BYD Seal 06 DM-i Touring: Is this the PHEV wagon PH needs?

We take a closer look at the BYD Seal 06 DM-i Touring

Ever since ACMobility started operating BYD Cars Philippines, the automaker has essentially changed the electrified car market. From offering affordable and high-tech EVs to feature-packed yet competitively priced plug-in hybrids, ACMobility has everyone on notice with its cutting-edge yet reasonably priced BYD vehicles.

For now, the automaker has launched crossovers, sedans, hatchbacks, and even MPVs. But there's one vehicle type BYD Cars Philippines has yet to offer in the country, a wagon. Fortunately, the automaker has one but has yet to reach our shores, the BYD Seal 06 DM-i Touring.

Also available as a sedan, the Seal 06 DM-i Touring gets its looks from the Ocean Series lineup, giving it some styling cues from the Sealion 6 DM-i. The result is a sleek yet sporty-looking wagon that's dominated by eye-catching LED headlights, a distinct roofline, and a neat set of LED taillights. It also comes with sculpted doors & fenders, which highlight the vehicle's athletic looks.

In terms of size, the Seal 06 DM-i Touring comes in at 4850mm long, 1890mm wide, 1505mm tall, and has a generous 2790mm wheelbase. This makes the Seal 06 DM-i Touring a midsize vehicle, which can take on the likes of the Mazda6 Wagon and other midsize crossover SUVs.

Since it's a long-roof vehicle, luggage space will be one of its main selling points. Those who want a wagon that has generous cargo room will not be disappointed, as it has a maximum luggage space of 1,535 liters with the rear seats down. Fold them up, however, and the wagon still has a generous 675 liters of cargo space.

As for its other features, the Seal 06 DM-i Touring is available with a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, power-adjustable front seats with memory & heating/cooling functions, a panoramic sunroof, LED ambient lighting, front & rear center armrests, and rear charging ports.

Under the hood, the plug-in hybrid Seal 06 DM-i Touring comes with a 1.5L engine that supplies power to a battery pack. Depending on the variant chosen, the Seal 06 DM-i Touring can come with either a 10.08 kWh Blade battery or a bigger 15.87 kWh Blade battery. This then powers an electric motor that's available in two states of tune: 163 PS with 210 Nm of torque or 217 PS with 260 Nm of torque.

On a full charge, the variant with the 10.08 kWh battery can travel up to 60 km, while the 15.87 kWh version can go up to 90 km, based on the WLTC cycle. It also has a combined system range of up to 1,350 km based on the WLTP cycle.

There's no word yet if BYD Cars Philippines plans to offer the Seal 06 DM-i Touring in the country. But should they be able to price it competitively compared to other midsize crossover SUVs, BYD could have a niche but compelling offering in the form of a plug-in hybrid midsize wagon.

Let us know in the comments what you think about the BYD Seal 06 DM-i Touring.