First Drive: Five things we like about 2025 BYD Seal 5
The 2025 BYD Seal 5 can easily average more than 27 km/L
A few years ago, buying a hybrid meant getting something more expensive than your typical ICE-powered vehicle. Since there were no tax breaks and tariff exemptions when buying an electrified vehicle, it was largely seen as a statement piece rather than saving on fuel costs. Granted, at the time, hybrids weren’t largely accepted by most car buyers.
Fast forward to the present day and you’ll be surprised to see more hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) going around on Philippine roads. Thanks to Executive Order No. 12 (E.O. 12), HEVs, PHEVs, and EVs now benefit from zero tariffs. In addition, Republic Act 11697 (AKA the EVIDA Law) has also deemed electrified vehicles exempted from the number coding scheme.
With a lower price tag and shielded from the dreaded number coding scheme, it’s no wonder New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) have started to become more popular on the road. One such vehicle that will surely attract buyers is the BYD Seal 5 DM-i.
It’s bigger than the Toyota Corolla Altis HEV and the Honda Civic e:HEV but is selling for B-segment sedan pricing. Think Toyota Vios and Nissan Almera prices but packed more with features and amenities one would find in more premium sedans. With a starting price of less than PHP 950,000, the Seal 5 DM-i is sure to attract those who want something that’s exempt from number coding while also consuming less fuel.
In fact, BYD Cars Philippines recently invited us for a ride-and-drive of the base model Seal 5 DM-i Dynamic. With a claimed total range of 1,175 km, we set out to find out how much we ranged extracted from the Seal 5 DM-i, and boy were we surprised.
1. The Seal 5 DM-i is an EV, HEV, and PHEV all in one - Like the Sealion 6, the Seal 5 DM-i works on the same principle. Thanks to its unique powertrain setup, the sedan essentially performs like an electric vehicle (EV). This means the electric motor drives the front wheels while the 1.5L engine acts as an onboard generator that recharges the battery pack as well as provides an additional boost to the electric motor.
There are two modes to remember when driving the Seal 5 DM-i; EV and HEV. In the latter, HEV mode means the 1.5L engine continuously charges the battery of the Seal 5 while on the go. This is great when you want to maximize the battery’s range at the cost of consuming fuel.
In EV mode, the system turns off the engine and allows the Seal 5 to run purely on electric power. Think of it like the Kicks e-Power’s system but you have the ability to switch between modes. With it, you can enjoy a more quiet ride as the vehicle essentially runs on zero-emissions so as long as there’s sufficient charge on the battery.
But where does the plug-in hybrid system come into play? Well, users can plug in the Seal 5 DM-i at home or a charging station to top up the battery should they not be on the road and to further save on fuel costs. Personally, I wouldn’t mind the 1.5L engine charging the battery for me should I be out on a long journey to avoid long downtimes.
2. Go The Distance - For this particular drive, BYD had the great idea of having us drive the entry-level Dynamic which has a price tag of PHP 948,000. It still has plenty of features which we’ll get to later but what’s the big difference between this and the top-of-the-line Premium?
Whereas the Premium has an 18.3 kWh battery and a stronger electric motor that puts out 197 PS with 325 Nm of pull, the Dynamic only gets an 8.3 kWh battery and an electric motor that produces 179 PS and 315 Nm of pull. On a full charge, the Seal 5 DM-i Dynamic can cover up to 50 km of pure battery power. But is it all that’s cracked up to be?
We originally started our journey from Seda Manila Bay and had a stopover at Total NLEX Northbound in Apalit, Pampanga. The distance between the two points was 73 km and throughout most of it, we were running the Seal 5 on electric power. We only switched to HEV mode when we experienced heavy traffic along NLEX which meant we had to turn on the the 1.5L engine to top-up the battery without stopping at a charging station. From our best efforts, we only consumed around 12.5 kWh per 100 km which translates to around 1.4 liters per 100 km. This meant the Seal 5 DM-i was able to average over 70 km/L on battery power alone.
When we needed to recharge the battery while traveling along NLEX, we switched to HEV mode before making a driver change at Total NLEX Northbound. Upon parking at the gas station, we still had around 50% battery charge while its combined range was still well over 1100 km. Also impressive is the fact we were able to have a combined average of 3.6 liters per 100 km which translated to 27.7 km/L.
3. Fuel sipper - Since the Seal 5 DM-i can recharge itself while on the go as well as use battery power when there’s sufficient charge, the engine doesn’t have to be turned on every time. Keep a steady right foot and monitor how much juice the battery has and you’ll be able to travel long distances without having to use too much fuel.
On the first leg of our journey from Seda Manila Bay to Alaminos, Pangasinan, and to Kalinto Resort in Zambales, we were constantly averaging between 5 liters per 100 km and 4.4 liters per 100 km. This translates to a fuel consumption of between 20 to 22.2 km/L without even trying. Keep a steady foot and you can hypermile the Seal 5 DM-i to only sip fuel at 4 liters per 100 km or 25 km/L.
With the engine turned off while in EV mode, you can essentially go beyond the claimed 1,175 total range of the sedan. Heck, BYD Cars Philippines was able to achieve a total distance of 1,645 km last year by constantly switching between HEV and EV modes as well as taking advantage of the regenerative braking to help top up the battery while on the go.
4. Easy Rider - Crossovers may be all the rage today but these high-riding vehicles can only wish to have the soft ride of low-slung sedans. It’s no sports sedan but BYD was able to tune its suspension to deliver nimble handling. While it may have a rather numb steering sensation, the steering itself is light and manageable in both city and highway driving. Bring it to some twisty mountain roads and you’ll be surprised by the sedan’s agility.
Also worth mentioning is the car’s pliant ride quality. Despite having three people onboard along with some luggage, the suspension performed admirably over rough roads, pock-marked streets, and the occasional potholes. Perhaps the soft dampers and thick 225/60 profile tires wrapped in 16-inch alloy wheels help give the Seal 5 DM-i a comfy ride whether you’re seated in the back or the front.
5. Packed To The Brim - The Seal 5 DM-i in Dynamic form may be a base model, but BYD Cars Philippines ensures it’s fully loaded in terms of features and amenities. Like most BYD vehicles, it features the brand’s signature 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment system that can be oriented in either landscape or portrait, depending on the driver’s preference. It also supports both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which means you don’t have to fumble with cables in pairing your mobile device.
The touchscreen also doubles as the vehicle’s management system. Here you can set the DM-i’s settings like the regenerative braking, the maximum amount of charge you want the vehicle to have, as well as the option for the car to automatically switch between modes in case you do not want to do it yourself.
It also has full leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a fully digital 8.8-inch instrument panel, automatic climate control, rear USB charging ports, keyless automatic entry, a reverse camera with parking sensors, and a 6-speaker sound system. Yes, it’s lacking some of the other niceties the Premium has like, a 360-degree camera system, a sunroof, and a wireless charging pad. Personally, I can live without these features as they’re negligible in my opinion.
Needs Improvement
While it seems we’re all praises for the Seal 5 DM-i with its fuel-efficient hybrid system, EV-like acceleration, and countless amenities to keep you entertained, we did notice some features that need to be improved upon.
For starters, the tilt/telescopic steering column appears to be off-center despite already adjusting it to my preferred driving position. This meant my right arm has to compensate because of the askew steering position. We’re not entirely sure if this was deliberate or could just be a matter of the steering column’s position in our particular unit.
Another thing I wish they could change is the position of the USB ports on the center console. They’re placed too low on the center console which means at times you’ll struggle to plug in (or remove) your USB cable. Should you be seated in the back, one will have to mind their heads since the sloping roof means you may accidentally smack the side of your head upon entry or when exiting the vehicle.
Since we’re already about the backseat, I was disappointed by the not-so-powerful rear aircon vents. Despite having the fan to its most powerful speed, the rear A/C vents struggled to keep the back cool. On summer days, this might become an issue. Last but not least, its Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) deadening is good. However, better tire noise insulation could be done to make for a quieter cabin. On the flip side, perhaps a quieter set of tires could also solve this issue.
Test Drive or Shortlist the Seal 5 DM-i?
After covering over 820 km across several days, is the BYD Seal 5 DM-i Dynamic one of the greatest bargains in the electrified vehicle market?
With a price tag just shy of PHP 950,000, can perform like an EV, self-charge on the go, and is equipped with plenty of features despite being an entry-level variant, those looking to get a compact sedan that’s spacious, easy on the fuel bills, and exempted from the number coding scheme should test drive one.
We’re still scratching our heads about how BYD Cars Philippines was able to price the Seal 5 DM-i Dynamic but we were surely impressed by what it can deliver, and then some. If you're still in doubt with the vehicle’s ability, you can always visit the nearest BYD dealership and schedule a test drive yourself to see just how it can disrupt both the electrified vehicle market, as well as the B and C-segment sedan competition.
