The Seal 5 DM-i is powered by the brand’s Super DM-i technology. If that sounds familiar, it’s the same powertrain fitted in the Sealion 6 DM-i. It combines a high-efficiency 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that essentially acts as a generator to the high capacity (8.3 kW or 18.3 kW) BYD Blade Battery. The strong electric motor does most of the heavy lifting providing either 179 horsepower, 316 Nm (Dynamic) or 197 horsepower, 325 Nm (Premium) of thrust.

Facts and figures? Up to 1,240 kilometers of range—115 kilometers of that in full electric mode and a 0-100 km/h time of 7.3 seconds. The entry-level Dynamic is equally impressive with its 1,175-kilometer range (50 kilometers all electric) and 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. Top speed for both variants is pegged at 185 km/h.

Like other hybrids, regenerative braking helps recapture some lost energy to charge the battery, but the best bit is that you can simply plug it into a household socket or wall box charger. This means that short, daily trips can be done without the gas engine turning on ever. And in cases of emergency, the Premium variant’s V2L capability means it can power small appliances with a simple adapter even during a black out.

The tech goes beyond what you find under the hood. Like the rest of the BYD line-up, the Seal 5 DM-i is packed to the brim with advanced features that’ll make your average sub-compact blush in embarrassment.

Front-and-center here is the 12.8-inch rotating screen. Unique to the segment, it offers wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. It also serves as a display to the high-resolution 360-degree view camera for the Premium variant. The Premium also receives a wireless device charger, dual zone automatic climate control with rear vents, foot well lighting, a sunroof, and for audiophiles, an 8-speaker system. The driver gets his own 8.8-inch LCD screen and it displays all pertinent information. For luxury and comfort, leather seats are standard with 6-way power adjust for the Premium variant.

And of course, it gets BYD Voice Assistant—the brand’s advanced voice command capability and complimentary access to the My BYD app which offers real-time connectivity between the driver and car.

Design-wise, the Seal 5 DM-i is marine-inspired, and that’s seen in the various nautical elements used throughout. The front-end has a sharp, angular bumper design. It looks like a bow cutting through the rest of the soap-shaped sub-compact cars. LED headlights are standard while wheel sizes are either 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels. The sideview mirrors contain an NFC reader and have puddle lamps (Premium) for that little bit of drama when getting in and out of the car. At the back, it has full-length LED taillights. Numerous horizontal elements echo the front grille, while front and rear parking sensors providing an extra layer of security.

BYD Cars Philippines is offering the Seal 5 DM-i in four colors (Quartz Blue, Artic White, Cosmos Black, and Harbor Gray) and two variants with the following prices:

• Seal 5 DM-i Dynamic – P 948,000
• Seal 5 DM-i Premium – P 1,198,000

At those price points, the BYD Seal 5 DM-i offers the best value proposition for first-time car buyers with its first-in-segment technologies. With its impressive mileage and once-a-year PMS, You can expect up to 40 percent savings when it comes to cost of ownership. And of course, it’s coding exempt too so you can drive around town any day of the week without worry.

Check the full specs of the BYD Seal 5 DM-i below.