If you can’t quite stomach the thought of being utterly reliant on an electric vehicle (EV) in a place like South Africa, have you considered a plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV)? Of course you have. But what about BYD’s “Super” PHEV, the Sealion 5 SUV? Seeing as it only went on sale today at an event in Johannesburg, probably not.
BYD’s brought with it two variants for the Sealion 5, including the cheaper ‘Comfort’ model for R500,000, while the ‘Dynamic’ packs in a electric sunroof and electric folding mirrors, bringing the cost up to R570,000. Whether a few extras are worth the extra R70k (the battery and engine remain unchanged) is on you.
BYD’s done it again
The Sealion 5 makes a name for itself as the country’s cheapest PHEV, beating out the likes of the Chery Tiggo 7 and the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, which span the R500- and R600,000 price range. The Sealion 5 technically comes in at R490,900, a figure we don’t doubt will be clinched by some other Chinese brand before long.
At these prices, you’d best be getting your money’s worth. BYD has obliged, by the looks of it. The Sealion 5 packs in BYD’s “electric-first” DM-i (Dual-Mode Intelligent) hybrid technology as well as a blade battery, sporting an NCM lithium battery. That all amounts to the single electric motor producing 145kW and 52km pure electric driving range. This being a PHEV, it’s coupled with a 1.5L internal combustion engine (ICE).
“…We’re not just launching a new car; we’re redefining value in the SUV market. We believe South African families shouldn’t have to choose between cutting-edge efficiency, premium features, and financial peace of mind. The Sealion 5 delivers all three, proving that you can step into the future of driving without a luxury price tag,” said Steve Chang, managing director at BYD Auto South Africa.
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The interior is no slouch, either. Standard with every Sealion 5 comes a 12.8in infotainment system, keyless entry, wireless charging, voice control, with an 8.8in instrument cluster tucked behind the steering wheel. The steering itself features a host of physical buttons to fiddle with instead of resorting to the iPad-sized touchscreen console.
All buyers also unlock a 3.5kW wallbox charger, while the car supports BYD’s vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, which allows the car to act as a portable power bank wherever you are. Even a year ago, South Africans would’ve gone mad for an Eskom-combating vehicle like this one. Now it’s just a shrug and a “huh, cool.” More important are BYD’s eventual plans to deploy more than 300 EV chargers around the country.
