Call it good luck, serendipity (or maybe a calculated manipulation), but my review date of the BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic FWD ’super hybrid’ coincided with my son’s football tournament in Taupo. So a long trip out of Auckland in a PHEV that boasts over a 1,000km of range – sometimes the pieces all fit together.
Having driven the AWD model before, I was already well-versed with its looks, refinement and in many ways, its clever powertrain, but saying a EV (PHEV) is capable of doing the long hauls without worry, and actually doing it, brings a whole new side to the story.
The BYD Sealion is designed for those who seek both functionality and a bit of flair in their family SUV. While many Kiwis may associate BYD primarily with electric vehicles, the Sealion introduces the brand’s first plug-in hybrid variant (or DM-i), showcasing their commitment to adapting and evolving within the market.
Available in two configurations, the aforementioned (and reviewed) Premium (AWD) model and the Dynamic (FWD), the Sealion is equipped with an intelligent DM-i (Dual Mode Intelligence) powertrain. This configuration includes an ICE engine (in our Dynamic case a 1.5-litre – not turbo), an 18.3 kWh battery, and an electric motor, delivering 160 kW and 300 Nm of torque. 0-100km arrives in 8.5 seconds while the fully-(DC)charged PHEV with 60L of fossil-fuel offers 1,100km of range to play with.
With a length of 4.68 metres and a height of 1.67 metres, the Sealion fits comfortably into the family SUV segment, and Mall slots too, while its overall design is modern and sophisticated, featuring strong character lines and a floating roof aesthetic that gives it a contemporary edge. But more importantly for us, travelling with 2 adults, 2 teen boys and a whole raft of gear (we were away for 3 nights), was the Sealion 6’s spacious interior.
In terms of comfort, the seats and tech was fine, however, its 425 litres of boot space didn’t quite cut the mustard when it came to the gear, meaning that rear view visibility was a little compromised and the ‘5th’ seat needed to hold gear too. In fairness, my wife does pack for EVERY eventuality, so a small truck may not be good enough on most occasions!
The Sealion’s DM-i powertrain is one of its most impressive features. By combining an ICE engine with an electric motor, BYD has crafted a system that operates primarily in an electric mode, switching to petrol power seamlessly when required. It doesn’t stop there, whereas most PHEV’s take an AC charge only, the Sealion will DC fast charge and with its V2L (Vehicle to Load) ability can power your appliances while out and about too.
Prior to leaving, I headed to the fast charger to ‘top up’ the electric tank, however, unbeknown to me, it didn’t work and we left with a mere 24% capacity – albeit, still showing 1064km of range. And here’s the thing, being a PHEV, I wasn’t at all worried about it, with chargers and petrol stations readily available, why would I?
As mentioned, the smart PHEV system intelligently manages power delivery, functioning primarily as an electric vehicle,meaning that on the long drive south, the interior remained as quiet as 2 teenage boys choosing to scroll through their screens rather than talk or look at the amazing NZ countryside.
The Sealion 6’s Wireless Android had my Google Maps displayed on the screen, which was just as well, as due to SH1 roadworks, we detoured through the country roads just south of Cambridge, along a cherry-blossomed tree-lined road that was so picturesque. This was then followed by around 30 minutes of twisty roads, which I apparently enjoyed way too much!
The trip south took around 4 hours thanks to a pit stop along the way, and with the BYD’s suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including the adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and a comprehensive 360-degree camera system, we arrived as fresh as when we first left.
The boys did well at the tournament, very well indeed, just two goals away from bringing the cup home (not that we would have been able to fit it in).
The return trip on Sunday was a repeat of the trip down, and we arrived late afternoon with most of our tanks depleted – but surprisingly, with the return trip and lots of local driving, there was no need to refuel until the next day (I didn’t want to give the vehicle back running on fumes).
A quick coffee and a DC fast charge (this time it worked) and I gave the Sealion 6 back with 77km of battery range and 50km of fuel – so a total (travel) trip cost of $11 – so just over $2.50 each!
The Sealion 6 proved to be both Dynamic in its drive and frugal on its energy usage, plus kept us all safe and relaxed, seriously, what more do you need!
