The BYD Seal U plug-in hybrid SUV was spotted range-testing ahead of launch this year. The Seal U will be BYD's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in India, and it will expand the carmaker's lineup beyond EVs. The Seal U is a Mahindra XEV 9e-sized 5-seater vehicle, measuring 4,775mm long, 1,890mm wide and 1,670mm tall, and has a 2,765mm wheelbase. It is also called the Sealion 6 in certain markets.
BYD Seal U PHEV: Powertrain details
The Seal U gets BYD's 'DM-i Super' plug-in hybrid system; DM-i stands for dual mode intelligent. Part of the DM-i Super system are a 1.5-litre direct injection, turbo-petrol engine, two electric motors (traction motor and starter-generator) and an 18.3kWh battery. This hybrid powertrain is said to use 4.8-litres of petrol per 100km. Together, BYD claims the powertrain can deliver over 1,200km of driving range. In EV-only driving, it can cover a distance of up to 200km.
Internationally, the Seal U is offered in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive forms. Depending on the version, combined output can go up to 323hp and 550Nm. With the Seal U PHEV, the BYD claims an electric-only range of up to 126km using an 18.3kWh battery pack, which can be charged from 30 to 80 percent in 35 minutes with an 18 kW DC charger, while the system’s combined range is pegged at up to 1,080km. The claimed 0-100kph time for the AWD version is 5.9 seconds.
However, during BYD's DM-i plug-in hybrid tech showcase held in June 2026, we were told that engineers are working on making improvements to the powertrain, which are likely to be rolled out to global models soon. These may result in different specifications for the India-bound Seal U.
Since the DM-i system prioritises an electric-first approach, the vehicle is primarily driven by the electric motors in most driving conditions, with the petrol engine acting as a starter-generator to keep the battery replenished, much like a range-extender unit in a series hybrid system. It is only during high power loads that the petrol engine directly powers the wheels. The system automatically shuffles between pure EV, series hybrid and parallel hybrid modes. Like many EVs, this PHEV system also supports V2L capabilities, which means the powertrain can also power other electrical appliances.
BYD Seal U PHEV: Expected price and rival
This is the second sighting of the Seal U on our roads, with the previous one in earlier in May. We expect BYD to price the Seal U PHEV around Rs 45-50 lakh, ex-showroom. The Seal U is could see competition from JSW Motor's upcoming Jetour T2-based PHEV, which is expected to debut around Diwali this year.
Source: ElecTree.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Dipan Sur
Dhruv Dhaka
Saptarshi Mondal
