One can say that the luxury MPV/minivan market has boomed over the last few years thanks to one particular model. We are, of course, talking about the Toyota Alphard. Since it was released in the Philippines, we’ve been seeing an influx of these plush vans being offered locally.
That said, most of the Alphard’s competitors come from China. And now, of one of the biggest names from over there want in on the action. It’s BYD that wants to dip its toes in the competitive segment, and it just unveiled the model that it reckons can make a significant impact in the market.
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Unveiled at the 2024 Chengdu Motor Show, the luxury MPV/minivan is dubbed the BYD Xia. For those who still remember their world history lessons, the name comes from first dynasty in traditional Chinese historiography. BYD names its flagship models after dynasties, so this model’s name is a good clue about the brand’s intentions with it.
The BYD Xia measures over 5.1 meters long, so it’s right up against the likes of the GAC M8, Hongqi H9, and, of course, Toyota Alphard. But what differentiates it from all those is its powertrain. It uses the same system seen in the Sealion 6 that recently made its local debut. That means it’s a range extended electric vehicle with plug-in hybrid capabilities.
BYD isn’t giving out full specs at the moment, nor have interior photos been revealed. We could expect the usual Chinese car fare, meaning screens tacked all over dashboard. Power captain chairs are practically a given in its class, and of course there will be a chockfull of luxuries fitted in there.
There’s no doubt it will be released soon with BYD confirming that it will reach Chinese customers before the end of the year. However, it’s unknown if there are plans to offer this model in other countries. But as BYD is more than eager to expand its reach worldwide, offering the Xia as a global model might be the right move.
