We have heard so much about the BYD car company since they arrived in Ireland three years ago, and you might think the Chinese brand with the catchy name only build electric cars. Well, they also have petrol hybrids, and I drove one of them last week, the Sealion 5 Super Hybrid.
When MDL introduced BYD to the Irish market in 2023, their sales manager Ciaran Allen said that BYD was the biggest car brand you have never heard of. Well after less than 12 months the phrase BYD was on every tyre-kicker’s lips.
The first model we got from BYD was the Atto 3, then came the Dolphin, but very quickly BYD’s third model the Seal overtook the Atteo 3 and Dolphin in terms of sales. BYD are now in 12th place in the Irish car sales chart.
The Sealion 5 joins the Seal 6 Super Hybrid and the Seal U Super Hybrids in the BYD stable. A few years back BYD overtook Tesla as manufacturers of most electric cars in the world.
BYD claim a range of 992km in the Comfort version and 1,016km in the Design, but most manufacturers agree that it’s very difficult to achieve those claimed ranges. When I picked up my Design version the range with a full tank of petrol on board said 779km, which I was happy with. You should be able to get up 80km in full electric mode.
BYD call their technology intelligent Super DM (Dual Mode) Hybrid Technology, and it enables two driving modes: Pure EV and Hybrid. BYD claim their self-developed 1.5-litre petrol engine is the world’s highest thermally efficient petrol-driven engine. You should be able to get around 80km in full electric mode and fuel consumption can be as low as 2.1 litres per 100kms.
An integral part of the BYD Super DM Technology package is a bespoke version of BYD’s cobalt-free ‘Blade Battery,’ which was designed for hybrid applications.
At first glance it a very impressive, chunky-looking motor. My test car came in Obsidian Black with huge touch of white behind the rear doors and that white paint is extends in a slim line all along the side of the car almost to the windscreen. You also get two white roof rails which add to the chunky look. It’s also available in Atlantic Blue, Polar White and Time Grey.
The front of the car is inspired by BYD’s signature ‘Dragon Face’ design and the there is good ground clearance at the back. If it’s speed you are after you can get from zero to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds. That kind of driving is not recommended, but manufacturers continue to supply those zero to 100km figures.
Inside, you get a high seated position and overall it feels very comfortable to drive and travel in. I was not mad about all the information on the infotainment screen. Apart from changing the radio stations, I kept away from that busy-looking screen when driving. But I did get to use the slave controls on the steering wheel.
Inside the seats are black, with an amber trim, while the roofline is white. In the back seat there is ample room for three well-built adults. The boot space is 463 litres, and it increases to 1410 litres when the back seat is folded down.
Prices start at €36,990 for the Comfort model and from €40,990 for the Design model. Road tax is €140 and as usual with most new cars, no spare wheel is provided.
I liked it, but then I love hybrids and this Seal 5 was very economical motor.
