When BYD first showed the Sealion 6 DM-i to us media during the pre-launch shoot, I already had the impression that it would be special. It was spacious, stylish, well-made, very affordable, and (according to the brand) extremely efficient.
I remember thinking, I’d love to prove the brand-claimed 1,000-plus kilometer range, lo and behold BYD decided to host an epic drive from Manila to Vigan to Paoay and back.
BYD Sealion 6 DM-i
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Before I continue the story let me first explain what makes the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i interesting. The DM-i technology is the brand’s version of an enhanced hybrid system, enhanced to the sense that other hybrids in the market have a low range on pure EV mode. In the Sealion 6 pure EV mode can be enjoyed up to 100 km which is almost as good as full EV vehicles, but in the Sealion 6’s case, it is a plug-in hybrid with an option to top up charge via a charger, or through the gasoline engine.
Couple the 100 km EV range plus the gasoline engine together and that is what gives the brand the 1,000 + km full range combined.
Manila – Vigan
We departed our meeting place in Seda Manila Bay for historical Vigan at 8 am and quickly traversed through NAIAX before reaching the morning gridlock rush of the Skyway stage 3. Since I was the first driver of the day for our car, I got first-hand experience of how the powertrain performs in traffic, and surprisingly as advertised the regenerative braking helped keep the range intact for that 1-hour duration of stop-and-go movement, I was impressed by how it kept itself going without using fuel even at long periods of standstill traffic.
We broke free of the traffic and eased our way into normal media drive convoy pace, and I flipped on the vehicle ADAS system complete with adaptive cruise control, I have to compliment BYD on a refined ADAS system it wasn’t intrusive or dimwitted like other systems in the market.
Entering NLEX we sped up a little and I began to understand more just how good the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i is, that powertrain is refined and smooth across all speeds, and there is no noticeable switch from battery to the engine even at higher speeds and rpms. I was also able to notice that the NVH levels of the Sealion 6 are top-notch. Best of all is the ride I can’t stress how well-tuned the ride is, it was firm when needed but soft at the worst of road conditions, and it’s one of the most comfortable crossovers I’ve been in.
NLEX-SCTEX-TPLEX felt like a breeze, with some driver changes in between I got a chance to sit back and relax inside the Sealion 6. The Interior is a very pleasant place to be in, the seats are extra comfortable, the cabin is very well spaced and thought out, the ergonomics are good and the space inside is great considering the Sealion 6 isn’t a huge vehicle. With fully grown passengers on board, none of us felt cramped whether it be in the front seats or the back, and lastly, that Infinity sound system was a God send on a long journey like this.
As we ended our stints on the expressways, we soon made it to the provincial roads of La Union and Ilocos Sur, soon enough we understood that the Sealion 6 isn’t just a highway or city cruiser, it can also be a lively back road partner. It felt planted all the way through, and while it isn’t a sports car it handled its higher center of gravity and weight really well, I was confident overtaking slower cars and trucks because of how it behaves, and that instant torque of the hybrid powertrain made overtaking said vehicles a breeze.
Manila to Vigan took us around 9 hours total including a lunch stop and a few bathroom breaks in between, when we entered the old town of Vigan it was as if we were transported back in time with the tight streets and cobblestone paths. I couldn’t help but laugh that we were driving the epitome of modern vehicular technology on a road once populated with horse-drawn carriages, it truly shows how far mobility has come.
Vigan – Paoay
The next day we drove another 2 hours north to Paoay to visit what is considered to a UNESCO-protected heritage site, the Paoay Church. Upon starting the BYD Sealion 6 I realized that after 1 full day of driving, the vehicle still had more than 700 km of range, that was after 450 km of driving on the first day.
Driving to Paoay from Vigan is very scenic, we drove past some mountain passes and eventually carved through some beautiful coastal roads. I have to commend the northern provinces of Luzon, the main highways are clean, obstruction-free, and in very good condition. We arrived at Paoay at a little past 11 am, and took in the sights of this architectural and spiritual world wonder.
After a few moments of peaceful reflection, we had lunch and a few hours of content creation. We headed back to Vigan for some rest and relaxation, another uneventful and chill drive took place before we ended the day. Another few hundred kilometers were consumed yet the Sealion 6 still had more than half a tank of fuel left.
Vigan – Manila
We departed Vigan bright and early for the drive back to Manila, and just like the days before we swapped drivers at every bathroom break, allowing everyone to continue experiencing the BYD Sealion 6 in all road conditions. The drive home actually went by quickly and by 5 pm we were back in Seda Manila Bay with an astonishing 1,077 km traveled and 77 km left on the fuel gauge.
Verdict
Now it may seem like any normal hybrid could do what we did, but considering that we were driving quickly and idling a lot throughout the whole trip what we got in the end was still impressive, beyond any reasonable doubt the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i is capable of 1,000 km on 1 tank of fuel. I reckon it’ll go further had we driven at a more normal pace.
How I would describe the amazing BYD DM-i technology is, that it’s like a human being sipping and drinking water only when thirsty, and consuming only a total of 58 liters across 1,000 km is incredible sipping from the BYD Sealion 6.
At PHP 1,548,000 it’s no wonder that everyone wants one, it’s not just about efficiency it’s a complete masterclass by BYD who has been on a roll lately.
