Firm ride, firm seats, dinky infotainment screen. |
| TL;DR | Easy to see why BYD is able to scare the normally unshakable Toyota with this. |
| Ownership | |
| Year Introduced | 2025 |
| Warranty |
6 years / 150,000
kilometers, 8 years / 160,000 kilometers (high-voltage battery) |
| The Basics | |
| Body Type | Compact Crossover |
| Seating | 5 |
| Engine / Drive | F/F |
| Under the Hood | |
| Displacement (liters) | 1.5 |
| Aspiration | Normally Aspirated |
| Fuel Delivery | EFI |
| Layout / # of Cylinders | I4 |
| Maximum Output (PS @ rpm) |
98 @ 6,000 197 (Electric Motor) 212 (Combined) |
| Maximum Torque (Nm @ rpm) |
122 @ 4,000-4,500 300 (Electric Motor) |
| Fuel / Min. Octane | Gasoline / ~92 |
| Transmission | E-CVT |
| Cruise Control | Yes |
| Fuel Economy (km/L) @ Ave. Speed (km/h) |
20.02 km/L (10 km/h), 6.3 km/kWh (10 km/h) |
| Fuel Tank Size (L) | 52 |
| Dimensions and Weights | |
| Length (mm) | 4,738 |
| Width (mm) | 1,860 |
| Height (mm) | 1,710 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,712 |
| Curb Weight (kg) | 1,675 |
| Suspension and Tires | |
| Front Suspension | Independent, MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Independent, Multi-link |
| Front Brakes | Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Disc |
| Parking Brake | Electric w/ Auto Hold |
| Tires |
Giti GitiComfort F50
Advanztech 225/60R18 H |
| Recommended Tire Pressure (PSI) | 36 all |
| Wheels | Alloy |
| Safety Features | |
| Airbags | 6 |
| Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) | Yes, with EBD |
| Traction / Stability Control | Yes |
| Parking Sensors | Yes, Rear |
| Parking Camera | Year, Rear |
| Front Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR w/ pre-tensioners x 2 |
| Rear Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR x 3 |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor | Yes |
| Advanced Driver Assist System | None |
| Other Safety Features | None |
| Exterior Features | |
| Headlights | LED |
| Fog Lamps | Yes, Rear |
| Light Operation | Automatic |
| Wiper Operation | Variable Intermittent |
| Tailgate | Manual |
| Interior Features | |
| Steering Wheel Adjust | Tilt/Telescopic |
| Steering Wheel Material | Leather |
| Seating Adjustment (driver) | Manual, 6-way |
| Seating Adjustment (front passenger) | Manual, 4-way |
| Seating Surface | Synthetic Leather |
| 2nd Row | 60/40 Split Folding, w/ Armrest |
| 3rd Row | None |
| Sunroof | None |
| Multi-Information Display / Size | Yes, 8.8-inch |
| Convenience Features | |
| Power Steering | Yes |
| Power Door Locks | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes |
| Power Mirrors | Yes |
| Rear View Mirror | Day/Night |
| Proximity Key | Yes |
| Climate Control | Dual Zone, w/ Rear Vents |
| Audio System |
Stereo USB Type A Bluetooth GPS DiLink |
| Wireless Charger | None |
| Infotainment Display / Size | 10.1-inch |
| Smartphone Connectivity |
Apple CarPlay (Wireless) Android Auto |
| # of Speakers | 6 |
| Steering Controls | Yes |
its a good 10 year crossover. that's about it.
ReplyDeleteThe car is undeniably good but i've seeing & hearing lots of complaints regarding after sales service. It's been proven time & again that even under Ayala Corp, it's not a guarantee of a good after sales service for consumers.
ReplyDeleteAyala controls a small number of the dealerships. It really varies who owns/operates your local dealership.
Deleteif the distributor cannot enforce it to the dealers, its a failed branding. very irresponsible to just blame dealers and not do anything
DeleteAnon 1:38pm Exactly. That guy is just making excuses just to defend Ayala
DeleteThat's why you regularly see news about dealerships of X-brand closing in a certain place then sometime later "X-brand returns to our city". Maybe they were less picky about dealership partners when they were expanding rapidly. Bad feedback usually takes time to reach upper management.
DeleteGeely EX5 pro at 1.218m net of 70k discount has better specs, better driving dynamics and build quality far more superior than SL5
ReplyDeleteWell, Geely better lend it then. Unfortunately, Geely doesn't like to lend cars to us so we can't determine if they're really that good or not.
DeleteI remember reading somewhere someone mentioned that the rear seats are at an awkward angle for long term comfort. Sayang d ko na testing when it was on display sa local Ayala namin recently.
DeleteThe rear seat angle can be adjusted, but we didn't find any problem with the SL5's rear seat angle as is.
DeleteSorry, I should have clarified. I meant that about the EX 5. At least, I read that somewhere.
DeleteWith a small price gap.. i hope you can also review the chery tiggo cross hev.. been hearing a lot of good feedbacks from owners, chery in general for having a good after sales. Not to mention that the car not only is a bit cheaper than sealion 5 but it's also equipped with adas and it has a spare tire just like the corolla cross. I really hope you can review that unit sir uly! Cheers!
ReplyDelete