BYD launches new, affordable Seal 05 DM-i PHEV sedan in China

Chinese carmaker BYD is expanding its Seal model range with a new, affordable saloon, the Seal 05 DM-i. Contrary to the other Seal models, it is not available as a fully electric model: at launch, two plug-in hybrid drivetrains will be available with a starting price of under €12,000.

BYD has been the world’s largest manufacturer of ‘New Energy Vehicles’ (NEVs, plug-in hybrids, and electric cars) for a while now. In 2024, it very nearly took Tesla’s crown in the fully electric market. However, as the Chinese market still has a high demand for plug-in hybrids, BYD has now launched the new Seal 05 DM-i.

Destroyer becomes a Seal

Underneath the fresh exterior, which takes inspiration from the rest of the Seal range, it seems that the BYD Seal 05 DM-i is simply a reskin of the Destroyer 05 saloon, launched in 2022. The dimensions are identical: 4,780 mm long, 1,837 mm wide, and a 2,718 mm wheelbase. Only the height differs: at 1,515 mm tall, the Seal 05 is 20 mm taller than the Destroyer 05.

The similarities continue under the hood. A naturally aspirated 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine serves as the base, while customers can choose between two batteries: 7.68 kWh or 15.9 kWh.

The latter also gets a more powerful electric motor: 120 kilowatts or 163 horsepower, compared to 74 kW or 100 hp for the base model. According to the WLTC cycle, the electric range is 43 to 90 km, while the total combined range exceeds 2,000 km, thanks to a large fuel tank.

Mid-size hybrid saloon for less than €12,000

Pre-sales have already started for the BYD Seal 05 DM-i, with prices ranging from 89,800 to 109,800 yuan (11,750 to 14,400 euros). That makes it about half as expensive in China as the ‘regular’ Seal, which is also sold in Europe, but only as a fully electric model.

BYD’s DM-i (Dual Mode) hybrid drivetrain is available here, too, but only in the Seal U SUV. A European launch for the Seal 05 doesn’t seem likely, as the market for plug-in hybrids has shrunk as government incentives have shifted toward fully electric cars.

Later this week, BYD will show the new Atto 2 affordable electric SUV at the 2025 Brussels Motor Show, which opens its doors to the press on January 10th.