BYD Sealion 5 DM-i vs. the competition

The BYD Sealion 5 dual-mode intelligent (DM-i) is the latest plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) in BYD Cars Philippines’ lineup. And while it is smaller compared to its Sealion 6 DM-i sibling, it has plenty of qualities that will certainly attract many buyers. 

For starters, it comes in a well-proportioned package that makes it more than suitable for in-city driving. It is classed as a subcompact crossover, but it has a generous amount of room for five occupants. Additionally, it features the familiar DM-i powertrain, which is renowned for its balanced performance and efficiency. 

To cap it all off, the model has a starting price of P1.198 million (introductory), which makes it highly accessible for a PHEV nameplate. 

The BYD Sealion 5 DM-i, however, faces notable hybrid competitors in the Philippine market. So, what are its rivals and what are they offering? Before we list the alternatives to the BYD model, however, let us provide a brief summary of its specifications and features. 

BYD Sealion 5 DM-i 

Size-wise, the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i measures 4,738 millimeters (mm) long, 1,860 mm wide, and 1,710 mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,712 mm and a ground clearance of 156 mm. 

Notable exterior equipment available to the five-seater crossover includes LED lighting fixtures, automatic headlamp functionality, power-adjustable side mirrors with heating, roof rails, and a set of 18-inch alloy wheels. 

The interior of the BYD-made model, on the other hand, comes with manual-adjust front seats, dual-zone automatic climate controls, leather upholstery, front and rear armrests, and a 60:40 split-folding rear seat. 

Other creature comforts present inside the BYD Sealion  5 DM-i include the following: 

• 10.1-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Six-piece speaker set
• 8.8-inch digital gauge cluster
• 12-volt accessory outlet
• USB ports
• Push-to-start button
• Drive mode selector
• Tilt and telescopic steering column
• Leather steering wheel
• Electronic parking brake
• Voice assistant
• 4G connectivity

Safety-wise, the model comes standard with six airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchors, anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, traction control, hill-hold control, hill-descent control, tire pressure monitoring, anti-rollover system, and vehicle dynamic control - among others. 

Under the hood of the BYD crossover is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine paired with a permanent magnet synchronous motor and a 12.96 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery. The aforementioned powertrain is capable of generating up to 194 horsepower (hp) and 300 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. 

Below is a table listing the features and mechanical specifications of the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i: 

Model	BYD Sealion 5 DM-i
Exterior
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	4,738x1,860x1,710
Wheelbase (mm)	2,712
Ground clearance (mm)	156
Wheel size	18-inch
Lighting system	LED
Interior
Material	Leather
Amenities	Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning Voice assistant Push-to-start button Keyless entry NFC card reader 12-volt accessory outlet Tilt and telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel 60:40 split-folding rear seats 8.8-inch digital gauge cluster Foot well lamps Bottle/cup holders Roof rails Front and rear armrests Cruise control Six-piece speaker set 10.1-inch rotating infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Seating capacity	Five
Powertrain
Engine	1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline
Hybrid system	Electric motor, Blade battery
Drivetrain	Front-wheel-drive
Horsepower	194
Torque	300 Nm
Technology
Safety	Dual front airbags Side airbags Side curtain airbags Anti-lock braking ISOFIX Electronic stability control Hill-hold control Hill-descent control Tire pressure monitoring Vehicle dynamic control Anti-rollover control Reverse camera
Price	P1.198 million (introductory price)

Toyota Yaris Cross HEV

One big rival of the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i is the Toyota Yaris Cross, particularly its top-spec S hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) variant. While the said version is priced much higher than its BYD rival at P1.61 million, it also slots into the electrified subcompact crossover segment. 

Size-wise, the Toyota Yaris Gross S HEV is 4,310 mm long, 1,770 mm wide, and 1,615 mm in height. It also has a ground clearance of 212 mm, and a wheelbase length of 2,620 mm. 

For its exterior equipment, the Toyota-made five-seater was equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting, power-folding and adjustable side mirrors, roof rails, power tailgate, and a moon roof. 

Its interior, meanwhile, is made comfortable with the presence of a power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather upholstery, automatic climate controls, and a 60:40 split-folding rear seat. 

Other interior equipment available to the top-spec Toyota Yaris Cross is as follows: 

• Leather steering wheel
• 10.1-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Six-piece Pioneer speaker set
• Seven-inch multi-information display
• Drive mode selector
• Electronic parking brake
• Push-to-start button
• USB ports
• 12-volt accessory outlet
• Wireless smartphone charging pad

Handling safety for the Toyota crossover involves a comprehensive list of equipment, which includes six airbags, anti-lock braking, hill-start assist, stability control, ISOFIX, and a 360-degree view camera. 

The aforementioned are reinforced by a suite of advanced driver-assist systems such as: 

• Pre-collision system
• Automatic high beams
• Lane trace assist
• Lane keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross traffic alert

Like its BYD rival, the Toyota Yaris Cross S HEV is also electrified, but instead of a PHEV system, it utilizes a closed-loop setup composed of a 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline mill, a battery, and a motor generator. The said powertrain has a maximum churn of 109 hp and 121 Nm of torque. 

For reference, here’s a table showcasing the features and mechanical details of the Toyota Yaris Cross S HEV: 

Model	Toyota Yaris Cross HEV
Exterior
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	4,310x1,770x1,615
Wheelbase (mm)	2,620
Ground clearance (mm)	212
Wheel size	18-inch
Lighting system	LED
Interior
Material	Leather
Amenities	Automatic air-conditioning Push-to-start button Keyless entry 12-volt accessory outlet Leather-wrapped steering wheel 60:40 split-folding rear seats 7-inch multi-information display Bottle/cup holders Roof rails Wireless smartphone charging pad Six-piece Pioneer speaker set 10.1-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Seating capacity	Five
Powertrain
Engine	1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline
Hybrid system	Electric motor, Blade battery
Drivetrain	Front-wheel-drive
Horsepower	194
Torque	300 Nm
Technology
Safety	Dual front airbags Side airbags Side curtain shield airbags Anti-lock braking ISOFIX Stability control Traction control Hill-start assist Reverse camera
ADAS	Pre-collision system Automatic high beams Lane trace assist Lane keep assist Adaptive cruise control Blind spot monitoring Rear cross traffic alert
Price	P1.61 million

MG ZS Hybrid

One of the newer alternatives to the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i is the MG ZS Hybrid+. Launched for the Philippine market in July 2025, it is the top-of-the-line trim of the next-generation MG ZS. Price-wise, the said model starts at P1,329,888. 

In terms of size, the MG ZS Hybrid+ is 4,430 mm long, 1,818 mm wide, and 1,635 mm in height. Its wheelbase spans 2,610 mm, and it has a ground clearance of 140 mm. 

For its most noteworthy exterior features, the MG-made hybrid offers a set of 18-inch wheels, automatic headlamps, LED lighting, roof rails, a panoramic sunroof, power-folding and adjustable side mirrors with heating, and rain-sensing wipers. 

The insides of the MG ZS Hybrid+, on the other hand, are appointed with leather upholstery, a single-zone automatic climate control system, 60:40 split-folding rear seats, as well as a power-adjustable driver’s seat. 

Other key features inside the MG-made hybrid include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Leather steering wheel
• Tilt and telescopic steering column
• Electronic parking brake
• Push-to-start button
• Seven-inch digital gauge
• Driver lumbar support
• Keyless entry
• 12-volt accessory outlet
• Front and rear center armrests
• USB ports
• 12.3-inch infotainment system 
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Safety for the MG ZS Hybrid+ is primarily handled by anti-lock braking, hill-start assist, hill-descent control, anti-roll over protection, stability control, traction control, vehicle dynamics control, tire pressure monitoring, ISOFIX, six airbags, and a 360-degree view monitor.

The aforementioned are supported by the following ADAS components: 

• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic high beams
• Active emergency braking
• Pedestrian and bicycle detection
• Traffic jam assist
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane change assist
• Rear-cross traffic alert
• Lane departure warning
• Emergency lane keep assist
• Forward collision warning
• Intelligent speed assist

Propelling the MG ZS Hybrid+ is a closed-loop hybrid system similar to the one found on the MG 3 hatchback. Specifically, it uses a 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine paired with an electric motor and battery. At maximum, it can put out 194 hp and 250 Nm of torque. 

Refer to the table below for a summary of the MG ZS Hybrid+’s features and mechanical specs:

Model	MG ZS Hybrid+
Exterior
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	4,430x1,818x1,635
Wheelbase (mm)	2,610
Ground clearance (mm)	140
Wheel size	18-inch
Lighting system	LED
Interior
Material	Leather
Amenities	Single-zone automatic air-conditioning Push-to-start button Keyless entry 12-volt accessory outlet Tilt and telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel 60:40 split-folding rear seats 7-inch digital gauge Bottle/cup holders Roof rails Six-piece speaker set 12.3-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Seating capacity	Five
Powertrain
Engine	1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline
Hybrid system	Electric motor, Blade battery
Drivetrain	Front-wheel-drive
Horsepower	194
Torque	250 Nm
Technology
Safety	Dual front airbags Side airbags Side curtain shield airbags Anti-lock braking ISOFIX Stability control Hill-start assist Hill-descent control Traction control 360-degree view camera
ADAS	Adaptive cruise control Automatic high beams Active emergency braking Pedestrian and bicycle detection Traffic jam assist Blind-spot monitoring Lane change assist Rear-cross traffic alert Lane departure warning Emergency lane keep assist Forward collision warning Intelligent speed assist
Price	P1,328,888

Final thoughts

In summary, the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i is in a good position to place itself as a prime option for subcompact crossover buyers. It is definitely not wanting in terms of power, plus, it has a decent spread of amenities - at least when compared to its nearest rivals. 

So, if you’re liking what you see in the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i, don’t hesitate to visit the nearest BYD dealership to give it a test drive. Because who knows, this could be the right ride for you. 

Also read:

First drive: BYD Sealion 5 DM-i

Here’s what inside the BYD eMAX 7

Here's a close look at the Sealion 5 DM-i’s strengths, weaknesses

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