As the breadth of fully electric vehicle models on sale broadens, more question marks are raised regarding the need for automakers to further produce plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs).
Unless you are religiously charging your PHEV overnight at home or at work, then you are essentially lugging around a considerably heavy – and thirsty – combustion-powered car. I suspect many PHEV owners are guilty of this.
In terms of pure electric-driving range, few PHEVs I have driven have made sense. Nice cars, but the novelty of charging at home just to get your first forty-or-so kilometres ‘free’ wears thin.
Aiming to justify the existence of PHEVs, BYD has come up with its ‘Super Hybrid DM-i’ technology, first launched in this part of the world at the end of 2024 via the BYD Seal U SUV.
Unlike traditional hybrids, BYD’s DM-i system utilises an electric motor as the primary driver and a larger EV battery. In this instance, the job of the 1.5-litre petrol engine is to act as a generator to charge the 19kWh battery or power the motor, only driving the front wheels at high speeds to maximise efficiency.
In theory, BYD reckons its new Seal 6 saloon and estate model has a combined range of over 1,500km. That’s 105km of electric range and the rest from petrol. Of course, that is the ‘on paper’ figures. I did find the 80km mark easy to crack from a fully charged battery, before seeing the petrol gauge begin to slowly drop. From the 65-litre petrol tank alone, you should get over 1,300km of driving. Diesel-like numbers for petrol prices, that in itself is impressive.
Provided you keep it charged and your daily commute is less than 100km, the new BYD Seal 6 could, in theory, keep you away from the forecourt for weeks, if not months on end. And there is the security for longer trips once the battery depletes. The car also supports DC fast charging, should you need it.
On a separate note, BYD has aptly timed the arrival here of the Seal 6. Saloons such as the Ford Mondeo or VW Arteon are no more, the Passat can only be bought as an estate and is almost €50k, and at just under €41,000 for the top ‘Comfort’ spec, the Seal 6 is also cheaper than the likes of the Skoda Superb (available also as a PHEV).
Prices start at €37,490 for the Seal 6 Saloon body style and €38,999 for the Touring (estate) model. There is a warranty now of 250,000km, or eight years on the cobalt-free, lithium-ion phosphate Blade Battery.
It is keenly priced and very well spec’d. A common theme of all BYD models. It is no wonder the brand has sold over 6,000 cars here since its arrival in 2023. Add that to the 16 dealerships it has open in the same period, and you see remarkable growth.
The new BYD Seal 6 is a model certainly worth checking out.
