Have the folks at BYD Cars Philippines taken a break yet? You’d think that, after a slew of models launched last year, they’d take it a little easier in 2025. Apparently not, and it’s even doubled down on its new model roll-out.
By the time you read this story, the Chinese automaker has debuted another new model…or maybe two or more. But we’re here to put the focus on the company’s first MPV in the country, the BYD eMax 7.
Launched during the 2025 Manila International Auto Show, it sure raised a lot of eyebrows as it’s aimed squarely at the Toyota Innova Zenix hybrid. We wouldn’t call BYD upstarts anymore, but the company is determined to be the Chinese automaker to give Toyota a few sleepless nights.
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Then there’s the bolder decision to sell it here as a pure electric vehicle. It’s a risky move given that the MPV market is on the conservative side. That means the eMax 7 has to be standout to get over any doubts about being battery-powered only. A tall order, indeed.
Styling
Design, in a word, is inoffensive. We wouldn’t call it striking in any way, but it’s not polarizing either. Then again, this is an MPV, so at least the looks won’t put off any potential buyers. What we had was the top-spec Superior Captain model, although it looks identical to the Standard variant sans the panoramic roof.
If you think its conventional looks are out of line compared to BYD’s other pure electric offerings, there’s a good reason for that. The eMax 7 actually started out in life as the Song Max in its home market. Launched in 2017, it initially had a 1.5-liter turbo, so it was initially intended to be ICE-powered. What we have here then is a gas-fed car that’s been converted to run on batteries. Okay, that’s oversimplifying it, but you get the picture.
Interestingly, the egg-like shape, not helped by the white paint on our tester, makes it look smaller than it actually looks. The large windows further add to the illusion of compactness. In reality, it’s a hair over 4.7 meters long and just 45mm shorter than the Innova Zenix.
Interior
There’s a bit of last-gen BYD in the cabin of the eMax 7. It doesn’t quite have the soft, flowing lines you see in other offerings, and ‘Build Your Dreams’ is still spelled out on the center stack. It doesn’t look dated, though, but there is one part of the interior that could do with a bit of modernization. That would be the instrument cluster.
Now, we don’t mind analog gauges at all. If anything, it’s a refreshing break from all the digital screens most cars have these days. But the design looks about a decade old, and the graphics on the multi-information display date it even further. We also didn’t like the fact that the default display was the distance warning and not battery consumption or mileage.
It does make up for that by offering acres of soft touch materials everywhere. BYD didn’t skimp on making the interior feel richer and less plasticky, making you feel like you got more for what you paid for. Oh, and there’s acres of passenger room, too, just as you’d expect in an MPV. The rounded roof also helps in headroom and that’s despite the fact that our unit had a panoramic glass roof.
The captain’s chairs are a nice touch, but for those who need the extra seat, they’ll have to settle for the entry-level variant. Regardless, the second-row is a pleasant place to be in with its soft, cushy seats. It’s literally the best seats in the house as the fronts were a tad on the hard side, while the third row is set a little too low.
Speaking of the third row, space there isn’t half bad. Yes, we wish the seat bottoms were a little bit higher, but there’s decent legroom and headroom back there. Even with the second row pushed all the way back, there’s still a fair amount of wiggle room left.
As for cargo space, there had to be compromises, but we wouldn’t call it total a dealbreaker. With all seats up, there’s a limited amount left and you could only put in two soft bags there realistically. In its bid to make room for passengers, a fair chunk of cargo volume had to be sacrificed. At least it becomes cavernous once you fold the third-row down. Impromptu IKEA runs will be a walk in the park provided there aren’t six of you on board.
Performance
This being the Superior Captain model, it benefits from a larger battery pack and more power. The single electric motor sends 201hp to the front wheels, along with 310Nm of torque. Energy is then provided by a sizable 71.8kWh battery pack with a claimed range of up to 530km based on the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) rating.
Admittedly, the range sounds optimistic, and there are some who jokingly say NEDC stands for ‘Not Even Damn Close.’ But in our case, energy consumption was good, doing about 6 to 7km/kWh in city traffic. In the week it was with us, the eMax 7 slogged through long commutes in heavy traffic, along with a drive up and down Antipolo. There were also days it was loaded (not fully), so the battery consumption figures are good. We lost just 30% of charge in a week, and we weren’t exactly light on the accelerator, either.
Speaking of which, the eMax 7 pulls strong which isn’t a surprise in an EV-powered vehicle. We’re looking at a 0 to 100kph time in the mid-8-second range, so it’s a relatively brisk family shuttle. We have no complaints in this department, and overtaking on uphill stretches was an effortless affair. It’s no sports car, but its performance means safer overtakes and less time exposed to danger.
Ride and handling
Performance is good, then, but we wish we could say the same about its ride and handling. It’s not that it’s harsh and crashy, but it’s soft to a point that it might induce some carsickness.
Okay, it’s not as wallowy as the Seal 5 DM-i we tested prior as that one felt like a Nissan Cefiro on dead shock absorbers. It’s a little bit better in the eMax 7, but it needs more composure in the body control department. Its softness does come with an upside, though, as it rides over bumps and ruts without breaking a sweat.
The soft suspension means it’s no dynamic masterclass. Then again, it’s an MPV so expectations have to be managed. The keen driver won’t like the overly light steering and the general lack of engagement, but its target demographic won’t mind it. Still, it needs a few more tweaks to the chassis to make it handle better.
Extra features
Okay, time for the eMax 7 to claw back some points. In terms of equipment, the Superior Captain model is well and fully equipped. Of course, there’s the rotating screen which is standard in every BYD, but there are other surprise and delight features in there.
The 360-degree camera has relatively high resolution, and there’s even ventilated seats at the front. The latter is especially handy because the seat materials used were basically heat magnets. Advanced driver assists are also present and includes adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking for front and rear, and a barrage of collision warning systems. Oh, and the car will literally talk to you and tell rear passengers to buckle their seatbelts or turn on your headlights.
Verdict
Wobbly suspension aside, the eMax 7 ticks all the right boxes for those shopping for a family shuttle. It’s spacious, flexible, well-equipped, and generally agreeable. Even battery range and consumption is commendable, doing a fine job of alleviating any range anxiety fears.
It probably won’t sway Innova faithful, but it has the potential to lure some shoppers away from the Zenix. It also helps that it undercuts the Zenix hybrid as this range-topping eMax 7 retails for P1,798,000. Some may argue that it’s pricey, but it’s literally the only true seven-seat electric MPV that’s reasonably priced in the market today.
A solid package, then, but we have one question we’d like answered. As good as its electric powertrain is, we can’t help but wonder why BYD Cars Philippines didn’t bring in the plug-in hybrid version here instead. Yes, the plug-in hybrid eMax 7 exists in the form of the Song Max DM-i, but only in select markets. Surely, they’d love to replicate the success of the Sealion 6 DM-i, and the idea of an MPV that can do over 1,000 kilometers with zero range anxiety should be a hit with local buyers.
Because of the lack of a plug-in hybrid variant, we think the eMax 7’s EV-only powertrain limits its appeal. A shame, really, and those who ignore it on that basis don’t know what they’re missing.
The question now is, how does it fare against the Toyota Zenix hybrid? Watch this space.
Specs: 2025 BYD eMax 7 Superior Captain
Price: P1,798,000
Motor and battery: Permanent magnet synchronous motor + 71.8kWh battery
Power: 201hp
Torque: 310Nm
Transmission: Single-speed
Drive layout: Front-wheel drive
Seating: 6
Score: 9/10
