BYD hits hard with the prices of its Seal 6 DM-i plug-in hybrid wagon

With their high front-end price, but offset by advantageous taxation, plug-in hybrid cars are mainly of interest to professionals. However, Chinese brands, which offer numerous dual-energy models on their national market, are starting to import them to us at lower prices, which could interest certain individuals.

Thus, BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of electric and plug-in hybrid cars, offers two PHEV models in France under the DM-i nomenclature. The Seal U DM-i is a family SUV, which has also become the best-selling plug-in hybrid model in Europe since the start of the year, thanks to discounted prices which now start at €34,490 in France.

Earlier this year, BYD also launched its Seal 6 DM-i in France, not to be confused with the Seal itself, which is 100% electric. This plug-in hybrid model is available as a sedan and station wagon, called Touring, and is placed in the family category with its 4.84 m length. Already previously discounted, BYD is strengthening its commercial gesture with a discount that climbs to €5,500 on the sedan and €6,091 on the Seal 6 DM-i Touring in Boost version. Enough to increase their respective prices to €32,990 and €33,900, with no weight penalty on this entry-level version.

Nearly €20,000 cheaper than an equivalent Volkswagen

Compared to the competition, this BYD Seal 6 DM-i is particularly well placed. The Volkswagen Passat, of which we now only favor the estate version, starts for example at €53,590, or around €20,000 more expensive than the Seal 6 DM-i Touring.

Certainly, the Passat has an electric range of 133 km in the WLTP cycle, compared to only 54 km for its Chinese rival in the Touring Boost version, but the Seal 6 still seems to be interesting in more than one way. It is powered by a 184 hp series-parallel plug-in hybrid system at entry level, where its 1.5 four-cylinder Atkinson cycle serves the majority of the time as a generator, but can also drive the front wheels in parallel with the electric motor, particularly at high speed. A system which should make it possible to maintain a certain sobriety when the battery is discharged.

Note that the Seal 6 DM-i also offers a better powertrain in its Comfort Lite and Comfort versions, with a larger battery which gives it up to 101 km of autonomy and a cumulative power of 212 hp, but this discount officially only concerns the entry-level Boost version. However, it seems likely that a similar commercial gesture is possible on these high-end versions, whose electric autonomy is more up to date.