mReview: BYD Sealion 6 DM-i – The Best Of Both Worlds

BYD’s Sealion 6 DM-i plug-in hybrid is a firm attempt to increase its market share in Singapore by appealing to the full-EV non-believers. Has it worked, though?

Have you ever read the book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”? In it, a caterpillar first ate an apple, but he was still hungry. He then ate two pears, but he was still hungry. He moved on to eat three plums, but he was still hungry. You get the idea. 

BYD is, in this case and in my opinion, The Very Hungry Carmaker. They became the best-selling EV brand, but they were still hungry. Then they became the best-selling car brand outright, but they were still hungry. And in the hunt for ever more market share, they’ve brought in their first petrol-powered product, the plug-in hybrid Sealion 6 DM-i.

The Sealion 6 is largely similar to the Sealion 7, with which it shares most of its name. The main difference (apart from the powertrain, of course) is in its exterior styling. The Sealion 6 features a more conventional SUV body style, as opposed to the Sealion 7’s coupe-SUV styling. Despite the higher roof line, though, the boot space in the Sealion 6 is still slightly less than that of the Sealion 7, due to the 7 being longer than the 6. 

Specs-wise, there is only one variant of Sealion 6 DM-i offered in Singapore, powered by a BYD-developed, 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated, 4-cylinder engine that makes 194 马力 (Chinese horsepower) on its own and 215hp when combined with the electric motor. Total torque measures in at 300Nm, and the Sealion 6 will do the century sprint in 8.5 seconds.

The Sealion 6 uses a BYD-developed 1.5-litre engine.

The electric motor is mated directly to an 18.3kWh battery that allows for around 80km of electric-only driving range. The battery itself will not deplete past about 15% capacity in order to conserve the battery’s health and to always have some juice in reserve to help with consumption figures.

The transition itself between electric and combustion power is seamless and barely noticeable, save for some droning from the engine if you’re really getting on the gas. BYD claims a combined total range of 1,100km, though in my experience, the real-world figure is more likely to be around the 900km mark.

A comfy and functional interior.

Like with any other plug-in hybrid, you’ll be best able to reap the rewards if you’re able to keep that small battery charged up. Being able to drive for up to around 80km on electricity alone is enough to cover most Singaporeans’ daily commute, so if you can charge it up every day either at home or the office, you’ll get virtually unlimited mileage from a tank of gas. 

Equipment-wise, the Sealion 6 is also fairly well equipped from the factory. It has a 10-speaker Infinity by Harmon Kardon sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic roof, ventilated front seats, and a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment screen. 

Enough room to hold four pieces of luggage with minimal Tetris-ing.

It also, of course, features BYD’s full suite of driver assistance and safety features, with everything from Intelligent Cruise Control to Cross Traffic Braking included as standard, making the Sealion 6 a cinch to drive.

And I think that’s what makes it so enticing, people buy BYDs because they are easy and fuss-free to drive, and the Sealion 6 carries on that trend. Some (including myself) would even say that by having a combustion engine, it makes life even easier because range anxiety is an absolute non-issue now. 

I have always maintained that a hybrid powertrain, as opposed to a full ICE or EV one, is the way forward for both automakers and consumers. It really is the best of both worlds, and the Sealion 6 DM-i brings them together with aplomb. 

As I mentioned in my first drive story on the Sealion 6, for those who have been interested in the BYD brand but are not fully convinced by the EV lifestyle, this is your chance to see what the hooha is all about. 

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