On the way to Poland
We have known BYD for some time for its EVs, but for some time now the brand has also been supplying a plug-in hybrid in Europe. That Seal U DM-i will not be alone and perhaps BYD even sees room for this Seal 5 DM-i in the range.
We actually only base the latter on the fact that we saw this truck full of Seal 5s racing over the A12. That is absolutely no guarantee for an actual Dutch career for the Seal 5 DM-i, which is already offered under that name in, for example, Poland. There we learn that this car has a powertrain that is very similar to that of the Seal U DM-i, with in this case 156 kW (212 hp) and an electric range of 100 instead of 70 kilometers, of course due to better aerodynamics and a smaller frontal area than the Seal U.
The exhaust proves that these are not EVs
Just like the Seal U, the BYD Seal 5 only has its name and some design features in common with the regular Seal, which stands on a completely different platform developed purely for EVs. The Seal 5 is slightly smaller than the regular Seal, but with a length of 4.78 versus 4.80 meters, the difference is less than we would expect based on the appearance. However, the Seal 5 is narrower and taller than the Seal. It has a significantly shorter wheelbase, but the luggage space is larger with 508 instead of 400 liters.
The BYD Seal 5 DM-i is simply available in Poland
New BYDs, which are (still) not available in the Netherlands, are often spotted in the Netherlands. This undoubtedly has everything to do with the fact that BYD’s European headquarters are in Hoofddorp, although the existence of Rotterdam and Belgian ports may play a greater role in this case.