BYD ‘electrifies’ sedan market with 2025 BYD Seal 5 DM-i priced at P948k
Chinese carmaker BYD, the world’s leading electric-vehicle (EV) manufacturer, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
And BYD Philippines joined the festivities on Thursday with the official debut of the all-new 2025 BYD Seal 5 DM-i sedan. This marks the company’s fourth and final launch of the year, serving as a groundbreaking finale to the Sealion 6 DM-i crossover, Seagull EV hatchback and Seal EV high-performance sedan.
As the name implies, the Seal 5 DM-i uses the same powertrain technology as its highly successful Sealion 6 DM-i cousin, but incorporates all this for the cost of a Toyota Vios or Honda City.
“We believe the BYD Seal 5 DM-i will be yet another game-changer in the market as it offers an electric mobility solution that is efficient, affordable, and practical for Filipino drivers,” said BYD Philippines managing director Bob Palanca.
“With its accessible pricing and cutting-edge features, this vehicle is designed to make electrified mobility easier to embrace, whether for urban commutes or long-distance travels,”he added.
Civic rival
Although it is priced to wreak havoc on the heavy-hitters of the subcompact sedan segment, the Seal 5 DM-i is actually much larger.
Measuring 4,780 milllimeters long, 1,837 millimeters wide, 1,495 millimeters tall and with a 2,718-millimeter wheelbase, BYD’s new four-door is even bigger than the recently launched Honda Civic e:HEV.
Large LED headlights extend into the front fenders, flanking a very prominent front grill with chrome inserts and large side vents. The Seal 5 DM-i’s side profile shows a three-box sedan, although the steeply raked rear windscreen offers a fastback appearance that compliments the full-length LED taillights.
In addition, 16-inch alloy wheels are standard for the entry-level Dynamic model, while the top-spec Premium gets 17-inch alloys. Available colors include Quartz Blue, Harbour Grey, Cosmos Black and Arctic White.
Leather and tech
All Seal 5 DM-i come with a full leather interior, with soft-touch materials on the dashboard and door cards.
But what will get most people’s attention is the huge 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a 6-speaker sound system. This is alongside the 8.8-inch digital gauge cluster that emphasizes this sedan’s connection with its crossover cousin.
Stepping up to the Premium model means you get an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera, power-folding side mirrors, an 8-speaker sound system, one-touch power windows for all passengers and an electric moonroof.
All Seal 5 DM-i variants also come standard with cruise control and all-around parking sensors. However, none have the comprehensive active-safety suite available in the Sealion 6 DM-i – this puts BYD’s baby at a major disadvantage to the City and Civic, which both have the excellent Honda SENSING system as standard across the range.
Two powertrain options
Where the Seal 5 DM-i really pulls away from its rivals is under the hood.
All models get an electric motor with a 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline generator, mated to either an 8.3-kWh battery in the Dynamic or an 18.3-kWh battery in the Premium. Combined output is a hearty 177 horsepower and 316 Newton-meters of torque for the former and an immense 194 horsepower and 325 Newton-meters of torque for the latter.
Put another way, the Seal 5 DM-i Premium has 13 more horsepower and 10 Newton-meters of torque more than the Civic e:HEV and a whopping 89 horsepower and 185 Newton-meters of torque than the very antiquated Toyota Vios 1.5 G.
BYD Philippines claims a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.9 seconds for the Seal 5 DM-i Dynamic and 7.3 seconds for the Seal 5 DM-iPremium. But all this indulgent power need not break the bank – BYD Philippines claims a maximum NEDC full-electric driving range of 50 kilometers for the former and 115 kilometers for the latter.
But even more impressive is the class-leading combined range – a whopping 1,175 kilometers in the Dynamic and 1,240 kilometers in the Premium, with the company’s own road tests across northern Luzon exceeding 1,600 kilometers.
With Type 2 plug-in charging capability, the Seal 5 DM-i can use almost every EV charging station, going from 0 to 100 percent on AC charging within 3.5 hours. The Premium variant also comes with Vehicle-to-Load capability so that you can charge electrical items with your car.
Another knockout
Since the Ayala Corporation took over the brand’s operations last year, BYD has gone from being a hardly memorable carmaker into what is arguably the hottest acronym in the Philippine motoring lexicon.
And it has done this by offering customers the latest in fuel-saving (or zero-fossil fuel) technology and generous standard equipment, resulting in truly unparalleled value for money. Even those who once eschewed a Chinese car with great ferocity are suddenly finding themselves asking – do I really need to spend more when I could have it all for less?
Given BYD Philippines’ huge success with the Sealion 6 DM-i, the Seal 5 DM-i is highly likely to break ground in the subcompact and compact sedan segments – long the strongholds of Japanese manufacturers.
This is aided by the fact that the Seal 5 DM-i Dynamic costs P948,000, while the Seal 5 DM-i Premium is just P1,198,000. And BYD Philippines dealers deliver their cars in a timely fashion, without asking for huge payouts to put you “ahead of the line.”
At the very least, BYD Philippines and its newest sedan will force the rest of the local car industry to not only step up their offerings, but also do away with their rapacious dealer practices.
