PHEV duel: Jaecoo J7 SHS vs. BYD Sealion 6 DM-i

The plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) market in the Philippine setting has been getting larger as time goes by. 

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation started the race all the way back in 2020 with the Outlander PHEV. This model was followed a year later by Volvo Philippines with the XC60, XC90, and S90 PHEV trims. Back then, PHEV models were considered a niche market because, judging by the nameplates listed above, they weren’t exactly the most accessible cars when it comes to price. 

Fast forward to the present ,and many brands now have PHEV nameplates within their growing stables. One of the newer ones, of course, is Jaecoo Philippines with its J7 SHS crossover. 

The Jaecoo J7 SHS crossover, however, faces an uphill battle at the moment. Because, as mentioned, the PHEV segment, especially in the crossover body type, is growing, and some, like the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i, have risen to practically become household names. Just look outside on any busy thoroughfare in Metro Manila, wait for a few minutes, and it is guaranteed that you’ll spot an example of the said crossover. 

But how does the Jaecoo J7 SHS compare to the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i on paper? Let’s find out here by comparing the top-spec Jaecoo J7 SHS Premium trim against the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i's sole variant sold in the Philippines. 

Powertrain

To kick off this comparison between the Jaecoo J7 SHS and the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i, let’s go over their respective powertrains. 

Under the hood of both the entry-level Jaecoo J7 SHS Comfort and top-spec Premium trims is a single permanent magnet synchronous (PMSM) motor paired with a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four gasoline generator, and an 18.3-kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium iron phosphate battery. 

Altogether, the said system can produce up to 275 horsepower (hp) and 365 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. The Jaecoo-made unibody crossover is a front-wheel-drive (FWD) model, and it also has an electric-only mode of up to 106 kilometers. 

Compare the aforementioned to the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i, which uses a 1.5-liter gasoline engine as a generator, a single PMSM, and an 18.3 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery. Like its Jaecoo rivals, it is also an FWD unibody vehicle. 

At the most, the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i has a total powertrain output of 214 hp and 325 Nm of torque. It also has a driving range of 105 km. 

As a side note, both the Jaecoo J7 SHS and the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i both use their internal combustion engines mainly to provide power to a battery. The said battery, meanwhile, supplies their PMSM motors to drive their front wheels. In some situations (as determined by their computers), however, their fossil fuel "range extenders" can also supply power to their front wheels. 

Both vehicles also get a Type 2 charging port with a fast-charging direct current (DC) capability, regenerative braking, and vehicle-to-load functionality. The two also use a MacPherson strut front suspension, a multi-link rear suspension, and disc brakes for all four wheels. 

Sounds similar at a glance, but the Jaecoo obviously has a beefier churn compared to its BYD rival. But interestingly enough, both PHEV crossovers have the same claimed zero to 100 kilometer per hour (kph) time of 8.3 seconds. 

In this regard, it would be tempting to give the on-paper powertrain comparison win to the Jaecoo nameplate. It has, after all, bigger numbers, and those are always attractive to buyers. Then again, the two seem to have exactly the same capabilities as far as being PHEV models go. 

For reference, here is a side-by-side comparison of the Jaecoo J7 SHS and BYD Sealion 6 DM-i’s mechanical and PHEV specs as discussed above: 

Model	Jaecoo J7 SHS Premium	BYD Sealion 6 DM-i
Drivetrain	FWD
Electric motor setup	Single PMSM
Battery capacity	18.3 kWh
Electric-only range	106 km	105 km
Total system horsepower	275	214
Total system torque	365	325
Other EV components	Regenerative braking Type 2 charging port (with DC) Vehicle-to-load function

Exterior

To start comparing the exteriors of the Jaecoo J7 SHS and the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i, let’s go over their dimensions. 

The Jaecoo J7 SHS has a length of 4,500 millimeters (mm), a width of 1,865 mm, and a height of 1,670 mm. It also has a wheelbase spanning 2,672 mm and a ground clearance of 174 mm. 

On the other hand, the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i is 4,775 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,670 mm in height. Its wheelbase clocks in at 2,765 mm, and it has a ground clearance (unladen) of 173 mm. 

Based on the numbers above, the BYD-made PHEV crossover is larger overall than its Jaecoo rival. It also has a longer wheelbase - a crucial point as it may provide hints about how roomy the vehicle is from the inside for both occupants and cargo. 

For would-be buyers, taking note of a vehicle’s dimensions is also crucial for determining how convenient and practical it is for one’s personal use-case scenario. Related parameters to this include garage fitment and one’s comfort in driving a larger (or smaller) automobile. 

Appearance-wise, the two models get their own respective interpretations of “the modern crossover.” The Jaecoo nameplate comes with a style more akin to sport utility vehicles (SUV), which is hinted at by its large grille and more upright-oriented body panels. 

In contrast, the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i comes off as a sleeker-looking ride, thanks to its curvy corners, coupled with the strategic use of chrome. Furthermore, its front clip appears to be more pointed and more “hybrid-like” than the traditional-looking Jaecoo J7 SHS. 

Regardless of their vast differences in styling, both crossovers come with a myriad of exterior amenities. Common between the two are power-folding/adjustable side mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, a power tailgate, automatic headlamp functionality, rain-sensing front wipers, and roof rails. Completing the exteriors for both crossovers is a set of 19-inch wheels. 

On the one hand, the Jaecoo has flush door handles that automatically retract into its body when the car is locked. The BYD model, meanwhile, uses a set of more conventional door handles. 

Here’s a table with a side-by-side comparison of the Jaecoo J7 SHS and BYD Sealion 6 DM-i’s dimensions:

Model	Jaecoo J7 SHS	BYD Sealion 6 DM-i
Length (in mm)	4,500	4,775
Width (in mm)	1,865	1,890
Height (in mm)	1,670	1,670
Wheelbase length (in mm)	2,672	2,765
Ground clearance (in mm)	174	173

Interior

As compact crossovers, the Jaecoo J7 SHS and the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i both come standard with a five-seater layout. Likewise present on the two rides are leather-clad seats and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. 

For their drivers, the Jaecoo and BYD PHEV units both get power-adjustable front seats, a push-to-start button, a drive mode selector, electronic parking brakes, keyless entry and an automatic anti-glare rearview mirror.

The BYD, however, does come with several driver-oriented bits that are not present on the Jaecoo. Specifically, it comes with front seat ventilation and an NFC card reader. 

For the unaware, the NFC card functions exactly like a key, but it is less cumbersome and can fit inside a wallet. 

The Jaecoo J7 SHS, however, does have a heads-up display, which is unavailable on the BYD. Otherwise, the BYD model has a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which is fairly larger compared to the Jaecoo’s 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. 

For upping the mood during long road trips, the Jaecoo J7 SHS and the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i both get ambient lighting systems. 60:40 split-folding second-row seats also ensure the versatility of usable interior space in both crossovers. 

Concerning infotainment screens, the Jaecoo J7 SHS Premium uses a 14.8-inch display with voice control. The said screen is connected to an eight-piece Sony speaker set. 

The BYD Sealion 6 DM-i, in comparison, was equipped with a wider 15.6-inch touchscreen headunit linked to a 10-piece Infinity sound system. Like the Jaecoo model, this screen on the BYD has voice control, but it has an expanded array of functionalities that are not present in its rival. The aforementioned includes: 

• 4G connectivity
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• BYD Cloud Service (smartphone app)
• DiLink Ecosystem

For topping up devices, the two models both come with a lineup of USB ports, as well as a wireless smartphone charging pad. 

Safety

Safety-wise, both the Jaecoo J7 SHS and the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i have anti-lock braking, ISOFIX child seat anchors, a tire-pressure monitor, electronic stability control, hill-descent control, electronic brake-force distribution, traction control, and a 360-degree view camera.

The Jaecoo J7 SHS Premium comes with seven airbags, while the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i has six. This may indicate that the Jaecoo has a better crash rating, but do be aware that both have five-star safety ratings from the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). 

The two vehicles also have an array of advanced driver-assist systems, which consist of the following: 

• Adaptive cruise control
• Forward collision warning
• Lane departure warning
• Traffic congestion assist
• Automatic emergency braking
• Blind spot monitoring

In this regard, the Jaecoo one-ups the BYD crossover thanks to its intelligent steering evasion system and rear collision warning. 

On the flip side, the BYD comes with the capability to recognize traffic signs - something that is absent in the Jaecoo. 

The Sealion 6 DM-i also gets BYD’s Comfort Braking system. The aforementioned ensures a more refined ride by actively distributing stopping power to balance out the vehicle when pressing the brake pedal. 

Ready to purchase a brand-new Jaecoo J7 SHS? Check out these exclusive offers from Zigwheels Philippines.

 

Price

As of this writing, the Jaecoo J7 SHS is offered in two different trims. The entry-level Comfort retails at P1.499 million, whereas the top-spec Premium is priced at P1.549 million. 

Comparatively, the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i only has one available variant for the Philippine market, which currently retails at P1.548 million. 

To note, the Jaecoo J7 SHS Comfort lacks many of the high-tech bits that are present on the top-spec Premium trim. Then again, it comes with the same exact powertrain, while having a markedly more affordable price. 

In this regard, the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i's single variant means less accessibility for buyers with a budget lower than P1.5 million. 

Final thoughts

On paper, the Jaecoo J7 SHS and the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i are just about on par against each other. There are a few differences, mind you, but choosing between the two could be a challenge for some buyers, considering their nearly identical price. 

Then again, the BYD nameplate does offer a better array of on-board technology. Case in point is its 4G connectivity and its NFC card reader. 

Furthermore, buyers may treat the presence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as a make-or-break characteristic for a car. In this regard, the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i clearly has the advantage. 

For styling, that will remain a subjective matter entirely. But remember, the Jaecoo is more square-shaped compared to the BYD. 

At the end of it all, however, do be aware that this comparison is mainly based on the model's respective spec sheets and is not reflective of their real-world performance. 

So, for serious would-be adopters who are really torn between these two, we highly urge you to visit your nearest Jaecoo or BYD dealership to see what these crossovers are really like to drive.

Who knows, either of these two could just be the right crossover to finally get you into the world of electrified mobility. 

 

Also read:

Jaecoo J7 SHS: pros and cons

Check out the Jaecoo EJ6's 2 trims in PH

Jaecoo EJ6’s strengths, weaknesses

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