BYD is gearing up to launch the new Sealion 5 in South Africa.
This new product will be the follow-up to the recently introduced Sealion 6, though as its designation implies, the 5 should be considerably cheaper.
As a reminder, the Sealion nameplate represents a series of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which are capable of fully-electric driving.
PHEVs are considered one of the most desirable forms of hybrid for this reason, but the downside is that they can be very expensive relative to their peers, since motorists are paying for a car that features two powertrains.
Consequently, the technology has been locked away behind R1-million price tags for some time, but this is rapidly changing with the introduction of several new models in recent months.
Right now, the frontrunner for affordable PHEVs is the Sealion 6, which asks for a minimum of R639,900.
While that is undeniably a lot of money, it is far cheaper than South Africa’s previous “entry-level” PHEV – the BMW X1 xDrive30e – which costs R1,090,000.
It therefore stands to reason that the incoming Sealion 5 will be a game-changer for PHEV adoption in our market, as the price will hopefully point that is more accessible to most households.
According to MyBroadband, a BYD dealer confirmed that the SUV is heading our way, but that the official release date has yet to be disclosed.
More importantly, the dealer revealed that the company is ideally looking at a starting price of around R550,000, if market conditions permit.
If this turns out to be the case, the Sealion 5 would not only be the most affordable PHEV in the country, but it would also be similarly priced to the Toyota Corolla Cross – the best-selling hybrid in South Africa.
The Corolla Cross HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) currently retails for R494,400, which means the Sealion would offer a more advanced electric drivetrain for a relatively small additional cost.
What to expect
The new BYD features a 1.5-litre petrol engine, which is paired with a 120kW electric motor.
By itself, the combustion engine produces a modest 74kW, but this is increased to 144kW thanks to the electrical assistance.
On the entry-level models, the e-motor is powered by a 12.96kWh battery, which supports an electric range of 64km on a single charge.
The higher-spec version, meanwhile, has a larger 18.31kWh cell with 93km on tap.
The batteries support a 3.3kW AC charger, which will top up the smaller block in roughly four hours, while the high-capacity cell will take six hours.
All of this is in addition to the car’s petrol engine and 52-litre tank, which means the BYD can cover an impressive 1,400km if both energy sources are fully utilized.
The Sealion’s equipment sheet isn’t too shabby either, as it comes with many of the comforts offered by BYD’s more expensive products.
A few of the car’s selling points include a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment screen, leather upholstery, automatic climate control, keyless entry and start, a panoramic sunroof, a wireless charger, and eight-way electronically adjustable seats.
It also comes with a Level 2 driving assistance suite, which offers adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot detection, lane-keep assist, parking sensors, and a reversing camera.
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