2025 BYD Seal 5 Premium PHEV

(Premium) PHEV for the masses

If someone told me 10 years ago that BYD would become the breakout brand it is today, I would have disagreed with them. Fast forward a decade later, and here I am, enjoying the soft ride and sports car-like acceleration of the BYD Seal 5. It’s also capable of averaging more than 20 km/L and can even run on pure electric power at triple-digit speeds, something its closest rivals can only wish to do.

From a car brand used to be known for making Japanese clones just a few years ago, BYD quickly transformed into one of the biggest and most high-tech automakers that are now known for building top-notch EVs and PHEVs at affordable prices. But while crossovers may be the preferred choice by most buyers, there are still those who swear by sedans.

Enter the BYD Seal 5 DM-i, a four-door sedan that’s slightly bigger than the Toyota Corolla Altis and Honda Civic but is selling for Toyota Vios/Honda City prices. Even better is the fact that it’s probably the most affordable plug-in hybrid sedan in the market today. But is the BYD Seal 5 all that it's cracked up to be? Does this kind of plug-in hybrid system make sense in the long run? And can it really travel over 1,000 km without needing to refuel or recharge?

Let’s dive right into the most important aspect of the Seal 5, the DM-i system. In a nutshell, the Seal 5 is both a series and a parallel hybrid that has the benefit of a plug-in hybrid system. That means the engine can recharge the battery pack (acting as an onboard generator) and can also power the wheels at higher highway speeds. The battery itself powers a 197 PS electric motor, which translates to sports car-like acceleration and performance but without any delays.

It’s quite similar to Nissan’s e-Power system in the Kicks but the DM-i system by BYD expounds on that thanks to bigger battery pack, the ability to switch between EV and HEV modes on the fly, and the fact that one can recharge the battery at a charging station, negating the need to refuel at certain times. The Seal 5 Premium comes with an 18.3 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery, which translates to a claimed 115 km of pure electric range. Combined with a full tank of gas, the Seal 5 Premium can actually cover up to 1,240 km according to BYD.

For a full week, I didn’t have to visit a gas station or charge up the Seal 5 since I could forgo visiting either of the two. Yes, using the engine to recharge the battery at times means I won’t be able to achieve the claimed 1,240 km range set by BYD. But in a more practical sense, having the ability to switch between EV and hybrid modes means I can still go the distance without having to stop for gas or to recharge.

As far as fuel consumption was concerned, I was able to average between 21.5 km/L and 28.5 km/L. Once the battery is at a sufficient charge, I can switch from HEV and just run the Seal 5 on pure electric power over certain distances. Heck, during one of my drives from home to the office, I only consumed around 7% of energy and that was with traffic included.

You can also set the desired maximum battery percentage the system will recharge to save on fuel. In my personal settings, I set the limit at 60% so that the engine doesn’t have to be turned on all the time while I’m driving.

As mentioned earlier, the Seal 5 Premium delivers sports car-like acceleration thanks to an electric motor that doles out 197 PS and 325 Nm of torque. Since the motor sends power directly to the wheels, torque is instantaneously delivered to the front wheels with ease. This means overtaking slower cars on the road can be done in a cinch with no delay.

However, one has to be quite careful with the pedal, as you can easily chirp the tires if you’re not used to driving EVs. There were even times I had to remind myself to be easy on the accelerator as one can easily have fun behind the wheel of the Seal 5 on public roads.

Style-wise, the top-of-the-line Premium looks relatively the same as the base model Dynamic. Its sleek profile gives the Seal 5 a Euro-inspired design thanks to stylish front fascia that consists of eye-catching LED headlights and daytime running lights, as well as the unique grille that extends towards the front bumper.

The rear, meanwhile, features an avant-garde design with sleek LED taillights. Last but not least, it has bigger 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 215/55 tires. Despite the slightly bigger wheels, the Seal 5 still delivered a soft and lofty ride that reminds us of early to mid-2000s sedans. Yes, it’s that comfy. Did we mention the Premium also has a power sunroof to let in more sunlight?

Open the doors, and the Seal 5 Premium welcomes you into a two-tone cabin that’s inviting, thanks to the use of white and blue hues. While I’m not the biggest fan of white leather upholstery, it does make for a cleaner-looking cabin and gives the illusion of a larger interior. However, the white color means the seats are more susceptible to stains and dirt, dirtying the cabin.

The driver and front passenger are treated to a simple yet ergonomic dashboard. BYD’s signature rotating 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes standard and comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for easier pairing of mobile devices.

The system is quick to recognize my phone; even before I get to set my playlist, it’s already paired and ready to go on the touchscreen. The touchscreen itself is quick to recognize inputs although there is some delay when you’re moving from one menu to another. I also like the fact that there are quick shortcuts for each specific menu for quicker changes, although I still wish it had more physical buttons.

Despite my praises for the Seal 5, BYD can still give it some improvements, particularly in the cabin and refinement aspects. While the interior of the Seal 5 is a relaxing place to be in, I do wish BYD gave it thicker side windows as outside noise tends to creep into the cabin. But then again, the Seal 5 was built to meet a price point.

At highway speeds, tire noise can intrude into the interior, although I believe swapping out the tires in the long run may eliminate that issue. Those seated in the back may also want to mind their heads when exiting the vehicle, as the sloping roof means they may hit the side of their heads when exiting the Seal 5.

With a price tag of PHP 1.198 million, the top-of-the-line Seal 5 Premium is PHP 250,000 more expensive than the base model Dynamic. Yes, it packs a more powerful electric motor, a bigger battery pack, a 360-degree camera for better outside visibility, more speakers for the sound system (8 vs the Dynamic’s 6), dual-zone climate control, a power sunroof, and a vehicle-to-load system to power appliances while on the go.

With the Seal 5 Dynamic offering almost the same level of refinement and the ability to cover certain distances on electric power despite having a smaller battery at PHP 948,000, the Seal 5 Premium is perhaps for those who want everything in a sedan, including the proverbial kitchen sink. Still, both the Seal 5 Dynamic and Premium variants are priced more competitively when compared with its closest rivals, the Corolla Altis HEV (PHP 1.761 million) and the Civic e:HEV (PHP 1.990 million).

It may not have the resale value of its closest competitors, but price-for-price and feature-for-feature, BYD has the competition by the neck.