BYDSealion 5

The Sealion 5 DM-i is BYD’s most affordable plug-in hybrid SUV, slotting in below the Seal U DM-i at a price that rivals petrol and conventional hybrid family SUVs. It comes in two trims: Comfort from £29,995 and Design from £32,995. The boxy, upright body is 4,738 mm long, so it is larger than most rivals at this money.

## Battery, range and charging

Comfort has a 12.96 kWh Blade battery giving about 38 miles of electric range; Design has an 18.3 kWh pack and up to 53 miles. With a full tank, BYD quotes combined range of up to 631 miles (616 for Comfort), and official economy is about 53 mpg once the battery runs down. Charging is the weak point: there is no DC rapid charging and AC charging tops out at 3.3 kW, so a full charge takes up to six hours.

## Performance and driving

Both trims use a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor driving the front wheels, producing 209 bhp and 300 Nm. 0–62 mph takes 7.7 seconds in the Comfort and 8.1 seconds in the heavier Design, and top speed is 106 mph. Testers praise its refinement and comfort at speed but find the steering vague and the low-speed ride firm.

## Interior and space

The 463-litre boot extends to 1,410 litres with the 60:40 rear seats folded, over a flat floor. Seats are trimmed in vegan leather, with a heated six-way electric driver’s seat and four-way electric passenger seat.

## Technology and safety

A 12.8-inch touchscreen and 8.8-inch driver display are standard, along with keyless entry and adaptive cruise control. The driver-assistance suite includes lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, speed limit control and forward and rear collision warning. Design adds a 360° camera, heated front seats, an electric tailgate and wireless phone charging.

## Who is it for?

Families who want a roomy SUV with low running costs and can charge at home overnight. It undercuts the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai e-Power and MG HS Hybrid+, but drivers who value handling may prefer the Ford Kuga.