BYD Cars Philippines is set to electrify the sub-compact sedan segment with the arrival of the Seal 5 DM-i. Following the disruptive formula the Sealion 6 DM-i (read our review), it offers class-above features and technology with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, all for a starting price of just P 948,000 (watch our first impressions).
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
Check the full specs of the BYD Seal 5 DM-i below.
Photos by Nics Calanoc.
2025 BYD Seal 5 DM-i Philippine Specifications
Dimensions & Weights
Dimensions & Weights
- Overall Length: 4,780 mm
- Overall Width: 1,837 mm
- Overall Height: 1,495 mm
- Wheelbase: 2,718 mm
- Ground Clearance: 160 mm
- Minimum Turning Radius: 5.5 m
- Front Track: 1,580 mm
- Rear Track: 1,590 mm
- Curb Weight: 1,515 kg (Dynamic), 1,620 kg (Premium)
- Cargo Capacity: 450 liters
- Seating: 5
- Drivetrain: FWD
- Motor Type: Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
- Motor Power: 179 PS (Dynamic), 197 PS (Premium)
- Motor Torque: 316 Nm (Dynamic), 325 Nm (Premium)
- Engine Type: 1.5-liter Normally Aspirated 4-Cylinder
- Engine Power: 106 PS
- Engine Torque: 135 Nm
- Fuel Capacity: 48 L
- Electric Driving Range: 50 km (Dynamic), 115 km (Premium)
- Extended Range: 1,175 km (Dynamic), 1,240 km (Premium)
- Top Speed: 185 km/h
- Cruise Control
- Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 7.9 s (Dynamic), 7.3 s (Premium)
- Drive Modes: Economy, Normal, Sport
- Battery Type: BYD Blade Battery (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
- Battery Capacity: 8.3 kWh (Dynamic), 18.3 kWh (Premium)
- Type 2 / CCS2 Charger
- Maximum Charging Rate: 2.9 kW (Dynamic), 6.0 kWh (Premium)
- Charging Time (0-100 percent): 3-3.5 hours
- Regenerative Braking
- Portable Charging Cable
- 7-kW Wall-Mounted Charger (Premium)
- Vehicle-to-Load Capability (Premium)
- V2L Adapter (Premium)
- Front Suspension: Independent MacPherson Strut
- Rear Suspension: Torsion Beam Axle
- Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold
- Wheel Size: 225/60R16 (Dynamic), 215/55R17 (Premium)
- Tire Repair Kit
- Electric Power Steering
- Leather Steering Wheel w/ MID, Cruise Control, Multimedia, Screen Orientation (w/ 360-degree + see through view for Premium)
- LED Headlights with Auto On/Off, Manual Height Adjust
- LED Daytime Running Lights
- LED Turn Signal Indicators w/ Sequential at Rear
- LED Taillights
- Heated Power Adjustable Side Mirrors (w/ Power Fold & Puddle Lamps for Premium)
- Variable Intermittent Wipers
- Rear Defogger
- Leather Seats
- 6-way Manual Adjust Driver’s Seat (6-way Power Adjust for Premium)
- 4-way Manual Adjust Front Passenger Seat
- Height Adjustable Rear Headrests (w/ Center Armrest for Premium)
- Leather w/ Soft Touch Panel Interior Trim
- 8.8-inch LCD Instrument Cluster
- Auto Climate Control (Dual Zone for Premium)
- Rear Vents
- 12.8-inch Rotating Infotainment Screen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto, USB, Bluetooth
- 6 Speakers (8 Speakers for Premium)
- BYD Voice Assistant w/ 4G Connectivity, OTA Update, BYD Cloud Service
- Sunroof (Premium only)
- Day/Night Rearview Mirror
- Foot Well Lighting (Premium)
- Vanity Mirror for Passenger Sun Visor (Dual for Premium)
- Front Bottle / Cup Holder: Center Console x 2, Door Panel x 2
- Rear Bottle / Cup Holder: Door Panel x 2 (Door Panel x 2, Center x 2 for Premium)
- Keyless Entry with Push Button Start/Stop
- NFC Card
- Follow Me Home Lights
- One-Touch Up/Down Driver’s Side (One-Touch Up/Down All for Premium)
- Wireless Charger (Premium)
- USB Type A x 4
- 12V Power Socket
- 6 SRS Airbags
- Vehicle Dynamic Control System
- Traction Control System
- ABS with EBD
- Hill Start Control System
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System
- Rear Camera (360-degree w/ See Through View for Premium)
- 4 Sensor Radar System (6 Sensor Radar System for Premium)
Good price, feature packed but I bet the vios will still outsell this by a lot. People still prefer Philippine made car from Japan brand than China car. Not saying China cars are bad it is just the existing mindset
ReplyDeletetrue. vios will still outsell byd subcompact phev as the taxi operators would still go for the vios (cheaper parts as well as availability)
DeleteGeely emgrand low price fully loaded not a phev never took off. Maybe this one will, but for its segment usually first car buyers they prefer something easier to maintain and simpler like city or vios
ReplyDeleteSGAP obscenely jacked up the prices of the Geely Emgrand just months after it launched, a colossal mistake that kneecapped sales. It would have sold like hotcakes if it weren’t for that. Geely made the right call dumping Sojitz.
DeleteI think the PHEV powertrain will play a big part in making this car sell more.
DeleteAdd to that it has little to no competitors in the segment as far as PHEV compact sedans go
Its original name is actually "Destroyer 05"
It would’ve been a PR nightmare for BYD Philippines not to rebrand it for the local market given the geopolitical tensions in our seas right now. It’s also called the BYD King in other markets.
DeleteDamn, BYD! A sub-1M PHEV. Definitely a game changer!
ReplyDeleteDolphin stocks must have been depleted by now as they are launching this around the same price range. That said, BYD (PH) has been relentless in introducing interesting (and compelling) competition to established nameplates. How I felt about Chinese cars has seen a pivot this year. Not 180 degrees mind, but slowly realizing they will be changing the automotive landscape in ways we are not imagining now. The days of pooh-poohing Chinese design, engineering, quality and reliability are numbered. That's something to mull over with your morning cuppa.
ReplyDeleteIt all started when byd hired german designers and sourced parts fŕom tesla suppliers. The results = good looking quality cars and also affordable(thru ccp subsidy).
DeleteSubsidies played a key role in Chinas automotive rise but now these Chinese ev makers are facing a reckoning. There are 90+ Chinese EV makers that will be culled in favor of the profitable ones, BYD Geely and a few really big state owned companies. In the end maybe 6 companies will survive.
DeleteOops how cow VW, your sister BYD is all around ?
ReplyDeleteThis just destroyed the competition. I mean come on! That car right there is going to be byd's best seller for sure.
ReplyDeletePut a toyota/honda badge on that car and the price would be around 1.7m and up
ReplyDeleteWestern car makers (German, US and Japanese) are on notice here. These western car makers will go the way of Kodak if they dont figure out a way to challenge the Chinese EV makers. The west has to ramp up R&D and innovate to compete with the Chinese lead. Three things need to be on point, battery chemistry, giga casting and software. Toyota needs to stop dilly dallying. Nissan too because they a year away from bankruptcy. I do not want to see a world wherein China rules the car world while they also rule the WPS by force.
ReplyDeleteChina cars is the future. Deal with it.
DeletePeople are already dealing with it. Have you seen the sales figures lately, people have decided they don't like China cars.
DeleteWhile I admit The Chinese are in the lead now, I hope they won’t be the the only ones left in the future.
DeleteHoly frick, I was in the middle of compiling requirements for a Mitsu XForce when this news came up and oh no, I want one.
ReplyDeleteHonda civic RS hybrid left the group.
ReplyDeleteThe days when Honda can mooch off their engineering cred are over, much like the fans who built a thriving aftermarket ecosystem are thinning in numbers. Their electrification/new energy efforts come in spurts (Insight/Clarity/Fuel Cell CR-V) that gives the impression of half-hearted efforts, with none of them taking off. If Honda and BYD were people you asked for their vision of the future, right now I think BYD will give the clearer, complete and polished answer.
DeleteChina has the factories, labor, add the fact they steal technology and designs with government subsidy. Hard to beat that combo
ReplyDeleteThis is a great disposable car for sure. Cheap, decent power, and good looking. Two thumbs up.
ReplyDeleteOnly market left to infiltrate is the B Segment(Avanza) and the C segment(Innova/Zenix) mpv. If they offered this powertrain on those type of vehicles they'll sell like hotcakes
ReplyDeleteSteal technology is such a strong words, do you know Europe aside from increasing tariffs wants China to transfer technology. So who stole what from whom?
ReplyDeleteEurope is only doing FTT now (they haven’t even done it yet), China’s been doing it for decades.
DeleteNow I see why the US is imposing additional tariffs to
ReplyDeleteChinese cars like these. With their government subsidies and consolidated supply chains, their prodicts are simply unbeatable at that price!
China EV makers dumping products here and to other 3rd world countries. They have no other choices, china EV makers have over capacity and due to unfair subsidies they were hit by 100% tariff by US and canada, average 38% EU, 40% turkey and so on...
ReplyDeleteChina steals tech. Even an article from this site says BYD got precious battery know how from apple. Look at the airbus and comac almost same look and design. So many examples to choose from. Airplanes, ships, communication. Even territory natin trying to steal need more proof
ReplyDeleteBYD and Apple collaborated, anything produced from that collaboration belongs to both firms.
DeleteNoob here. What is the electricity cost for charging the battery from 0% to full charge?
ReplyDeleteThat depends if you're using a public or home charger.
DeleteSome public chargers (SM Malls, etc. are still free), so theoretically, you just pay for the parking.
If you go for a paid AC charger, for example, the 22-kW charger at Shell, it'll set you back P 28 per kWh. To top up the 18.3 kWh battery, it'll cost you P 512.4 (18.3 x 28).
If you go for a home AC charger, like the 7-kW provided by BYD, it'll cost, on average P 12 per kWh. To top up the 18.3 kWh battery, it'll cost P 219.6 (18.3 x 12).
Now, if you have solar you can make up some of that home power draw.
Take note, however, that the Seal 5, like the Sealion 6, will not allow the battery to go below 20-ish percent. Anything lower than this, it will start the gas engine to charge the battery.
DeleteI have seen and scrutinised this car sa BYD event sa BGC kanina. Grabe sobrang solid.
ReplyDeletePanalo. The build quality, price and features is miles away sa japs competition.