BYD Seagull competes in PH EV arena, starts at P898k

The BYD Seagull has formally entered the Philippine electric vehicle (EV) arena after it made its debut at Ayala Malls Manila Bay today.

Per the local wing of BYD, the compact electric car is set to help the Ayala-led brand to democratize EVs and is expected to be a volume contributor and a brand amplifier.

Aggressive-looking exterior

Outside, the BYD Seagull sports aggressive looks, thanks to the abundance of sharp angles and snappy lines worn by the electric car.

At the front, it gets angular headlamps as well as a lower grille with horizontal lines. The BYD emblem proudly sits in the middle of its short bonnet.

To its sides are black wheel arches, black door trims, black pillars, and side mirrors with black accents. The black trim applied to the tail end of its flanks give the BYD Seagull a floating roof design.

It also has flush door handles and rides on 16-inch wheels.

The rear end of the BYD Seagull gets a roof-mounted spoiler, a decent-sized glass, striking taillamps, a horizontal light bar, reflectors, and a large bumper/diffuser.

Fitted on the tailgate is the company’s logo, an “EV” emblem, and the “Seagull” nameplate.

The BYD Seagull is available in the following colors:

• Apricity White
• Sprout Green
• Delan Black

It has an overall length of 3,780 millimeter (mm), an overall width of 1,715 mm, and an overall height of 1,580 mm. Its wheelbase is 2,500 mm and its ground clearance is 150 mm.

Modern cabin

Echoeing its looks on the surface, the BYD Seagull offers would-be owners a modern-looking interior.

Welcoming occupants are leather seats with decent bolstering. The marque’s logo is embroidered on the headrests. There is a central armrest that can help make driving more convenient.

Passengers sitting at the back get bench-type seats but still come with ample cushioning. They also get the BYD logo stitched on the headrests.

Like the seats, the steering wheel is covered with leather. It has multi-functional controls, three spokes, and chrome appliques.

Past it is a digital instrument cluster, which displays the following information:

• Estimated range
• Lighting
• Seatbelt reminder
• Speed
• Driving mode
• Selected gear
• Time
• Trip computer
• Battery level

Sitting close to it is a 10.1-inch infotainment system that teems with BYD technology. On that note, it has unique features like a rotating function as well as gesture controls, which are also available on other BYD models.

Here, passengers can check out navigation applications, play music, or listen to the radio.

Other notable features include a wireless charging dock and switch-type gear shifter.

The BYD Seagull’s interior comes in two different colorways. The Black and Dark Blue cabin is available for the Apricity White and Delan Black models while the Black and Light Blue interior is available for the Sprout Green vehicles.

Emissions-free driving

The BYD Seagull is capable of delivering up to 300 kilometers of emissions-free driving in a single charge. Thanks to the BYD Blade battery, the electric hatchback becomes a viable alternative to internal combustion engine-equipped city cars.

In addition, the battery can be charged using either an AC or a DC charger, so owners will have flexibility when charging.

The battery juices up the electric motor, which is capable of producing some 73 horsepower with 135 Newton-meters of torque. It sends the BYD Seagull from zero to 50 kilometers per hour in under five seconds.

Decent safety

The BYD Seagull is equipped with decent safety features.

Here are the said technologies offered by the compact electric car:

• Cruise control
• Rear parking sensors
• Backup camera
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Anti-lock braking system
• Electronic brake-force distribution
• Electronic stability control
• Hydraulic brake assist
• Traction control system
• Ramp start control

Pricing, variants

The BYD Seagull is priced at P898,000. It is available in a single variant, so those eyeing to switch to the electric car can get all the bells and whistles when they drive home their new EV.

Also read:

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