BYD’s rise in the automotive industry was somewhat unprecedented. The Chinese carmaker has been in the market for years, and it wasn’t until Ayala Corporation’s automotive arm ACMobility took the reins that people really started to take notice. A bit of luck may have also played a role, as it was only until recently that BYD started to produce it’s truly revolutionary electrified models.
Regardless of reason, to say this rise has been quick would be an understatement. We’ve never seen an automotive brand—whether new or resurging—to boom the way BYD did over the past year. And right smack in the middle of all of this are models like the Sealion 6 DM-i, Atto 3, and this—the Seal 5 DM-i.
Of all the new BYDs in the market, the Seal 5’s the most intriguing for me. On paper, it doesn’t belong in the subcompact-sedan segment, both size-wise and performance-wise. Yet the sub-P1 million starting price says…otherwise. But all of that’s just words and figures on some piece of paper—the only way to find out if it’s really that good of a car is through a proper test drive, and that’s what I did.
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Styling
Like most of the BYDs in the current lineup, the Seal 5 looks clean. I like how classy the design is, and how the horizontal slats on the grille give the sedan a meaner, beefier look. The rear matches this front clip well, with the taillights featuring the same horizontal pattern.
This being the base variant, it sits on 16-inch wheels. They get meatier tires compared to the top-spec Premium that sits on 17-inch alloys, but I have to admit these do look very regular to me. The pattern isn’t boring, but the overall fitment just screams ordinary. Which isn’t always a bad thing. Better that than overdo it, right? Right…
Interior
What isn’t ‘ordinary’ is the cabin. The Seal 5 DM-i—even this base trim—gets an abundance of leather and soft-touch materials all around the cabin. The seats are plush and look way too elegant for an under-a-million-bucks type of car, because who the heck gets white leather seats in this segment? Speaking of white, there’s a variety of colors inside, which adds a lot of flavor.
I do have to say, though, a lot of the parts inside feel borrowed. But like the regular wheels, it’s not a bad thing, either. The buttons on the center console, the trim on the dash, and even the head unit (which we’ll talk more about later) feel like they’re things we’ve already seen before. That said, they’re all functional, and they don’t look or feel cheap.
The Seal 5 DM-i is classified as a subcompact sedan, but it’s as big as a compact car, which comes as no surprise that there’s an abundance of space inside. There’s plenty of leg room for all four passengers, with the fifth passenger ever so slightly suffering from the bulge of the tunnel in the middle. I do remember, though, that when we compared this to the Honda Civic, the Japanese car made much better use of interior space than this. The same can be said about the trunk of those two cars. Still, the Seal 5 DM-i offers a large trunk that’s enough to fit multiple pieces of luggage on long road trips or for golf bags on weekends.
Engine performance
Like the other DM-i models in the BYD stable, the Seal 5 is a range-extended electric vehicle that promises EV-like propulsion at all times. The 1.5-liter gasoline engine produces charge for the 8.3kWh battery, which then powers the front-mounted motor which then churns out a total of 177hp and 316Nm. The setup is good for an electric-only range of 50km and a combined extended range of 1,175km.
I had zero complaints about just how the Seal 5 pulls, because it pulls. It’s got power that trumps any of its actual competitors in the sub-one-million sedan segment, and if you’ve driven any of said competitors, you’ll know how true my statement is whenever you step on the Seal 5’s pedal. Acceleration is instantaneous, and while it eventually normalizes once you get to highway speeds, I’m guessing it’ll easily smoke any other subcompact car in a 0-100kph sprint. See, the Seal 5 can do that in well under 10sec, while its competitors can get to a hundred north of that mark.
I never charged the Seal 5 DM-i when I had it, but then again, I never really needed to. Just starting from a full tank and a nearly fully charged battery, the range was way, way more than what I needed for a week’s test drive. It’s a testament to how good this hybrid system is, because when you’re doing over 25km/L without any effort whatsoever, you know you’ve got a really fuel-efficient car. Of course, if you live in the city and have access to a charger regularly, the 50km maximum electric range should still be enough for the daily commute, which means you can live entirely without having to refuel.
Ride and handling
This part is where the Seal 5 DM-i falls off. I’ve heard concerns about the ride quality in this sedan prior to testing it, and when I finally got to properly ride it, I learned that those concerns were valid.
The car can be very wallowy, whether you’re in the city or on the highway. Granted, road noise isn’t that bad, but it feels like there’s too much movement when you’re inside and just cruising on the expressway. Body roll is also pretty bad when you try to zip past a corner. But of course, this car wasn’t built for the track, so that’s forgivable. Its brakes do feel a bit spongey, and considering how quick this car is, that’s something would-be owners should be always aware (and cautious) of.
It’s built to be a proper daily driver, and in that regard, it’s an ideal car. It’s very light to maneuver, it has tech that makes parking a cinch, and it’s just easy to get in and out of, so having to continuously drive this around for days on end around Metro Manila shouldn’t be a problem.
Extra features
I mentioned overdoing things earlier, and it’s here where BYD does just that. I get it, the rotating infotainment system is cool and all, but I just don’t see its use. For someone like me who just sticks with smartphone mirroring like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, I see no point in, because you can’t use those features with the vertical screen.
It does help to have a gigantic head unit, though, because you won’t have any problems seeing directions on Waze. The display is also paired with a decent audio setup. It’s no Infinity or Harman Kardon, but it’s okay for its price tag and its segment.
What’s not okay like the large screen on the dash is the small rectangular LCD display right past the steering wheel that’s paired with it. While it’s clear and crisp despite it being small, the layout is what I find a bit bland, not to mention confusing to navigate. I don’t like how it looks, and the fact that the gauges (like most of the controls and extra tech) are virtually identical to that of other BYDs. There’s a lap timer here that I have absolutely no use for, too.
Verdict
I had a lot to say about the BYD Seal 5 DM-i Dynamic, but trust me, everything will boil down to these last few paragraphs.
This car’s faster, more fuel-efficient, more spacious, and even better-looking than its competitors. Pound-for-pound, it might just be the best value-for-money offering in the market right now, full stop. P948,000 for something this loaded? It’s a steal.
Now, that’s high praise, yes, but I’ll also be the one to admit that this car just doesn’t excite me. It’s something that a piece of paper like a brochure or a spec-sheet can’t ever explain, and it’s something I’ve discovered after a week with it.
Don’t get me wrong, I respect the car for what it is: It’s something that does its job well. Exceptionally well. Which is why it gets a high score in this review. But that’s what it is—an appliance. If you’re someone who’s happy with getting a functional and practical point-A-to-B vehicle, then by all means, get this, because this will be better than most. But if you’re someone like me who wants their cars with a little more character and a lot of soul, trust me, you’ll be better off getting something else.
SPECS: 2025 BYD Seal 5 DM-i Dynamic
Price: P948,000
Engine: 1.5-liter I4 + permanent magnet synchronous motor
Power: 177hp (combined)
Torque: 316Nm (motor)
Transmission: E-CVT
Drive layout: Front-wheel-drive
Seating: 5
Score: 9/10
More photos of the BYD Seal 5 DM-i Dynamic 2025:
