The BYD Sealion 6 DM‑i 2025: Is This Plug‑In Hybrid SUV Asia’s New Family Favorite?

The all-new BYD Sealion 6 DM‑i 2025 — a plug-in hybrid SUV taking Asia surge with EV range, intelligent features, and family-friendly value. Read our comprehensive, no-bull review with performance, interior, safety, pricing, pros & cons, and FAQs.

Once Upon a Charging Port: How BYD Created the Sealion 6

There’s an old adage that states good things come to those who plug in. Okay, perhaps that’s not actually a real saying — but it should be. One day, BYD — China’s clean energy behemoth — made up its mind it was tired of playing small. It wanted to make hybrids hip, affordable, and reliable enough to tempt everyday families away from gas-only SUVs.

So they took the award-winning BYD Song Plus DM‑i, gave it a sleek international moniker (hi Sealion!), stuffed it with an intelligent plug‑in hybrid powertrain, and unleashed it to swim into new seas such as Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. The result? The BYD Sealion 6 DM‑i — a practical family SUV that invites you to bypass the petrol pump, retain the range, and use the savings for more desirable things… bubble tea.

Step Inside: Build Quality and Features Worth Mention

BYD’s not kidding around here. The Sealion 6 DM-i‘s interior feels much more upmarket than you’d anticipate for a plug-in hybrid SUV below $30,000 in Asia. Soft-touch panels, sturdy stitching, and hardly-there panel gaps remind you this isn’t 2015 BYD — it’s 2025 BYD.

Slide into the driver’s seat, and you’re faced by a huge 15.6-inch rotatable touchscreen like an excited tech friend. The UI is quick, there are OTA updates, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included (at last). Throw in ventilated seating, wireless charging, ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof, and you may well forget that this thing is designed to save you money.

Daily practicality? Covered — fold the seats, toss in the groceries, load up the kids. BYD’s build quality still won’t rival a Lexus, but for the price? It’s seriously impressive.

Performance: The Sweet Spot for City and Highway

So, what lies beneath that fishy badge? A 1.5-liter petrol motor unit with BYD’s famous DM‑i plug-in hybrid technology. It produces a decent 218 PS — sufficient to join highways without relying on divine intervention.

The true star of the show is the 18.3 kWh Blade Battery, providing you with up to 90–105 km of uninterrupted pure electric range. That’s plenty for the school drop-off, the office run, and a coffee break without guzzling one drop of gas. On longer journeys, the engine stirs nicely and provides a combined range in excess of 1,000 km — ideal for spontaneous weekend getaways when you see the beach 400 km away.

0–100 km/h? Approximately 8.3 seconds. Not a rocket ship, but faster than the majority of small SUVs holding you up at the lights.

Safety Features: The Sealion Knows How to Take Care of Its Pack

In the hectic traffic of Asia, you need a vehicle as vigilant as you are after your third coffee with ice. BYD loaded the Sealion 6 DM‑i with everything you need:

ADAS with lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking.

Blind spot monitoring, 360° camera, rear cross-traffic alert — because motorbikes pop up from out of nowhere.

Multiple airbags, strong crumple zones, and the famous Blade Battery with enhanced thermal safety.

Essentially, it’s like having an invisible co-pilot who never complains about your playlist.

Capabilities: The Urban Explorer That Sometimes Gets Away

Here’s the deal — the Sealion 6 DM‑i not attempting to be a rugged off-roader. It’s an urban warrior with enough smarts for potholes and poorly marked rural roads. You’ll love the sensible EV range for daily commutes and the hybrid backup for long getaways.

The boot is roomy, the seats lay flat, the roof rails plead for a cargo box, and the suspension absorbs Asia’s constantly inventive road “texture.” Just don’t look to cross rivers or wrestle mountain trails — unless that mountain features a Starbucks drive-thru.

Pricing and Availability: Where Can You Buy One?

As of August 2025, the BYD Sealion 6 DM‑i is putting smiles on families’ faces in:

Thailand: From approximately THB 939,900–1,039,000

Philippines: From ₱1.548 million

Vietnam: 799–899 million VND

Singapore: It’s priced according to discount, but it’s BYD’s first plug-in hybrid there

With BYD’s growing network of dealers and enhancing parts supply, owning one is safer than ever.

Pros  and Cons: Because No Car is Perfect

Pros-

Impressive pure EV range for a plug‑in hybrid

Affordable price tag for the tech you get

Well-built, well-equipped interior

BYD’s Blade Battery peace of mind

Practical range for city and highway

Cons-

Not exactly sporty to drive

No AWD for adventurous families

BYD’s brand trust still catching up in some regions

Final Verdict: Should You Dive In?

The BYD Sealion 6 DM‑i won’t leave your neighbors green with envy like a Tesla or Lexus will — but it will fill your wallet with joy every time you avoid the gas pump. For families and commuters around Asia craving independence from all-full-time petrol or full-time charging anxiety, the Sealion 6 DM‑i is evidence that plug‑in hybrids remain relevant in 2025.

Practical, affordable, pleasantly premium — and with an EV range to cover the daily commute — this is the plug-in SUV that proves the future of family cars isn’t necessarily all about going fully electric. Often, the sweet spot lies in the middle.

FAQs

Q: What is the pure electric range of the BYD Sealion 6 DM‑i?

A: Under the market and driving conditions, it’s 90–105 km, ideal for city use on a day-to-day basis.

Q: Is the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i electric?

A: No, it’s a plug-in hybrid — so you drive electric-only on short runs but have petrol as a reserve for long journeys.

Q: Where can ipurchasedSealion 6 be in Asia?

A: In Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, and Singapore — with BYD launching in even more countries shortly.

Q: What does it compare to the BYD Seal or Sealion 7?

A: The Seal is all-electric, whereas the Sealion 6 DM-i offers you a plug-in hybrid compromise — perfect if charging networks are still spotty around you