BYD eMAX 9 DM-i luxury MPV launched at PEVS 2025
Over 25 years ago, if you wanted to be transported in style and uncompromised comfort, you bought a large sedan.
And there was plenty to choose from – brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Jaguar had a vast array of luxury four-doors that not only showed everyone your success, but also your taste for the finer things. Nowadays, upper-crust Filipinos go bigger with high-end multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) like the Toyota Alphard and its plusher cousin, the Lexus LM.
It is here where BYD Cars Philippines is once again waging another revolution, courtesy of its all-new 2025 BYD eMAX 9 DM-i that was launched on Thursday at the 13th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The luxury MPV is available in two variants, namely the Advanced and the top-of-the-line Premium.
“The BYD eMAX 9 DM-i represents the pinnacle of our electrified vehicle innovation, where technology and luxury move together in perfect harmony,” said BYD Cars Philippines managing director Bob Palanca in a press statement.
“It is an elegant statement of progress for Filipino families and professionals who seek sustainable mobility and value smart ownership,” he added.
No hum-drum van
BYD Cars Philippines said its big MPV showcases the brand’s “Dragon Face” design language, expressed by the enormous front grill and wraparound LED headlights.
All variants get 18-inch alloy wheels and prominent chrome accents around the windows and side skirts. In addition, the strong character line that cuts through the eMAX 9 DM-i’s sliding doors (electrically operated in the Premium model) adds some depth to what would have been a boring flat space.
Finally, the rear end is dominated by the awning-like spoiler on the tailgate (electrically operated and hands-free in the Premium variant). Full-width LED taillights stand out like a row of rubies that jut out further than the rather petite rear bumper.
All models are available in three colors: Cosmos Black, Deep Sea Blue and Aurora White.
Palatial cabin
In the luxury MPV stakes, the one that offers the most spacious and opulent cabin wins.
Here, the eMAX 9 DM-i certainly has a fighting chance – rear passengers enjoy luxury treats like a built-in refrigerator, ambient lighting and a tri-zone climate-control system. The Advanced variant also gets an 8-speaker surround-sound system, while the Premium moves up to a 12-speaker setup, a sunroof and a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
There’s another easy way to distinguish the two eMAX 9 DM-i models – the Advanced has black leather upholstery with manually adjustable, second-row captain seats, while the Premium is lined with rather spectacular beige-and-brown hide and features electrically operated and ventilated captain chairs with massage function.
The Premium model also comes with BYD’s DiPilot Advanced Driver Assistance System that includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot detection and lane-keeping assist. Complementing these systems are a 360-degree camera and rear cross-traffic alert.
A green punch
As with all BYDs, the real magic is under the hood.
All eMAX 9 DM-i models pack a turbocharged 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve, inline-4 gasoline engine mated to an electric motor for a combined output of 267 horsepower and 315 Newton-meters of torque. BYD Cars Philippines claims a 0 to 100 km/h time of just 8.5 seconds, with the top-spec Premium variant getting BYD’s DiSus-C electronically adjustable suspension.
The Premium also has a 36.6-kWh battery pack for a claimed maximum all-electric range of 170 kilometers and a combined range of 1,000 kilometers. Meanwhile, the Advanced variant has a 20.4-kWh battery pack that promises up to 95 kilometers of all-electric range and a combined range of 945 kilometers.
However, BYD Cars Philippines said the eMAX 9 DM-i Premium beat its estimated figures in an Automobile Association of the Philippines-certified efficiency run that went from BYD Manila Bay in Pasay City to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte via Tugegarao. Using the same route back, the luxury MPV covered 1,261.2 kilometers on one full tank and one full battery charge.
All eMAX 9 DM-i models support 7-kW AC charging and 73-kW DC fast-charging – using the former, the Advanced variant reaches a full charge in about 3 hours, while the Premium takes around 5 hours. Using DC fast-chargers can boost the battery from 30% to 80% in less than 20 minutes.
Finally, all models get vehicle-to-load technology that turns this big BYD into a mobile power source, capable of running everything from small appliances to essential devices on the go.
Alphard beware?
Prices for the all-new 2025 BYD eMAX 9 DM-i start at P2,678,000 for the Advanced and go up to P2,998,000 for the Premium – these significantly undercut their closest rivals from Toyota, namely the P3,331,000 Hiace Super Grandia Elite and the P4,671,000 Alphard HEV.
“The BYD eMAX 9 DM-i redefines what luxurious electric mobility means for Filipino families,” said BYD Cars Philippines country head Adam Hu in a press statement.
“It embodies our mission to make world-class electric mobility accessible to Filipinos who aspire to drive beyond the ordinary,” he added.
All eMAX 9 DM-i units come with a 6-year/150,000-kilometer vehicle warranty (whichever comes first) and an 8-year/160,000-kilometer warranty (whichever comes first) for the Blade Battery and drive unit. BYD Cars Philippines said you can see the eMAX 9 DM-i at Greenbelt 5 Makati from October 24 to 26 and at Alabang Town Center from November 7 to 9.
With BYD Cars Philippines now present in practically every vehicle segment, could we finally see a Chinese carmaker break into the top three of the local car sales charts?
