BYD Seal 5 DM-i

What is the BYD Seal 5 DM-i?

The Seal 5 DM-i is a four-door saloon with a plug-in hybrid option. It brings BYD’s DM-i hybrid technology to a traditional family-car shape, with electric and petrol power working together. Drivers can charge the plug-in version from an external power source.

BYD grew from a rechargeable battery business into a maker of cars and other technology. Its experience with batteries and hybrid systems is part of the story behind the Seal 5 DM-i.

Generations and design

The first generation, code DT, began in 2025 and is the current generation. BYD describes the Seal 5 DM-i as a saloon, with bodywork shaped under the guidance of design director Wolfgang Egger. The model brings the company’s plug-in hybrid approach to a conventional family-car format.

Engines and power

European versions have a 1.5 L engine and are listed as hybrid or plug-in hybrid. The plug-in hybrid is rated at 72 kW (98 PS). The hybrid uses petrol and electric drive, while the plug-in version can also be charged from an external power source.

How economical is the BYD Seal 5 DM-i?

The lowest official figure for the petrol, diesel and hybrid category is 5.8 L/100 km on the WLTP test. The plug-in hybrid’s lowest figure is 1.8 L/100 km WLTP. This is a weighted figure that assumes some driving is electric, so it reflects a different use pattern from a petrol-only consumption result.

There were 420 Seal 5 DM-i registrations in the EU in 2025: 366 were 1.5 L hybrids and 54 were 1.5 L plug-in hybrids rated at 72 kW (98 PS). Test procedures differ between markets: Europe uses WLTP or NEDC, the USA uses EPA ratings, and Canada uses a five-cycle test.