BYD Seal 6 DM-i (Premium) Review: Properly Impressive

There was a time when buying a Chinese car meant accepting certain compromises in exchange for a more attractive price tag. You got plenty of equipment, a decent amount of space and perhaps a few features that made your neighbours' Japanese cars look rather… outdated.

But driving dynamics? Refinement? Proper chassis engineering? Those weren't necessarily the reasons you bought one.

Well, well, well how things have changed. The BYD Seal 6 DM-i Premium is easily one of the best sedans I've driven this year. And before anyone accuses me of getting carried away, let me clarify something: I'm not saying it's better than a BMW 3 Series or that it suddenly makes every Japanese family sedan irrelevant.

What I'm saying is that BYD has produced a genuinely accomplished family car, one that feels like considerable thought has gone into how it drives, rather than simply how impressive its specification sheet looks; neither by its touchscreen, equipment or its fuel efficiency. But by how remarkably well everything works together.

The Inside Story

Measuring 4,840 mm long and riding on a 2,790 mm wheelbase, the Seal 6 offers generous accommodation for its occupants. Rear legroom is particularly useful, while the 491-litre boot is large enough for the usual family luggage, groceries and whatever else inevitably finds its way into a car over the weekend.

The cabin itself is modern and reasonably well assembled, with materials that generally feel appropriate for its price - it's pleasant rather than genuinely luxurious, though.

And I still maintain that some manufacturers, BYD included, have become rather obsessed with putting too many functions into their touchscreens.

Physical controls for frequently used functions would make life easier, particularly when you're concentrating on driving; a bigger screen doesn't automatically make a better car. Thankfully, the driving experience is considerably more impressive than the novelty of its cabin electronics.

Technically Speaking

First, a little explanation of BYD's DM-i technology, because understanding what's happening underneath makes the driving experience all the more impressive.

‘DM’ stands for Dual Mode, while the 'i' represents intelligence.

Unlike a conventional hybrid, where the petrol engine generally does most of the work, BYD's plug-in hybrid system places greater emphasis on electric propulsion. Think of it as an electric car that brings along a petrol engine to help with the heavy lifting.

During low-speed driving, the electric motor can propel the car independently, drawing energy from the Blade Battery. When additional electricity is needed, the 1.5-litre petrol engine can operate as a generator. At higher speeds or under certain driving conditions, the engine can also drive the front wheels directly.

The system continuously decides which arrangement is most efficient; you don't have to think about any of this. Just drive.

And that's precisely the point.

The Premium variant tested here produces a combined 219 bhp, a healthy increase over the Dynamic variant's 174 bhp. Its single-speed transmission arrangement also avoids the conventional gear changes associated with a typical automatic - the result is an exceptionally linear driving experience, with none of the unnecessary drama that sometimes accompanies complicated hybrid systems.

Driving It

Here's what impressed me most about the Seal 6 DM-i Premium: The transition between electric driving and petrol-assisted operation is so well managed that it becomes almost impossible to distinguish one from the other during normal driving.

There's no noticeable interruption in acceleration, no awkward hesitation and, unless you're deliberately listening for it, very little indication that the petrol engine has joined the conversation. I've driven considerably more expensive hybrids that haven't managed this level of refinement quite as convincingly.

And this is where I genuinely respect BYD's engineering effort. Making a car accelerate quickly is relatively straightforward when you have a powerful electric motor. Making two different propulsion systems work together without the driver noticing is another matter altogether.

BYD quotes 26km/L for the Premium, although plug-in hybrid consumption figures deserve some scrutiny; how much petrol you actually save depends on your driving habits and, importantly, how regularly you charge the battery.

For someone with access to home or workplace charging, the Seal 6 DM-i makes excellent sense. You can complete shorter journeys using electricity while retaining the convenience of petrol for longer trips into Malaysia.

Around Singapore, the Seal 6 DM-i Premium feels particularly well suited to our driving conditions. Whether you're inching along the CTE, negotiating the countless traffic lights around town or accelerating onto the PIE, the drivetrain responds with a smoothness that's almost addictive.

There's a satisfying immediacy when you squeeze the accelerator, with enough urgency to dispatch slower traffic without having to make an appointment. And yes, it doesn't disappoint during the occasional traffic-light Grand Prix either; not that I'm suggesting you should participate in one, but should the opportunity present itself, the BYD has enough electric-assisted punch to make the experience entertaining.

Push harder, however, and the petrol engine becomes more noticeable; it isn't particularly musical, either. Still, for a family sedan, the overall drivetrain calibration is outstanding.

Ride & Handling

If the powertrain impressed me, the chassis was another pleasant surprise.

The Seal 6 DM-i Premium feels properly balanced. Not artificially sporty, not unnecessarily stiff, and certainly not one of those cars where the suspension seems to have been tuned primarily to impress during a five-minute test drive.

There's a maturity to the way it goes down the road. The MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension work together to deliver a ride that's comfortable without becoming excessively floaty. More importantly, the car settles quickly after encountering uneven surfaces.

On the expressway, it's particularly convincing. Then at cruising speeds, the Seal 6 feels planted and reassuringly stable, with the sort of composure I'd normally associate with established European family sedans. It's almost as though BYD's engineers spent years studying how Volkswagen, Ford, BMW and Mercedes-Benz tune their cars, then decided to incorporate some of those lessons into a more comfort-oriented package.

Through longer bends, body movements remain progressive and predictable. The front end responds faithfully enough to steering inputs, while the rear follows without unnecessary fuss.

Of course, it isn't perfect. The steering could offer more feedback, particularly when you're driving enthusiastically. And while the chassis is well balanced, it doesn't possess the sharpness or adjustability of a genuinely sporting sedan.

Then again this is a family car, not a weekend track-day toy. And for a car expected to carry four or five people comfortably, tackle expressways daily and occasionally entertain its driver, the Seal 6 DM-i Premium does a remarkably convincing job.

In A Nutshell

I came away from the Seal 6 DM-i Premium with considerably more respect for BYD than I had before driving it.

Sure, it's not perfect - the steering could be more communicative, the petrol engine isn't particularly pleasant when worked hard, and some interior functions deserve proper physical controls.

But the fundamental engineering is genuinely impressive. The hybrid system operates with remarkable smoothness, the chassis feels properly developed, and the overall driving experience demonstrates a level of maturity that I wouldn't automatically expect at this price.

And that's what makes the Seal 6 DM-i Premium such a convincing family sedan. The Honda Civic e:HEV may remain the more engaging driver's car, with sharper steering and a more enthusiastic character. The Hyundai Avante Hybrid and Toyota Corolla Altis Hybrid undoubtedly offer conventional hybrid convenience without requiring external charging. Then, the Kia EV4 and Tesla Model 3 are worth considering too, particularly if you're ready to commit to a fully electric car.

But the BYD counters with generous space, stronger performance and impressive refinement. It doesn't need to pretend to be a sports car or overwhelm you with unnecessary technology.

If this is what BYD can achieve today, I suspect the established manufacturers have every reason to be concerned.

Technical Specification - BYD Seal 6 DM-i (Premium)

Power/Torque: 219 bhp/260 Nm (combined)
Battery type/Capacity: BYD LFP Blade Battery/19 kWh
Charging time: 2.7 hours (AC), 21 minutes (DC) - 30 to 80%
Range: 1,300 km (WLTP)
0-100 km/h: 7.9 seconds
Top speed: 180 km/h
Efficiency: 4.0L/100 km
Agent: BYD Cars Singapore

Photos by Azfar Hashim (@azfar.talks)

---

Before you buy or sell your car, Carousell first.

Carousell Autos. Singapore’s largest direct owner marketplace for everything cars and motorcycles.