Suzuki Dzire Hybrid vs Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT vs BYD Seal: new-energy sedan showdown

In our last three-way new-energy vehicle (NEV) comparo, we looked at some multi-purpose vehicles, which are the Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid, Toyota Zenix, and the BYD eMAX7. 

Today, we’re going to take the same approach, but we will be checking out the country’s top sedans that compete in the mild-hybrid, hybrid, and all-electric categories to find out which car best suits your driving needs. 

On that note, here are our contenders: 

• Suzuki Dzire Hybrid 
• Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT 
• BYD Seal

Let’s check how they measure up against each other: 

	Suzuki Dzire Hybrid	Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT	BYD Seal
LxWxH (in millimeters [mm>)	3,995 x 1,735 x 1,525	4,635 x 1,780 x 1,455	4,800 x 1,875 x 1,460
Wheelbase (in mm)	2,450	2,700	2,920
Ground clearance (in mm)	145	149	120

 

Per the above figures, the Suzuki Dzire Hybrid comes in as the smallest sedan in the list. It makes it a good car to drive around the city, thanks to its compact form factor, made more appealing by its new, mature look. 

On the other hand, the Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT offers a size that’s smack dab right in the middle and gives drivers a sweet spot of getting ample road presence while still maintaining that nimbleness while on the road. 

Finally, the BYD Seal presents itself as a large sedan that not only catches — but also commands — attention. Its long and wide body ultimately translates to better cabin space, which we will get to in a few. 

Now that we have their dimensions out of the way, let’s check what each vehicle has to offer exterior-wise. 

Exterior 

Outside, the Suzuki Dzire Hybrid has grown into an elegant, handsome sedan and ditched the previously somewhat sporty facade. 

At the fore is a clean-looking fascia with a new bumper and grille. It has long slats that go well with the garnish where the company’s chrome-finished “S” emblem sits. Flanking it are new multi-light LED headlamps with a pair of fog lamps housed in plastic garnishes right on the cheeks of the compact car. 

To its sides are sleek appointments, which include body-colored components in the form of door handles and side mirrors. It also has a black B-pillar with some chrome appliques around the window. 

It rides on new polished-alloy wheels that measure 15 inches in diameter with 185/65 series tires. 

At the back, the Suzuki Dzire Hybrid gets a rear end spoiler that gives it a sharper and more elegant posterior. It also flaunts a new set of T-shaped LED headlamps. The lower bumper at the rear looks sculpted and seems to reinforce the Suzuki Dzire Hybrid’s new character. 

Not to be outdone, the Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT beautifully combines elegance and sportiness, packaged in a hybrid, mid-size city car. 

Its front packs a large honeycomb latticework with the noticeable “GR” badge. Neatly tucked in on each side are LED fog lamps. Above the said feature is a black garnish (with a tasteful chrome accent) separating the section of the fascia and the bonnet where the Toyota emblem is fitted. 

The side profile of the sedan gets body-tone door handles, blacked-out pillars, black-painted side mirrors with repeaters, and sporty side sill garnishes. It rides on 17-inch GR-S alloy wheels wrapped in 225/45 radial tires. 

Behind, the Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT dons a black spoiler on the boot. Here, stylish combination taillamps with LED technology can be found, alongside an angular bumper with reflectors on each side. Set in chrome is the “Corolla Altis” nameplate and the “HEV” emblem. The “GR” badge is also slapped on the tailgate. 

As for the BYD Seal, it takes on a more luxurious look and aims to cater to the upmarket segment who are as conscious about the environment as they are about their style. 

Providing eye-catching details at the front are the sedan’s adaptive LED headlights, whose looks appear to have been inspired by the lamps of the Porsche Taycan. The angular shape conforms with the BYD Seal’s chiseled hood. 

Below, the all-electric car gets a clean chin with vertical slats that serve as vents bordered by cheeks with some opulent lighting. 

Its sides get flush, body-colored door handles, black pillars and window surrounds, sporty side sill appointments, and a set of 19-inch alloy wheels with a modern-looking pattern. These are fitted with 235/45 rubbers. 

Proving that sedan supremacy is pretty much alive and kicking, it boasts a fastback design with an LED light bar, serving as its tail lamp. It also has rear fog lamps for improved illumination when driving in the dark. Noticeable too is its large diffuser. 

Winner

In the battle of exterior styling, we opted to give the win to the Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT. It strikes the ideal balance of sportiness and elegance without being too loud. We believe that it would be a good fit not only for those who use their cars for daily commutes, but also for those who want to enjoy long drives during the weekends. 

Interior 

The Suzuki Dzire Hybrid offers contemporary interior details. The driver, for example, gets a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel with multi-functional controls. There are chrome trims here that somehow elevate the cabin’s aesthetics. 

The dashboard, too, receives some chrome trims. But like the Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid GLX AT (which we reviewed earlier), it receives some faux wood trims — a feature that the Japanese carmaker appears to like (and so does the author). 

In terms of automotive technology, the small sedan is equipped with a new meter cluster that combines both analog gauges and a small digital screen. It is accompanied by a nine-inch infotainment system with decent connectivity features (Apple Carplay, Android Auto). 

Other notable interior features include the following: 

• Front, rear speakers with tweeters
• Keyless push start system 
• Automatic air conditioning system
• Rear air vents 
• Pull-down rear armrest with cup holders 

Proving why the company has held a good portion of the local auto industry, the Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT wows with a curated cabin. 

Facing the driver is a leather steering wheel with buttons for the car’s many functions. Past it is a 12.3-inch digital multi-information display screen for keeping the driver in the know about relevant details such as drive modes, speed, and range. 

The instrument panel is complemented by a nine-inch infotainment unit with wireless Apple Carplay and wireless Android Auto, a step up for those who are annoyed by the dangling cables when they need to integrate their smartphones into their daily drives. 

Notable are its leather-wrapped seats with GR branding. 

Other interior amenities offered by the Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT include the following: 

• Dual-zone climate control 
• Wireless charging pad 
• Push-start ignition system 
• Smart keyless entry system 
• Electrochromic rearview mirror 
• Electronic parking brake, with brake hold 

Finally, the BYD Seal injects some luxurious flair into the list by offering comfort and spirited driving. 

Upping the ante, the emissions-free sedan provides drivers with a soft leather-wrapped steering wheel — of course, with multi-functional buttons. Some distance over it is a 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster that displays vital information in crisp detail. 

Atop its tasteful dashboard is a 15.6-inch infotainment system. And since it’s BYD, of course, it rotates to suit the needs of the driver. The infotainment unit has wireless Apple Carplay and wireless Android Auto and blasts one’s playlists on a Dynaudio 12-speaker sound system. 

For those looking for more, the BYD Seal will not disappoint. Here are its other interior features: 

• Voice assistant 
• Multi-color ambient lighting 
• Panoramic glass roof with shade insert 
• Keyless entry system 
• Push-button stop/start system 
• NFC card compatible 
• Wireless charger 
• Dual-zone air conditioning system 
• With rear vents 
• With negative ion air purifier 
• With PM 2.5 air filter 
• With CN 95 filter 

Winner

The winner of this round is the BYD Seal. Not only does it wow car buyers with a handful of impressive tech, but it also combines everything in a stylish and luxurious package. Everything looks seamless, making the abundant list of amenities not overwhelming for both the driver and the passengers. 

Powertrain 

Propelling the Suzuki Dzire Hybrid is the company’s signature mild-hybrid technology packaged in a three-pot, 1.2-liter gasoline engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

It is capable of producing the below numbers: 

Maximum power output (in horsepower [hp>)	80
Maximum torque (in Newton-meters [Nm>)	111.7

 

Helping conserve fuel is a 12-volt hybrid system, which consists of a 2.19-kilowatt electric motor alongside a lithium-ion battery. 

Zigwheels Philippines Writer Cesar Guiderone Miguel was able to try out the Suzuki Dzire Hybrid via a media drive organized by the carmaker's local subsidiary. 

Our correspondent noted that it “demonstrated steady power delivery” and “smooth accelerator responses.” You may read his first drive review, here. 

Looking to showcase the company’s hybrid technology, the Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT uses a 1.8-liter gasoline engine paired with a hybrid system with a lithium-ion battery and a CVT. Below are its power figures: 

Maximum power output (in hp)	120
Maximum torque (in Nm)	142

 

Looking to prove that there is significant power in electric mobility, the BYD Seal rushes into the fray with its all-electric powertrain. The range-topping model gets a four-wheel drivetrain system with an asynchronous motor at the front wheel axle and a permanent magnet synchronous motor at the rear. 

It is able to generate the following numbers: 

Maximum power output (in hp)	522
Maximum torque (in Nm)	670

 

Offering more than enough “oomph” and pulling power, the BYD Seal can zoom from a complete standstill to 100 kilometers per hour in under four seconds (3.8). 

Winner

Based on the above tables, the clear winner for this round is the BYD Seal. Not only will one have plenty of power for overtakes, but the electric sedan also is capable of driving up to 580 kilometers on a single charge. 

Safety 

Suzuki Dzire Hybrid 

The Suzuki Dzire Hybrid comes with notable safety features that are ample to provide peace of mind to drivers for their short commutes. Here are a few: 

• Airbags 
• Seatbelts 
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS) 
• Electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) 
• Hill-hold control 
• Brake assist function 
• Parking sensors 
• Rearview camera 
• Immobilizer 
• Cruise control

Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT 

Meanwhile, the Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT offers the following technologies: 

• Airbags 
• Seatbelts 
• ABS 
• Vehicle stability control 
• Hill-start assist control 
• Blind spot monitoring 
• Reverse camera with panoramic view monitor 
• Rear parking sensors 
• Pre-collision system 
• Automatic high beam 
• Lane tracing assist 
• Lane departure alert 
• Dynamic radar cruise control 

BYD Seal 

Similarly, the BYD Seal also comes with solid safety amenities, which includes the below list: 

• Airbags 
• Seatbelts
• Traction control system 
• Vehicle dynamic control system 
• Controlled deceleration for parking brake 
• ABS
• EBD 
• Hydraulic brake assist 
• Hill-start control system 
• Comfort braking 
• Tire pressure monitoring 
• Electronic anti-theft system 
• 360-degree-view camera 
• Front and rear radar system 
• Cruise control 

Winner 

With all three sedans packing a reasonable number of safety technologies, we will call this round a tie. 

Pricing

Here are the price tags of the nameplates featured in our list, as well as the variants that belong to the same family: 

Suzuki Dzire Hybrid 

Suzuki Dzire Hybrid GL CVT	P920,000
Suzuki Dzire Hybrid GLX CVT	P998,000

 

Toyota Corolla Altis 

Toyota Corolla Altis E CVT	P1.213 million
Toyota Corolla Altis G GR-S CVT	P1.333 million
Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT	P1.761 million

 

BYD Seal 

BYD Seal Advanced	P1.998 million
BYD Seal Performance	P2.548 million

 

Winner 

When we look at these sedans through their price ranges, the clear winner among the three is the Suzuki Dzire Hybrid. 

Verdict 

As one can see, all three sedans have their own strengths that can be beneficial to different kinds of car buyers. For example, the Suzuki Dzire Hybrid makes for a good pick for those who want to get into sustainable driving without breaking the bank. 

Meanwhile, the Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV CVT could be a good choice for people who want a reliable daily driver that can be used for weekend getaways while still caring for the environment. 

Finally, the BYD Seal will suit the needs of premium car lovers who value both comfort and eco-friendly driving. 

With that said, picking the right one will boil down to personal preference. 

Also read: 

BYD eMAX 7 Superior Captain: MPV for modern families

Honda Giorno+: classy, capable city scoot

JAC JS4: from daily drives to ‘vacay’ vibes

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