BYD Cars Philippines, with its local operator ACMobility, has officially entered the MPV segment with the all-new BYD eMAX 7. While it’s expected to go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Honda BR-V, and the coveted Toyota Innova, quite frankly, there really isn’t anything like it in our local market.
More and more respected nameplates have gotten electrified—fitted with hybrid powertrains—but very few have gone the whole nine with a completely electric system. The BYD eMAX 7 will be in its own weight class unless more carmakers bring out fully electric MPVs and minivans. Until then, the eMAX 7 will be taking the challenge to ICE and hybrid MPVs.
Its prices will be revealed at the 2025 Manila International Auto Show later this week. Watch this space for the latest updates on the BYD eMAX 7.
Exterior
The new eMAX 7 stands 4,710mm long, 1,810mm wide, and 1,890mm tall. It has a 2,800mm wheelbase and 170mm of ground clearance. It sits on 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels shod in 225/55 R17 tires.
Design-wise, it’s very BYD, with the sleek headlamps and the chrome trim on the front fascia. The rear looks like a tamer version of the Sealion 6 DM-i, with the chrome strip on the tailgate but with smaller taillights.
Interior
The interior features a mix of hard plastics, leather, and smooth plastic panels. The layout is also very typical BYD, but it looks a bit older in terms of design. There are ‘Build Your Dreams’ badges on the dashboard and behind the center console.
Powertrain and specs
Powering the single permanent magnet synchronous motor is a 71.8kWh BYD Blade Battery, while the base, or Standard, variant utilizes a smaller 55.4KWh battery. This FWD system then makes for 201hp and 310Nm of torque. It should also be able to hit the 100kph mark in 8.6sec.
On a full charge, the base variant eMAX 7 should be good for 420km of driving, with a top speed of 180kph. The top spec’d, or Superior Captain variant is touted with a 530km range.
Extra features
Like all BYD vehicles, a large, 12.8-inch, rotating infotainment screen dominates the dashboard. It’s fitted with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with BYD’s own infotainment software.
It then distributes audio to a six-speaker system that is evenly placed across the cabin. There are also two USB charging ports up front and another two in the second row. Although the front passengers also get a wireless charger fixed into the center console.
The driver and front passenger are also treated to ventilated seats with powered adjustment. The seats in the back can be folded down to create more cargo space, as with all MPVs. With the second and third rows folded, the eMAX 7 should be able to hold 580-liters.
More photos of the BYD eMAX 7:
