BYD HAN EV

The huge 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen is an immediate attention grabber in the 2024 BYD Han EV’s cabin. The car also gets a 12.3-inch instrument gauge cluster. There’s a transmission channel that’s remarkably large for an EV. The cabin is extremely refined and lives up to the luxury executive sedan billing. It’s made of fine brown faux leather, complemented by near-black, beautifully finished scratch-resist imitation wood. It’s a successful colour combination that looks more striking in the dark, courtesy the ambient lighting. The dashboard gets rich piano lacquer finish that’s stylish but attracts fingerprints. There are some hard plastics though. But that’s cleverly concealed in the lower part of doors and foot-wells. Outward visibility is somewhat hampered because of the 2024 BYD Han EV’s sheer size.   

The 2024 BYD Han EV is stately and large. The car measures more than 5m in length while the width is an impressive 2.13m. It’s a classic four-door executive sedan that looks more European the Chinese. It’s isn’t a real road cruiser but has a lot of sporty attitude despite the large body dimensions. That’s partly because off the relatively low height (1.5m) and the bold-style front. The bonnet is longer than most sedans and makes the BYD Han EV more aerodynamic. There are subtle hints of the Porsche Taycan at the back and the Ford Mustang on the C-pillar. Both add a distinctive character to the vehicle. The car is mounted on the BYD e-platform 2.0. The retractable door handles look futuristic. The Han EV gets all-round LED lights. The car runs on 19-inch alloy wheels. The 400-liter boot space accommodates practically everything. 

The front seats of the 2024 BYD Han EV are fully electric and come with lumbar support. The backrests of the rear seats are electrically adjustable. Cooling and heating are available for all four seats. The cabin is among the biggest in class and the seats are extremely comfortable and offer plenty of lateral support. Shorter people may find the side bolsters uncomfortably close to their shoulders and upper arm. But there’s no dearth of legroom and headroom in any of the seats. The air purification system absorbs dust particles and keeps the cabin clean. The firm but comfortable suspension minimises body roll even during fast cornering. But the car tends to judder over transverse joints and that’s a bit annoying. 

The 2024 BYD Hasn EV is hauled by two 380kW magnetic motors that produce 510 PS/700 Nm. The motor is mated to a 79.9kWh Blade lithium-ion phosphate battery. The car returns a claimed mileage of 376km which is impressive in the all-electric executive saloon class. The 2024 BYD Han EV’s acceleration is super-quick. Ride quality is extremely planted. It’s more of a chauffeur-driven car. The BYD Han EV handles nicely. It’s efficient, smooth, and offers a sporty diving experience. 

The 2024 BYD Han EV comes with a fully equipped safety system that includes pedestrian detection, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, collision warning, and a 360-degree camera. The car has multiple airbags strategically placed to minimise crash impact. The driver-assist system does get intrusive at times but that can be turned off.

At a starting price of ₱3,113,000, the 2024 BYD Han EV is among the most expensive all-electric cars in any segment. It’s excellent on several fronts including superb build quality, a luxurious cabin and an exceptional driving performance. But long-term reliability is still under question as these are the early days of EVs. Running costs are low and the 2024 BYD Han EV is a great car for those wanting to travel in a quiet and comfortable executive saloon.